Advanced Municipal Wastewater Treatment and Bioproduct Generation via Optimized Autotrophic and Mixotrophic Microalgal Cultivation

Juan Nápoles-Armenta, Itzel Celeste Romero-Soto, Luis Samaniego-Moreno, Lourdes Mariana Díaz-Tenorio, Luis Alonso Leyva Soto, Celia De La Mora-Orozco, Rafael González Pérez, Edgardo Martínez-Orozco, Celestino García-Gómez () and Laura Izascum Pérez-Valencia ()
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Juan Nápoles-Armenta: Unidad Benito Juárez, Universidad Estatal de Sonora, Fraternidad S/N, Centro, Villa Juárez C.P. 85294, Sonora, Mexico
Itzel Celeste Romero-Soto: Departamento de Fundamentos del conocimiento, División de Ciencia y Tecnología, Centro Universitario del Norte, Universidad de Guadalajara, Carretera Federal México 23 Km 191, Colotlán C.P. 46200, Jalisco, Mexico
Luis Samaniego-Moreno: Department of Irrigation and Drainage, Engineering Division, Antonio Narro Autonomous Agrarian University, Calzada Antonio Narro #1923 Buenavista, Saltillo C.P. 25315, Coahuila, Mexico
Lourdes Mariana Díaz-Tenorio: Departamento de Biotecnología y Ciencias Alimentarias, Instituto Tecnológico de Sonora, 5 de Febrero 818 sur, Centro, Obregón C.D. 85000, Sonora, Mexico
Luis Alonso Leyva Soto: Departamento de Biotecnología y Ciencias Alimentarias, Instituto Tecnológico de Sonora, 5 de Febrero 818 sur, Centro, Obregón C.D. 85000, Sonora, Mexico
Celia De La Mora-Orozco: Departament of Integral Watershed Management, National Institute of Forestry, Agricultural and Livestock Research, Tepatitlán de Morelos C.P. 47600, Jalisco, Mexico
Rafael González Pérez: Centro Universitario de Tonalá, Universidad de Guadalajara, Tonalá 45425, Jalisco, Mexico
Edgardo Martínez-Orozco: Unidad Académica Arandas, Instituto Tecnológico José Mario Molina Pasquel y Henríquez, Tecnológico Nacional de México, Arandas C.P. 47180, Jalisco, Mexico
Celestino García-Gómez: Faculty of Agronomy, Autonomous University of Nuevo León, Francisco I. Madero S/N, Ex Hacienda el Canada, General Escobedo C.P. 66050, Nuevo León, Mexico
Laura Izascum Pérez-Valencia: Unidad Académica Arandas, Instituto Tecnológico José Mario Molina Pasquel y Henríquez, Tecnológico Nacional de México, Arandas C.P. 47180, Jalisco, Mexico

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 14, 1-22

Abstract: In this paper, the production of biomass, pigments, lipids, and carbohydrates and the elimination of ammonium and orthophosphate by the microalgae Chlorella vulgaris , grown in synthetic wastewater (SWW), were studied under different light intensities (3000–10,000 lux), pH (7.5–9.5) and daily illumination time (8–16 h). The best conditions for the autotrophic culture of microalgae were predicted using response surface methodology (RSM). The results showed that the adaptation of the microalgae for this nutrient source was effective. The best conditions for the cultivation of Chlorella vulgaris in SWW were 8.44 pH and a light intensity of 8433 lux in the daily illumination time of 16 h. Under optimal conditions, the production of microalgal biomass, chlorophyll-a, chlorophyll-b, carotenoids, lipids and carbohydrates was 0.534 g/L, 7.46 mg/mL, 3.53 mg/mL, 2.01 mg/mL, 21.40% and 28.46%, respectively. The removal efficiencies of ammonium and orthophosphate from SWW were 97.66% and 58.78% in autotrophic cultures. This investigation introduces a new aspect by verifying the optimized cultivation conditions with real municipal wastewater, indicating that the procedure could be utilized for sustainable production of bioproducts and efficient treatment of municipal wastewater.

Keywords: microalgae; Chlorella vulgaris; wastewater; nutrient removal; response surface methodology; autotrophic; mixotrophic (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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