Production of microalgae from olive mill wastewater

• Published in: International biodeterioration & biodegradation Vol. 38; no. 3; pp. 245 - 247
• Main Authors: Sánchez Villasclaras, S., Martínez Sancho, M aE, Espejo Caballero, M aT, Delgado Pérez, A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 1996
• Subjects: algae culture; bioreactors; Chlorella pyrenoidosa; culture media; fats and oils industry; Freshwater; industrial effluents; olive oil; Scenedesmus; Scenedesmus obliquus; wastewater
• ISSN: 0964-8305; 1879-0208
• DOI: 10.1016/S0964-8305(96)00057-1

With olive mill wastewater (alpechin) used as a nutrient medium, the influence of the aeration level and the composition of the culture medium were analysed in relation to the concentration of alpechin and KNO 3 added in a batch culture of the microalgae Chlorella pyrenoidosa and Scenedesmus obliquus. The pH and temperature of the culture were previously fixed at 6.5 and 30°C. As kinetic parameters, the maximum specific growth rate ( μ m) and the biomass productivity ( P max) were determined. The biomass composition obtained was evaluated for chlorophyll and crude protein content as well as fatty-acid composition corresponding to the lipid fraction. To achieve a balanced biomass composition in terms of proteins and lipids, the most suitable conditions included an alpechin concentration of 10%, without the addition of nitrates and with an aeration level of 1 v/v min. Under these conditions, the μ m values reached with both microalgae were around 0.03h −1.