A review on microalgal culture to treat anaerobic digestate food waste effluent

Chuka-ogwude, D., Ogbonna, J. and Moheimani, N.R.ORCID: 0000-0003-2310-4147 (2020) A review on microalgal culture to treat anaerobic digestate food waste effluent. Algal Research, 47 . Article 101841.

Abstract

Food waste constitutes a significant portion of waste in the world. Indeed, it is estimated that about one-third of edible human food is wasted globally. Anaerobic digestion has been identified as a promising technology for the treatment of food waste as it generates a significant amount of energy and can remove a substantial portion of the organics. However, this process has not been adequately applied due to technical and economic challenges. Most importantly, anaerobic digestion of food waste produces waste in the form of Anaerobic digestate food effluent (ADFE), with high amounts of nutrient such as ammonium (up to 3000 mg L−1 NH3-N). It has been established that this effluent can be used as a substrate for the cultivation of microalgae allowing both a means of its treatment and its possible valorization. This paper reviews the anaerobic digestion of food waste, the composition of its digestate and trends in the treatment of ADFE with emphasis on treatment using microalgae. Potential microalgal cultivation methods applicable to the treatment of anaerobic digestate, especially ADFE, and possible optimization of the cultivation methods are also reviewed critically. Further, understanding of the cultivation of microalgae in ADFE is required to aid in better design of its treatment process and valorization to improve its economics.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Murdoch Affiliation(s):	Environmental and Conservation Sciences Algae R&D Centre
Publisher:	Elsevier BV
Copyright:	© 2020 Elsevier B.V.
URI:	http://researchrepository.murdoch.edu.au/id/eprint/55001

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