Using microalgae for advanced wastewater treatment and nutrient removal

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Using microalgae for advanced wastewater treatment is a very promising technology that offers several benefits which include: 1) Removal of nitrogen and phosphorus, 2) Reduction of biochemical and chemical oxygen demand, 3) Removal of pathogenic and indicator bacteria, 4) Removal of heavy metals, and 5) Removal of toxic organic compounds. Algae naturally grow in wastewater and have a very rapid growth cycle (1-2 weeks). It is a simple and inexpensive technology and can potentially be optimized for wastewater treatment which is the main objective of this proposal. After wastewater treatment, algae can be harvested and used as a renewable energy source. It is common practice to use algae for biofuel production, but at wastewater treatment plants it is also possible to co-digest algae with primary and activated sludge and increase the biogas generation on-site.