Biomass production in high rate ponds and hydrothermal liquefaction: wastewater treatment and bioenergy integration

Abstract

Against the worldwide energy crisis and climate change, new forms of energy generation have been investigated. Among the possibilities, microalgae are considered potential feedstock for biofuels production. However, there are still important challenges to overcome. In this context, the integration of biomass cultivation and the treatment of different types of wastewater can represent a source of nutrients and water, with the additional benefit of reducing the discharge of pollutant loads into water bodies. The wastewater grown biomass is composed by a microorganism consortium. These microorganisms can develop important symbiotic relationships for the optimization of biomass production. However, the success of algal biomass cultivation in effluents also involves the development of efficient reactors, which ranges from design criteria to operational parameters. High rate ponds are the most suitable reactors for such a purpose, within the context of a wastewater treatment plant. In this reactor, the addition of CO2 is an important parameter for pH control and, consequently, will influence nutrient assimilation. Another relevant operational parameter is the pond depth, which will have a major role in radiation availability along the water column. With respect to the energy use of the biomass, hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) represents an interesting alternative for wastewater grown biomass, since the process does not require complete drying of the biomass, its bio-oil production efficiency is not necessarily attached to the lipid content and may present a positive energy balance. In addition, the possibility of using the HTL by-products, especially the water soluble products, in the context of a biorefinery, represents a route for nutrient recycling, residue minimization, and cost reduction.