Integrated utilization of microalgae cultured in aquaculture wastewater : wastewater treatment and production of valuable fatty acids and tocopherols

• Published in: Journal of Applied Phycology
• Main Authors: Tossavainen, Marika, Lahti, Katariina, Edelmann, Minnamari, Eskola, Reetta, Lampi, Anna-Maija, Piironen, Vieno, Korvonen, Pasi, Ojala, Anne, Romantschuk, Martin
• Other Authors: Helsinki Institute of Sustainability Science (HELSUS), Ecosystems and Environment Research Programme, Food quality and safety: lipids, vitamins and other bioactive compounds, Department of Food and Nutrition, Food Sciences, Viikki Plant Science Centre (ViPS), Anne Ojala / Principal Investigator, Ecosystem processes (INAR Forest Sciences), Institute for Atmospheric and Earth System Research (INAR), Martin Romantschuk / Principal Investigator, Helsinki One Health (HOH), Aerovirology Research Group
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Springer 2019
• Subjects: Euglena gracilis; Selenastrum; PUFA; RAS; Wastewater; Feed; NANNOCHLOROPSIS-OCULATA EUSTIGMATOPHYCEAE; SALMON SALMO-SALAR; VITAMIN-E; MARINE MICROALGAE; EUGLENA-GRACILIS; ALGAL BIOMASS; CHLORELLA SP; FRESH-WATER; GROWTH; BIOFUEL; 1172 Environmental sciences; Salmo salar
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10138/302837

Microalgal cultivation in aquaculture wastewater (AWW) from recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) is an approach for combined production of valuable algal biomass and AWW treatment. The growth, nutrient uptake, fatty acid (FA) profile, and tocopherol content of mixed algal cultures of Euglena gracilis with Selenastrum grown in AWWs from pikeperch (Sander lucioperca) and catfish (Clarias anguillaris) RAS were studied. The highest algal biomass (1.5gL(-1)), lipid (84.9mgL(-1)), and tocopherol (877.2gL(-1)) yields were achieved in sludge-amended pike perch AWW. Nutrient removal rates in experiments were 98.9-99.5 and 98.4-99.8% for NH4-N and PO4-P, and 75.4-89.2% and 84.3-95.7% for TN and TP, respectively, whereas the COD was reduced by 45.8-67.6%. Biomass EPA and DHA content met, while ARA and tocopherol content exceeded the requirements for fish feed. Algal cultivation in AWWs is a promising alternative for AWW treatment while providing a replacement for fish oil in feed. Peer reviewed