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Algae and waste water

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Abstract

Microalgal cultures offer an interesting alternative for waste water treatment (urban, industrial or agricultural effluents) because they provide a tertiary biotreatment coupled with the production of potentially valuable biomass, which can be used for several purposes. We review the main abiotic, biotic and operative factors playing a role in the cultivation of microalgae. Various types of bioreactors are scrutinized keeping in view that the main limitation upon the type of usable bioreactors is the enormous volume of water to be treated. The choice of suitable microalgae and cyanobacteria is examined in terms of productivity and easiness of harvesting. The possible alternatives to harvesting are also reviewed with an emphasis on immobilized systems. Finally, the need for more research and development is discussed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Groupe de Recherche en Recyclage Biologique et Aquiculture (GREREBA), Université Laval, Québec, Canada, G1K 7P4

    Joël de la Noüe, Gilles Laliberté & Daniel Proulx

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  1. Joël de la Noüe
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  2. Gilles Laliberté
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  3. Daniel Proulx
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de la Noüe, J., Laliberté, G. & Proulx, D. Algae and waste water. J Appl Phycol 4, 247–254 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02161210

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02161210

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