This study aims at evaluating the process efficiency of an outdoor pilot-scale microalgae-based wastewater treatment system. Experimental results from two monitoring campaigns were analysed, showing that the system removed on average 85.1 % and 36.2 % of the influent ammoniacal nitrogen and orthophosphate, respectively, with an associated algal productivity of 9.5 g TSS·m−2·d-1. Based on pilot-scale results, a comprehensive techno-economic assessment was performed, allowing to calculate a biomass production cost of 4.3 €·kg TSS-1 and a wastewater treatment cost of 2.7 €·m−3 (corresponding to a nitrogen removal cost of 12.5 €·kg N−1). These costs turned out to be comparable with conventional wastewater treatment processes, thus recognizing the potential of microalgae cultivation on wastewaters as feasible alternative to conventional energy-demanding bioremediation systems and to expensive algal cultivation processes. A sensitivity and scenario analysis indicated that, under the most optimistic condition (20 % increase in the productivity, and 20 % OPEX and CAPEX reduction), biomass production and nitrogen removal costs could be further reduced of approximately 44 %.

Rossi, S., Mantovani, M., Marazzi, F., Bellucci, M., Casagli, F., Mezzanotte, V., et al. (2023). Microalgal cultivation on digestate: Process efficiency and economics. CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL, 460(15 March 2023) [10.1016/j.cej.2023.141753].

Microalgal cultivation on digestate: Process efficiency and economics

Mantovani, M;Marazzi, F;Mezzanotte, V;
2023

Abstract

This study aims at evaluating the process efficiency of an outdoor pilot-scale microalgae-based wastewater treatment system. Experimental results from two monitoring campaigns were analysed, showing that the system removed on average 85.1 % and 36.2 % of the influent ammoniacal nitrogen and orthophosphate, respectively, with an associated algal productivity of 9.5 g TSS·m−2·d-1. Based on pilot-scale results, a comprehensive techno-economic assessment was performed, allowing to calculate a biomass production cost of 4.3 €·kg TSS-1 and a wastewater treatment cost of 2.7 €·m−3 (corresponding to a nitrogen removal cost of 12.5 €·kg N−1). These costs turned out to be comparable with conventional wastewater treatment processes, thus recognizing the potential of microalgae cultivation on wastewaters as feasible alternative to conventional energy-demanding bioremediation systems and to expensive algal cultivation processes. A sensitivity and scenario analysis indicated that, under the most optimistic condition (20 % increase in the productivity, and 20 % OPEX and CAPEX reduction), biomass production and nitrogen removal costs could be further reduced of approximately 44 %.
Articolo in rivista - Articolo scientifico
Digestate valorisation; Microalgae; Nutrient removal and recovery; Scenario analysis; Sustainable wastewater treatment; Techno-economic assessment;
English
6-feb-2023
2023
460
15 March 2023
141753
open
Rossi, S., Mantovani, M., Marazzi, F., Bellucci, M., Casagli, F., Mezzanotte, V., et al. (2023). Microalgal cultivation on digestate: Process efficiency and economics. CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL, 460(15 March 2023) [10.1016/j.cej.2023.141753].
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/10281/474600
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