Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Swine Manure-Based Pilot-Scale Algal Biomass Production System for Fuel Production and Wastewater Treatment—a Case Study

  • Published:
Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Integration of wastewater treatment with algae cultivation is one of the promising ways to achieve an economically viable and environmentally sustainable algal biofuel production on a commercial scale. This study focused on pilot-scale algal biomass production system development, cultivation process optimization, and integration with swine manure wastewater treatment. The areal algal biomass productivity for the cultivation system that we developed ranged from 8.08 to 14.59 and 19.15–23.19 g/m2 × day, based on ash-free dry weight and total suspended solid (TSS), respectively, which were higher than or comparable with those in literature. The harvested algal biomass had lipid content about 1.77–3.55 %, which was relatively low, but could be converted to bio-oil via fast microwave-assisted pyrolysis system developed in our lab. The lipids in the harvested algal biomass had a significantly higher percentage of total unsaturated fatty acids than those grown in lab conditions, which may be attributed to the observed temperature and light fluctuations. The nutrient removal rate was highly correlated to the biomass productivity. The NH3-N, TN, COD, and PO4-P reduction rates for the north-located photo-bioreactor (PBR-N) in July were 2.65, 3.19, 7.21, and 0.067 g/m2 × day, respectively, which were higher than those in other studies. The cultivation system had advantages of high mixotrophic growth rate, low operating cost, as well as reduced land footprint due to the stacked-tray bioreactor design used in the study.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Aneja, V. P., Nelson, D. R., Roelle, P. A., Walker, J. T., & Battye, W. (2003). Agricultural ammonia emissions and ammonium concentrations associated with aerosols and precipitation in the southeast United States. Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres, 108(D4), 1984–2012.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Westerman, P. W., Huffman, R. L., & Feng, J. S. (1995). Swine-lagoon seepage in sandy soil. Transactions of the ASAE, 38(6), 1749–1760.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Stone, K. C., Hunt, P. G., Coffey, S. W., & Matheny, T. A. (1995). Water quality status of a USDA water quality demonstration project in the Eastern Coastal Plain. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation, 50(5), 567–571.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Asano, T., Burton, F. L., Leverenz, H. L., Tsuchihashi, R., & Tchobanoglous, G. (2007). Water reuse, issues, technologies, and applications (p. 1570). New York: McGraw-Hill.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Kebede-Westhead, E., Pizarro, C., & Mulbry, W. W. (2006). Treatment of swine manure effluent using freshwater algae: production, nutrient recovery, and elemental composition of algal biomass at four effluent loading rates. Journal of Applied Phycology, 18(1), 41–46.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Godos, I. D., Blanco, S., García-Encina, P. A., Becares, E., & Muñoz, R. (2009). Long-term operation of high rate algal ponds for the bioremediation of piggery wastewaters at high loading rates. Bioresource Technology, 100(19), 4332–4339.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Sevrin-Reyssac, J. (1998). Biotreatment of swine manure by production of aquatic valuable biomasses. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, 68(3), 177–186.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Zhou, W., Hu, B., Li, Y., Min, M., Mohr, M., Du, Z., & Ruan, R. (2012). Mass cultivation of microalgae on animal wastewater: a sequential two-stage cultivation process for energy crop and omega-3-rich animal feed production. Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology, 168(2), 348–363.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Hu, B., Min, M., Zhou, W., Du, Z., Mohr, M., Chen, P., & Ruan, R. (2012). Enhanced mixotrophic growth of microalga Chlorella sp. on pretreated swine manure for simultaneous biofuel feedstock production and nutrient removal. Bioresource Technology, 126, 71–79.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Li, Y., Zhou, W., Hu, B., Min, M., Chen, P., & Ruan, R. R. (2011). Integration of algae cultivation as biodiesel production feedstock with municipal wastewater treatment: strains screening and significance evaluation of environmental factors. Bioresource Technology, 102(23), 10861–10867.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Hach Inc. (2008). DR5000 spectrophotometer procedures manual (2nd ed.). Loveland: Hach Company.

    Google Scholar 

  12. APHA. (1998). Standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater. Washington: American Public Health Association.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Chen, S., Liao, W., Liu, C., Wen, Z., Kincaid, R. L., Harrison, J. H., & Stevens, D. J. (2003). Value-added chemicals from animal manure (no. PNNL-14495). Richland: Pacific Northwest National Lab. Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  14. Kim, T. H., Kim, J. S., Sunwoo, C., & Lee, Y. Y. (2003). Pretreatment of corn stover by aqueous ammonia. Bioresource Technology, 90(1), 39–47.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Ikada, Y., Suzuki, M., & Tamada, Y. (1985). Polymer surfaces possessing minimal interaction with blood components (In polymers as biomaterials, pp. 135–147). New York: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Hallab, N. J., Bundy, K. J., O’Connor, K., Moses, R. L., & Jacobs, J. J. (2001). Evaluation of metallic and polymeric biomaterial surface energy and surface roughness characteristics for directed cell adhesion. Tissue Engineering, 7(1), 55–71.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Min, M., Hu, B., Zhou, W., Li, Y., Chen, P., & Ruan, R. (2012). Mutual influence of light and CO2 on carbon sequestration via cultivating mixotrophic alga Auxenochlorella protothecoides UMN280 in an organic carbon-rich wastewater. Journal of Applied Phycology, 24(5), 1099–1105.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Bilanovic, D., Shelef, G., & Sukenik, A. (1988). Flocculation of microalgae with cationic polymers—effects of medium salinity. Biomass, 17(1), 65–76.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Montagnes, D. J., Kimmance, S. A., & Atkinson, D. (2003). Using Q10: can growth rates increase linearly with temperature? Aquatic Microbial Ecology, 32(3), 307–313.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Sorokin, C., & Krauss, R. W. (1962). Effects of temperature & illuminance on chlorella growth uncoupled from cell division. Plant Physiology, 37(1), 37.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Choi, J. W., & Peters, F. (1992). Effects of temperature on two psychrophilic ecotypes of a heterotrophic nanoflagellate, Paraphysomonas imperforata. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 58(2), 593–599.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Mulbry, W., Kondrad, S., Pizarro, C., & Kebede-Westhead, E. (2008). Treatment of dairy manure effluent using freshwater algae: algal productivity and recovery of manure nutrients using pilot-scale algal turf scrubbers. Bioresource Technology, 99(17), 8137–8142.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Hu, B., Zhou, W., Min, M., Du, Z., Chen, P., Ma, X., & Ruan, R. (2013). Development of an effective acidogenically digested swine manure-based algal system for improved wastewater treatment and biofuel and feed production. Applied Energy, 107, 255–263.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Cole, J. J. (1982). Interactions between bacteria and algae in aquatic ecosystems. Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics, 13, 291–314.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Hellebust, J. A. (1965). Excretion of some organic compounds by marine phytoplankton. Limnology and Oceanography, 10, 192–206.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Przytocka-Jusiak, M., Duszota, M., Matusiak, K., & Mycielski, R. (1984). Intensive culture of Chlorella vulgaris/AA as the second stage of biological purification of nitrogen industry wastewaters. Water Research, 18(1), 1–7.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Matusiak, K., Przytocka-Jusiak, M., Leszczyńska-Gerula, K., & Horoch, M. (1976). Studies on the purification of wastewater from the nitrogen fertilizer industry by intensive algal cultures. II. Removal of nitrogen from the wastewater. Acta Microbiologica Polonica, 25(4), 361.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Pratt, R., Oneto, J. F., & Pratt, J. (1945). Studies on Chlorella vulgaris. X. Influence of the age of the culture on the accumulation of chlorellin. American Journal of Botany, 32, 405–408.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Roessler, P. G. (1990). Environmental control of glycerolipid metabolism in microalgae: commercial implications and future research directions. Journal of Phycology, 26(3), 393–399.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Hu, Q., Sommerfeld, M., Jarvis, E., Ghirardi, M., Posewitz, M., Seibert, M., & Darzins, A. (2008). Microalgal triacylglycerols as feedstocks for biofuel production: perspectives and advances. The Plant Journal, 54(4), 621–639.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Aaronson, S. (1973). Effect of incubation temperature on the macromolecular and lipid content of the phytoflagellate Ochromonas danica. Journal of Phycology, 9(1), 111–113.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Boussiba, S., Vonshak, A., Cohen, Z., Avissar, Y., & Richmond, A. (1987). Lipid and biomass production by the halotolerant microalga Nannochloropsis salina. Biomass, 12(1), 37–47.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Patterson, G. (1970). Effect of temperature on fatty acid composition of Chlorella sorokiniana. Lipids, 5(7), 597–600.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Du, Z., Li, Y., Wang, X., Wan, Y., Chen, Q., Wang, C., & Ruan, R. (2011). Microwave-assisted pyrolysis of microalgae for biofuel production. Bioresource Technology, 102(7), 4890–4896.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Mu, D., Min, M., Hill, J. (2013). Life cycle environmental impacts of novel technologies in the production of wastewater-based algal biofuels. Journal of Environmental Science and Technology. (in press)

  36. Sun, A., Davis, R., Starbuck, M., Ben-Amotz, A., Pate, R., & Pienkos, P. T. (2011). Comparative cost analysis of algal oil production for biofuels. Energy, 36(8), 5169–5179.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Biorefining, Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering Department, University of Minnesota, 1390 Eckles Ave, Saint Paul, MN, 55108, USA

    Min Min, Bing Hu, Michael J. Mohr, Aimin Shi, Jinfeng Ding, Yong Sun, Yongcheng Jiang, Zongqiang Fu, Richard Griffith, Fida Hussain, Dongyan Mu, Yong Nie, Paul Chen, Wenguang Zhou & Roger Ruan

Authors
  1. Min Min
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Bing Hu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Michael J. Mohr
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Aimin Shi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Jinfeng Ding
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Yong Sun
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Yongcheng Jiang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Zongqiang Fu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Richard Griffith
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  10. Fida Hussain
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  11. Dongyan Mu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  12. Yong Nie
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  13. Paul Chen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  14. Wenguang Zhou
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  15. Roger Ruan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Wenguang Zhou or Roger Ruan.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Min, M., Hu, B., Mohr, M.J. et al. Swine Manure-Based Pilot-Scale Algal Biomass Production System for Fuel Production and Wastewater Treatment—a Case Study. Appl Biochem Biotechnol 172, 1390–1406 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12010-013-0603-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12010-013-0603-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation