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. 2023 May 31;11(6):1469.
doi: 10.3390/microorganisms11061469.

Nannochloris sp. Microalgae Strain for Treatment of Dairy Wastewaters

Anca Paulenco  1 , Alin Cristian Nicolae Vintila  1   2 , Alexandru Vlaicu  1 , Mihaela Ciltea-Udrescu  1   2 , Ana-Maria Galan  1
Affiliations

Nannochloris sp. Microalgae Strain for Treatment of Dairy Wastewaters

Anca Paulenco et al. Microorganisms. .

Abstract

This paper focuses on a process for dairy wastewater treatment by mixotrophic cultivation of microalgae Nannochloris sp., using cheese whey obtained as a side flow from cheese production as an organic carbon source. The microalgae samples were prepared by adding to the standard growth medium increasing amounts of cheese whey, calculated to ensure a lactose concentration between 0 and 10 g/L. The samples were incubated at a constant temperature of 28 °C and 175 rpm stirring speed for a total time of seven days. Two LED (Light Emitting Diode) illumination schemes were applied in order to assess the effect of this parameter on microalgae development and bioactive compound accumulation: continuous illumination (light stress) versus alternative cycles of 12 h light-12 h dark (day-night cycle). The growth medium was analyzed before and after microalgae cultivation in order to determine the reduction of carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus. The results obtained for this process, after a seven-day cultivation period, were as follows: reduction of 99-100% of lactose from the growth medium, up to 96% reduction in chemical oxygen demand, up to 91% reduction in nitrogen content, and up to 70% reduction in phosphorus content.

Keywords: bioactive compounds; cheese whey; lactose; nutrient reduction; wastewater reclamation.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Comparison of biomass productivity values between day–night and continuous illumination systems for samples prepared with incremental concentrations of DCW in the microalgae growth medium. One-way ANOVA (p < 0.05) and multiple comparison post hoc t-tests (n = 5) were used to analyze the data, with asterisks indicating significant differences between control samples and each group (** = p < 0.01 and *** = p <0.001).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Comparison of lipid fraction and oil content expressed as methyl esters (FAME) between day–night and continuous illumination systems for samples prepared with incremental concentrations of DCW in the microalgae growth medium. One-way ANOVA (p < 0.05) and multiple comparison post hoc t-tests (n = 5) were used to analyze the data, with asterisks indicating significant differences between control samples and each group (* = p < 0.05, ** = p < 0.01, *** = p <0.001, and ns = no significant difference).
Figure 3
Figure 3
Comparison of pigment accumulation (chlorophylls and carotenoids) between day–night and continuous illumination systems. One-way ANOVA (p < 0.05) and multiple comparison post hoc t-tests (n = 5) were used to analyze the data, with asterisks indicating significant differences between control samples and each group (* = p < 0.05, ** = p < 0.01, *** = p <0.001, and ns = no significant difference).
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