Use of full-scale hybrid horizontal tubular photobioreactors to process agricultural runoff

TL;DR

This study evaluates a novel full-scale hybrid tubular photobioreactor for microalgae cultivation using agricultural runoff, demonstrating effective biomass production and contaminant removal in different operational modes and seasons.

Contribution

It introduces a new semi-closed hybrid tubular photobioreactor design optimized for full-scale use with agricultural runoff, showing promising results in biomass productivity and pollutant removal.

Findings

22% biomass increase in 4 days

up to 76.4 g TSS/m3d productivity in spring

73% removal of tonalide and galaxolide

Abstract

Diffuse pollution in rural areas due to agricultural run-off is a widespread and difficult problem to address due to the vast areas affected. Drainage channels do receive these polluted waters, but its introduction in the conventional treatment network is unfeasible. Within this context, microalgae-based treatment systems could be used as alternative treatment plants. In this study, a new design of semi-closed (hybrid) tubular horizontal photobioreactor (HTH-PBR) with low energy requirements has been evaluated for microalgae cultivation at full-scale (8.5 m3), using agricultural runoff as feedstock. This novel system was tested in batch and continuous mode during a total of 4 and 135 days. Considering a full-scale application in an agricultural context, a batch test was carried out to evaluate the performance of the system. An increase of 22% in the biomass concentration in 4 days was registered, and all nutrients were consumed during the first two days. In the continuous experiment (December- April), a productivity between 2-14 g TSS/m3d was reached in winter, whereas values up to 76.4 g TSS/m3d were reached at the end of the study in spring, despite the low nutrients concentration in the feedstock. The elimination of emerging contaminants was also evaluated, obtaining the highest removals for the fragrances tonalide and galaxolide (73% and 68%), and the antiinflamatory diclofenac (61%).