Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Hydrothermal gasification of Acutodesmus obliquus for renewable energy production and nutrient recycling of microalgal mass cultures

  • Published:
Journal of Applied Phycology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Hydrothermal gasification is a process which uses any biomass or carbon-containing source as substrate to generate biogas of regenerative energy production. We used microalgae as biomass source and evaluated the potential of using the residual water of the conversion process as recycled nutrient source for cultivation of microalgae. Nutrient recycling was tested by monitoring growth of Acutodesmus obliquus and Chlorella vulgaris on residual water from hydrothermal gasification of A. obliquus. Four different gasification set ups were tested. After the procedure, all obtained liquid nutrient phases contained, beside nutrients, growth-inhibiting substances affecting photosynthetic activity and biomass yield of the two algal species. At least 28 potential toxic substances were found within one of the batches. Phytotoxicity on cellular structure was verified by electron microscopy. The cell form remained intact but cell compartments vanished. C. vulgaris was not able to recover to a vital growing organism during cultivation, whereas A. obliquus was able to restore cell compartments, photosynthetic activity and growth after 3 days of cultivation. A 355-fold dilution, UV treatment for 4 h and activated carbon filtration of the residual water from gasification finally enabled the discharge to support microalgal growth. UV treatment eliminated 23 substances but generated 4 new substances that were not detected before treatment. Activated carbon filtration eliminated 26 substances. Growth of microalgae obtained in the treated residual water was comparable with that in control medium. This study demonstrated the possibility to recover nutrients after the hydrothermal gasification process when the discharge got remediated to restart the value adding chain of microalgae and lower additional nutrient supply for microalgal cultivation.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aro EM, Virgin I, Andersson B (1993) Photoinhibition of photosystem II. Inactivation, protein damage and turnover. BBA-Bioenerg 1143:113–134

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ashley K, Cordell D, Mavinic D (2011) A brief history of phosphorus: from the philosopher’s stone to nutrient recovery and reuse. Chemosphere 84:737–746

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bernstein MP, Sandford SA, Allamandola LJ, Gillette JS, Clemett SJ, Zare RN (1999) UV irradiation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in ices: production of alcohols, quinones, and ethers. Science 283:1135–1138

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Biller P, Ross AB, Skill SC, Lea-Langton A, Balasundaram B, Hall C, Riley R, Llewellyn CA (2012) Nutrient recycling of aqueous phase for microalgae cultivation from the hydrothermal liquefaction process. Algal Res 1:70–76

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Boukis N, Galla U, D’Jesus P, Müller H, Dinjus E, (2005) Gasification of wet biomass in supercritical water. Results of pilot plant experiments. In: 14th European Biomass Conference, Paris. pp 964–967

  • Brown TM, Duan P, Savage PE (2010) Hydrothermal liquefaction and gasification of Nannochloropsis sp. Energ Fuel 24:3639–3646

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Burlew JS (ed) (1953) Algal culture. From laboratory to pilot plant. Carnegie Institution, Washington

    Google Scholar 

  • Chakinala AG, Brilman DW, van Swaaij WP, Kersten SR (2009) Catalytic and non-catalytic supercritical water gasification of microalgae and glycerol. Ind Eng Chem Res 49:1113–1122

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Converti A, Casazza AA, Ortiz EY, Perego P, Del Borghi M (2009) Effect of temperature and nitrogen concentration on the growth and lipid content of Nannochloropsis oculata and Chlorella vulgaris for biodiesel production. Chem Eng Process Process Intensif 48:1146–1151

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Du Z, Hu B, Shi A, Ma X, Cheng Y, Chen P, Liu Y, Lin X, Ruan R (2012) Cultivation of a microalga Chlorella vulgaris using recycled aqueous phase nutrients from hydrothermal carbonization process. Bioresour Technol 126:354–357

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fuerst EP, Norman MA (1991) Interactions of herbicides with photosynthetic electron transport. Weed Sci 39:458–464

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Galloway JN, Townsend AR, Erisman JW, Bekunda M, Cai Z, Freney JR, Martinelli LA, Seitzinger SP, Sutton MA (2008) Transformation of the nitrogen cycle: recent trends, questions, and potential solutions. Science 320:889–892

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Garcia Alba L, Torri C, Fabbri D, Kersten SR, Brilman DW (2013) Microalgae growth on the aqueous phase from hydrothermal liquefaction of the same microalgae. Chem Eng J 228:214–223

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Genty B, Briantais JM, Baker NR (1989) The relationship between the quantum yield of photosynthetic electron transport and quenching of chlorophyll fluorescence. BBA-Gen Subj 990:87–92

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hanelt D, Nultsch W (1995) Field studies of photoinhibition show non-correlations between oxygen and fluorescence measurements in the arctic red alga Palmaria palmata. J Plant Physiol 145:31–38

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hanelt D, Hawes I, Rae R (2006) Reduction of UV-B radiation causes an enhancement of photoinhibition in high light stressed aquatic plants from New Zealand lakes. J Photochem Photobiol B 84:89–102

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • He JA, Hu YZ, Jiang LJ (1997) Photodynamic action of phycobiliproteins: in situ generation of reactive oxygen species. BBA-Bioenerg 1320:165–174

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Heilmann SM, Jader LR, Harned LA, Sadowsky MJ, Schendel FJ, Lefebvre PA, von Keitz MG, Valentas KJ (2011) Hydrothermal carbonization of microalgae II. Fatty acid, char, and algal nutrient products. Appl Energ 88:3286–3290

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hindersin S, Leupold M, Kerner M, Hanelt D (2013) Irradiance optimization of outdoor microalgal cultures using solar tracked photobioreactors. Bioproc Biosyst Eng 36:345–355

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jena U, Vaidyanathan N, Chinnasamy S, Das KC (2011) Evaluation of microalgae cultivation using recovered aqueous co-product from thermochemical liquefaction of algal biomass. Bioresour Technol 102:3380–3387

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Klekner V, Kosaric N (1992) Degradation of phenols by algae. Environ Technol 13:493–501

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lesser MP (2006) Oxidative stress in marine environments: biochemistry and physiological ecology. Annu Rev Physiol 68:253–278

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Li Y, Zhou W, Hu B, Min M, Chen P, Ruan RR (2011) Integration of algae cultivation as biodiesel production feedstock with municipal wastewater treatment: strains screening and significance evaluation of environmental factors. Bioresour Technol 102:10861–10867

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Liang Y, Sarkany N, Cui Y (2009) Biomass and lipid productivities of Chlorella vulgaris under autotrophic, heterotrophic and mixotrophic growth conditions. Biotechnol Lett 31:1043–1049

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Licha T, Herfort M, Sauter M (2001) Phenolindex–ein sinnvoller Parameter für die Altlastenbewertung? Grundwasser 6:8–14

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Macova M, Escher BI, Reungoat J, Carswell S, Chue KL, Keller J, Mueller JF (2010) Monitoring the biological activity of micropollutants during advanced wastewater treatment with ozonation and activated carbon filtration. Water Res 44:477–492

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mallick N (2002) Biotechnological potential of immobilized algae for wastewater N, P and metal removal: a review. Biometals 15:377–390

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mata TM, Martins AA, Caetano NS (2010) Microalgae for biodiesel production and other applications: a review. Renew Sust Energ Rev 14:217–232

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Melis A (1999) Photosystem-II damage and repair cycle in chloroplasts: what modulates the rate of photodamage in vivo? Trends Plant Sci 4:130–135

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Melis A, Happe T (2001) Hydrogen production. Green algae as a source of energy. Plant Physiol 127:740–748

    Article  PubMed Central  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Munoz R, Guieysse B (2006) Algal–bacterial processes for the treatment of hazardous contaminants: a review. Water Res 40:2799–2815

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ögren E (1988) Photoinhibition of photosynthesis in willow leaves under field conditions. Planta 175:229–236

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Papazi A, Kotzabasis K (2013) “Rational” management of dichlorophenols biodegradation by the microalga Scenedesmus obliquus. PLoS One 8(4):e61682

    Article  PubMed Central  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Peterson AA, Vogel F, Lachance RP, Fröling M, Antal MJ Jr, Tester JW (2008) Thermochemical biofuel production in hydrothermal media: a review of sub-and supercritical water technologies. Energ Environ Sci 1:32–65

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pinto G, Pollio A, Previtera L, Temussi F (2002) Biodegradation of phenols by microalgae. Biotechnol Lett 24:2047–2051

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pisarevsky AM, Polozova IP, Hockridge PM (2005) Chemical oxygen demand. Russ J Appl Chem 78:101–107

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pulz O, Gross W (2004) Valuable products from biotechnology of microalgae. Appl Microbiol Biotetechnol 65:635–648

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rodolfi L, Chini Zittelli G, Bassi N, Padovani G, Biondi N, Bonini G, Tredici MR (2009) Microalgae for oil: strain selection, induction of lipid synthesis and outdoor mass cultivation in a low‐cost photobioreactor. Biotechnol Bioeng 102:100–112

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rojíčková R, Maršálek B (1999) Selection and sensitivity comparisons of algal species for toxicity testing. Chemosphere 38:3329–3338

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rutherford AW, Krieger-Liszkay A (2001) Herbicide-induced oxidative stress in photosystem II. Trends Biochem Sci 26:648–653

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sánchez-Polo M, Salhi E, Rivera-Utrilla J, Von Gunten U (2006) Combination of ozone with activated carbon as an alternative to conventional advanced oxidation processes. Ozone-Sci Eng 28:237–245

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Scott SA, Davey MP, Dennis JS, Horst I, Howe CJ, Lea-Smith DJ, Smith AG (2010) Biodiesel from algae: challenges and prospects. Curr Opin Biotechnol 21:277–286

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Semple KT, Cain RB (1996) Biodegradation of phenols by the alga Ochromonas danica. Appl Environ Microbiol 62:1265–1273

    PubMed Central  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Semple KT, Cain RB, Schmidt S (1999) Biodegradation of aromatic compounds by microalgae. FEMS Microbiol Lett 170:291–300

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sharma P, Jha AB, Dubey RS, Pessarakli M (2012) Reactive oxygen species, oxidative damage, and antioxidative defense mechanism in plants under stressful conditions. J Bot. doi:10.1155/2012/217037

    Google Scholar 

  • Snyder SA, Adham S, Redding AM, Cannon FS, DeCarolis J, Oppenheimer J, Wert EC, Yoon Y (2007) Role of membranes and activated carbon in the removal of endocrine disruptors and pharmaceuticals. Desalination 202:156–181

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Spolaore P, Joannis-Cassan C, Duran E, Isambert A (2006) Commercial applications of microalgae. J Biosci Bioeng 101:87–96

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tabak HH, Chambers CW, Kabler PW (1964) Microbial metabolism of aromatic compounds I. Decomposition of phenolic compounds and aromatic hydrocarbons by phenol-adapted bacteria. J Bacteriol 87:910–919

    PubMed Central  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Vitousek PM, Aber JD, Howarth RW, Likens GE, Matson PA, Matson PA, Schindler DW, Schleisinger WH, Tilman DG (1997) Human alteration of the global nitrogen cycle: sources and consequences. Ecol Appl 7:737–750

    Google Scholar 

  • Walsh GE, Merrill RG (1984) Algal bioassays of industrial and energy process effluents. In: Shubert LE (ed) Algae as ecological indicators. Academic Press, London, pp 329–360

    Google Scholar 

  • Wiley PE, Campbell JE, McKuin B (2011) Production of biodiesel and biogas from algae: a review of process train options. Water Environ Res 83:326–338

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

Special thanks are dedicated to Mr. Florian Mundt for helping taking samples and to Mrs. Michaela Schafberg for her support analyzing the organic compounds. This study was funded by the German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (KF 22403411).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Cell Biology and Phycology, University of Hamburg, Ohnhorststraße 18, 22609, Hamburg, Germany

    Dominik J. Patzelt & Dieter Hanelt

  2. Strategic Science Consult SSC Ltd, Beim Alten Gaswerk 5, 22761, Hamburg, Germany

    Dominik J. Patzelt, Stefan Hindersin & Martin Kerner

  3. Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Institute of Catalysis Research and Technology (IKFT), Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, 76344, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany

    Sherif Elsayed & Nikolaos Boukis

Authors
  1. Dominik J. Patzelt
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Stefan Hindersin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Sherif Elsayed
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Nikolaos Boukis
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Martin Kerner
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Dieter Hanelt
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Dominik J. Patzelt.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Patzelt, D.J., Hindersin, S., Elsayed, S. et al. Hydrothermal gasification of Acutodesmus obliquus for renewable energy production and nutrient recycling of microalgal mass cultures. J Appl Phycol 27, 2239–2250 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10811-014-0496-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10811-014-0496-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation