Nitrogen and Phosphorus Removal and Biomass Production by the Green Microalgae in Piggery Wastewater

Use of microalgae to remove inorganic nutrients from wastewater and their great potential for low-cost biomass production is gaining attraction. The effect of piggery wastewater content, aeration rate, cultivation temperature, and light intensity on nitrogen and phosphorus removal and biomass production were studied by using a Box-Behnken experimental design under full factorial methodology. Under experimental conditions considered cultures with aeration increased the ammonium and orthophosphate removal efficiency up to an average of 65.3 +/- 17 % and 51 +/- 7.2 %, respectively and an increase of biomass productivity ranging from 20.8 +/- 11 mg/L.d to 52.3 +/- 5.5 mg/L.d. The aeration rate was the most important factor influencing the nutrients removal and biomass production.