AL4BIO

Target audience

This project provides useful scientific and technical knowledge and advances on microalgae-based systems for the production of clean water and bioproducts with potential agricultural and industrial applications, within the framework of a circular economy.

Project objective

To study and optimise two alternative photobioreactors for tertiary wastewater treatment, microalgae and cyanobacteria biomass production, and bioproduct recovery. The project will include:

-Using microalgae-based systems for tertiary wastewater treatment to obtain reclaimed water and bioproducts

-Producing high-quality reclaimed water by leveraging the ability of microalgae-based treatment systems to remove nutrients, micropollutants and heavy metals

-Producing high-value bioproducts from microalgae and cyanobacteria biomass, such as polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), biological pigments, biostimulants and biopesticides. PHA can be used to produce bioplastics; chlorophyll, carotenoids and phycobiliproteins are pigments found in microalgae and cyanobacteria; microalgae also contain plant growth regulators, such as the phytohormones auxins, cytokinins and salicylic acid, as well as biopesticides such as antibiotics, antifungals, insect repellents and plant immune system stimulants, which are of great interest in agriculture. Finally, the residual biomass will be used to produce biogas, in accordance with the principles of the circular economy.

Project description

Microalgae-based wastewater treatment systems have demonstrated their ability to remove organic matter and nutrients from wastewater at low cost. In addition, microalgal biomass can be used to produce biogas and biofertilisers. However, the main drawback of these systems is the land requirement of high-rate algal ponds, which is considerably greater than that of conventional wastewater treatment systems. Consequently, their implementation is not feasible in urban agglomerations or densely populated areas.
As an alternative, the AL4BIO concept proposes using microalgae-based systems for tertiary wastewater treatment to obtain reclaimed water and bioproducts. In this way, secondary effluent will be used as a growth medium for microalgae and cyanobacteria, ultimately enabling the production of bioproducts from the biomass and reclaimed water for reuse.
Furthermore, the system could be implemented at any wastewater treatment plant following any biological secondary treatment, to treat either the entire flow or only part of it, depending on land availability and reclaimed water requirements. 

 Project funded by the European Union's Seventh Framework Programme