Utilization of Microalgae for Urban Wastewater Treatment and Valorization of Treated Wastewater and Biomass for Biofertilizer Applications

Shoyeb Khan, Mahmoud Thaher, Mohammed Abdulquadir, Mohammed Faisal, Sanjeet Mehariya, Mohammad A. A. Al-Najjar, Hareb Al-Jabri and Probir Das ()
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Shoyeb Khan: Algal Technology Program, Centre for Sustainable Development, College of Arts and Sciences, Qatar University, Doha 2713, Qatar
Mahmoud Thaher: Algal Technology Program, Centre for Sustainable Development, College of Arts and Sciences, Qatar University, Doha 2713, Qatar
Mohammed Abdulquadir: Algal Technology Program, Centre for Sustainable Development, College of Arts and Sciences, Qatar University, Doha 2713, Qatar
Mohammed Faisal: Algal Technology Program, Centre for Sustainable Development, College of Arts and Sciences, Qatar University, Doha 2713, Qatar
Sanjeet Mehariya: Algal Technology Program, Centre for Sustainable Development, College of Arts and Sciences, Qatar University, Doha 2713, Qatar
Mohammad A. A. Al-Najjar: Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, Applied Science Private University, Amman 11937, Jordan
Hareb Al-Jabri: Algal Technology Program, Centre for Sustainable Development, College of Arts and Sciences, Qatar University, Doha 2713, Qatar
Probir Das: Algal Technology Program, Centre for Sustainable Development, College of Arts and Sciences, Qatar University, Doha 2713, Qatar

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 22, 1-18

Abstract: Rapid urbanization has substantially increased freshwater consumption and consequent wastewater generation. The produced wastewater is an abundant resource of phosphorus, nitrogen, and organics. Currently, well-established activated sludge processes are utilized in conventional wastewater treatment plants to remove organics. However, removing nitrogenous and phosphorus compounds continues to be challenging and energy-intensive for urban wastewater treatment plants. Therefore, the current study aims to understand how photosynthetic microalgae can recover phosphorus and nitrogen from urban wastewater and how wastewater-grown microalgae biomass may be used as a biofertilizer and biostimulant. Utilizing microalgae biomass treated with urban wastewater as a biofertilizer promotes plant growth in a manner similar to other organic manures and conventional fertilizers while minimizing nutrient loss to the soil. Furthermore, the microalgal recovery of nutrients from urban wastewater could have potential energy reductions of 47% and 240% for nitrogen and phosphorus, respectively. In addition to producing treated wastewater suitable for a variety of irrigation systems, microalgae biomass is a potential sustainable alternative resource that could reduce conventional inorganic fertilizer usage.

Keywords: microalgae; urban wastewater; biofertilizer; biostimulant; treated wastewater (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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