Novel insight into the process of nutrients removal using an algal biofilm: The evaluation of mechanism and efficiency |
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| Authors: | Kateřina Sukačová Radka Kočí Milena Žídková Tomáš Vítěz Martin Trtílek |
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| Institution: | 1. Global Change Research Institute, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Czech Republic;2. Photon Systems Instruments, Czech Republic;3. Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Engineering, Mendel University in Brno, Czech Republic |
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| Abstract: | Eutrophication of water by nutrient pollution remains an important environmental issue. The aim of this study was to evaluate the nutrient uptake capacity of an algal biofilm as a means to treat polluted water. In addition, the study investigated the nutrient removal process. The algal biofilm was able to remove 99% of phosphorus within 24 hours of P addition, with the PO4-P concentration in inflowing water ranging from 3 to 10 mg L?1. Different patterns of phosphorus and nitrogen removal were observed. Daily quantity of removed NO3-N ranged from 2 to 25% and was highly dependent on solar irradiance. Precipitation of phosphorus during the removal process was studied using X-ray diffraction analyses and was not confirmed in the biofilm. The biofilm system we constructed has a high efficiency for phosphorus removal and, therefore, has great potential for integration into wastewater treatment processes. |
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| Keywords: | microalgal biofilm nutrients removal X-ray diffraction analyses wastewater treatment |
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