Abstract
Conventional wastewater treatment systems have a low pathogen removal capacity and are often even being pointed out as hot spots for the development of multiresistant bacteria and genes. Microalgae-based systems, especially the high rate algal pond (HRAP), are sustainable and low-cost alternatives for wastewater treatment, capable of removing pathogens from domestic effluents, mainly Escherichia coli and total coliforms. Other microorganisms, being the most important Clostridium perfringens and Staphylococcus sp., have been pointed out as alternative indicators of disinfection, since they have greater resistance than Escherichia coli, either because of the formation of spores or because of other mechanisms of protection and spreading in WWTPs. The influence of two microalgae strains (Chlorella vulgaris and Scenedesmus acutus meyer), CO2 addition and O2 addition on the removal of Clostridium perfringens and Staphylococcus sp. from domestic wastewater in microalgae-bacterial systems was studied. The removal of Clostridium perfringens (2.5–3.2 log units) and Staphylococcus sp. (1.8–2.0 log units) was higher in the test with Chlorella vulgaris inoculum than Scenedesmus acutus meyer. The addition of CO2 and O2 did not have a significant effect on the removal of pathogenic bacteria. The main mechanism of Clostridium perfringens removal can be through toxins and bactericidal substances produced by the microalgae while Staphylococcus sp. removal also occurs through photo-oxidative processes.
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Ruas, G., Farias, S.L., dos Reis, B.A.B., Serejo, M.L., Paulo, P.L., Boncz, M.Á. (2022). Removal of Clostridium Perfringens and Staphylococcus sp. In Microalgae-Bacterial System: Influence of Microalgae Inoculum and CO2/O2 Addition. In: Naddeo, V., Choo, KH., Ksibi, M. (eds) Water-Energy-Nexus in the Ecological Transition. Advances in Science, Technology & Innovation. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-00808-5_34
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