Comparative Study of the Microalgae-Based Wastewater Treatment, in an Oil Refining Industry Cogeneration Concept

Pritišanac, Ena; Fafanđel, Maja; Haberle, Ines; Geček, Sunčana; Markić, Marinko; Bolf, Nenad; Vukadin, Jela; Crnković, Goranka; Klanjšček, Tin; Žilić, Luka; Blažina, Maria (2025) Comparative Study of the Microalgae-Based Wastewater Treatment, in an Oil Refining Industry Cogeneration Concept. Water, 17 (15). ISSN 2073-4441

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Official URL: http://doi.org/10.3390/w17152217

Abstract

Microalage are broadly recognized as promising agents for sustainable wastewater treat- ment and biomass generation. However, industrial effluents such as petroleum refinery wastewater (WW) present challenges due to toxic growth inhibiting substances. Three ma- rine microalgae species: Pseudochloris wilhelmii, Nannochloropsis gaditana and Synechococcus sp. MK568070 were examined for cultivation potential in oil refinery WW. Their per- formance was evaluated in terms of growth dynamics, lipid productivity, and toxicity reduction, with a focus on their suitability for largescale industrial use. N. gaditana demon- strated the highest growth rate and lipid content (37% d.w.) as well as lipid productivity (29.45 mg/(Lday)) with the N-uptake rate of 0.698 mmol/(gday). The highest specific DIN uptake rate was observed inn P. wilhelmii (0.895 mmol/(gday) along with the highest volumetric productivity (93.9 mg/L/day) and WW toxicity removal (76.5%), while Syne- chococcus sp. MK568070 demonstrated lower performance metrics. A simple numerical model was applied to calculate continuous operation based on empirical results of batch experiments. Sustainability of the microalgae-based WW remediation under the conditions of optimized lipid biomass production was estimated, regarding 2019–2022–2025 cost dy- namics. Parameters for optimum open raceway pond cultivation were calculated, and the biomass production accumulation was estimated, with the highest biomass production noted in P. wilhelmii (171.38 t/year). Comparison of treatment costs, production costs and revenue showed that the best candidate for WW remediation is N. gaditana.

Item Type:

Article

Uncontrolled Keywords:

Nannochloropsis gaditana; Pseudochloris wilhelmii; Synechococcus sp. MK568070; lipid productivity; wastewater remediation; continuous culture

Subjects:

NATURAL SCIENCES > Interdisciplinary Natural Sciences > Environmental Science

Divisions:

Center for Marine Research
Division for Marine and Enviromental Research

Projects: