Optimization of algae-based wastewater treatment systems towards enhanced water reuse and recovery of micro-algae for biogas and high value compounds production

Algae-based wastewater treatment systems are promising solutions to shift the paradigm from wastewater treatment to resources recovery. The use of microalgae for recovery of energy, nutrients and high value compounds from wastewater may improve environmental and economic sustainability of wastewater treatment systems. However, technological processes and reactors/systems should be improved to render transformation of wastewater into valuable products more effectively. This research project aims to optimize algae-based wastewater treatment systems and identify configurations that would make resources recovery more efficient and feasible.

Objective 1) Optimize configurations of high rate algal ponds (HRAPs) systems for urban wastewater treatment and explore the energy recovery from the biomass through biogas production.

Objective 2) Investigate the use of photobioreactors (PBRs) for tertiary treatment and explore the recovery of high-value phycochemicals (e.g. pigments) through various extraction and purification techniques.

Objective 3) Biogas and high-value compounds recovery technologies will be assessed and compared from a technical, environmental and economic point of view. In particular, a life cycle assessment (LCA) and a life cycle costing (LCC) will be carried out to evaluate the feasibility and sustainability of these alternatives and their combinations.