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Phosphorus removal from wastewater by microalgae in Sweden - a year-round perspective

Larsdotter, Karin ; la Cour Jansen, Jes LU and Dalhammar, Gunnel (2010) In Environmental Technology 31(2). p.117-123
Abstract
The phosphorus and nitrogen removing capacity of a microalgal treatment step in Sweden was studied during an annual cycle. The treatment step had been constructed for extended phosphorus removal in a hydroponic wastewater treatment system, which had been built in a greenhouse. Two culture depths (17 and 33 cm) were compared as well as the effect of additional illumination during winter. The results showed large fluctuations in algal biomass production and phosphorus removal as a result of season. The phosphorus removal efficiency showed a clear correlation with pH, and the shallow cultures generally had higher phosphorus removal efficiencies than the deeper cultures. The efficiencies were between 60% and 100% during summer but mostly lower... (More)
The phosphorus and nitrogen removing capacity of a microalgal treatment step in Sweden was studied during an annual cycle. The treatment step had been constructed for extended phosphorus removal in a hydroponic wastewater treatment system, which had been built in a greenhouse. Two culture depths (17 and 33 cm) were compared as well as the effect of additional illumination during winter. The results showed large fluctuations in algal biomass production and phosphorus removal as a result of season. The phosphorus removal efficiency showed a clear correlation with pH, and the shallow cultures generally had higher phosphorus removal efficiencies than the deeper cultures. The efficiencies were between 60% and 100% during summer but mostly lower than 25% during winter, except in the shallow culture with extra illumination where efficiencies of 60-80% were recorded even during winter. A nitrogen removal efficiency of around 40% was reached for most parts of the year, and efficiencies of up to 60-80% were achieved during summer in the shallow cultures. In conclusion, the results showed that a large proportion of the phosphorus could be removed on a year-round basis, hence reducing the need for chemical precipitation, and also that significant nitrogen removal is possible. (Less)
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author
; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
assimilation, phosphorus, microalgae, wastewater treatment, precipitation
in
Environmental Technology
volume
31
issue
2
pages
117 - 123
publisher
Taylor & Francis
external identifiers
  • wos:000275282800001
  • scopus:77649324535
  • pmid:20391796
ISSN
1479-487X
DOI
10.1080/09593330903382815
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
6e7fbcc5-5f42-4363-8c90-9d4c9c3bb3fc (old id 1589623)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 10:26:09
date last changed
2023-11-09 20:44:27
@article{6e7fbcc5-5f42-4363-8c90-9d4c9c3bb3fc,
  abstract     = {{The phosphorus and nitrogen removing capacity of a microalgal treatment step in Sweden was studied during an annual cycle. The treatment step had been constructed for extended phosphorus removal in a hydroponic wastewater treatment system, which had been built in a greenhouse. Two culture depths (17 and 33 cm) were compared as well as the effect of additional illumination during winter. The results showed large fluctuations in algal biomass production and phosphorus removal as a result of season. The phosphorus removal efficiency showed a clear correlation with pH, and the shallow cultures generally had higher phosphorus removal efficiencies than the deeper cultures. The efficiencies were between 60% and 100% during summer but mostly lower than 25% during winter, except in the shallow culture with extra illumination where efficiencies of 60-80% were recorded even during winter. A nitrogen removal efficiency of around 40% was reached for most parts of the year, and efficiencies of up to 60-80% were achieved during summer in the shallow cultures. In conclusion, the results showed that a large proportion of the phosphorus could be removed on a year-round basis, hence reducing the need for chemical precipitation, and also that significant nitrogen removal is possible.}},
  author       = {{Larsdotter, Karin and la Cour Jansen, Jes and Dalhammar, Gunnel}},
  issn         = {{1479-487X}},
  keywords     = {{assimilation; phosphorus; microalgae; wastewater treatment; precipitation}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{2}},
  pages        = {{117--123}},
  publisher    = {{Taylor & Francis}},
  series       = {{Environmental Technology}},
  title        = {{Phosphorus removal from wastewater by microalgae in Sweden - a year-round perspective}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09593330903382815}},
  doi          = {{10.1080/09593330903382815}},
  volume       = {{31}},
  year         = {{2010}},
}