Nanohybrid membrane in algal-membrane photoreactor: Microalgae cultivation and wastewater polishing

doi:10.1016/j.cjche.2019.05.015

Chinese Journal of Chemical Engineering ›› 2019, Vol. 27 ›› Issue (11): 2799-2806.DOI: 10.1016/j.cjche.2019.05.015

• Energy, Resources and Environmental Technology • Previous Articles Next Articles

Nanohybrid membrane in algal-membrane photoreactor: Microalgae cultivation and wastewater polishing

Woon Chan Chong^1,2, Abdul Wahab Mohammad^1,3, Ebrahim Mahmoudi^1,3, Ying Tao Chung⁴, Kamrul Fakir Kamarudin^1,3, Mohd Sobri Takriff^1,3

1 Chemical Engineering Programme, Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia;
2 Department of Chemical Engineering, Lee Kong Chian Faculty of Engineering and Science, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Jalan Sungai Long, Bandar Sungai Long, Cheras, 43000 Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia;
3 Research Center for Sustainable Process Technology(CESPRO), Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia;
4 Department of Chemical Engineering and Petroleum Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Technology and Built Environment, UCSI University, No. 1, Jalan Menara Gading, UCSI Heights, Cheras, 56000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Received:2018-11-29 Revised:2019-04-16 Online:2020-01-19 Published:2019-11-28
Contact: Woon Chan Chong

Nanohybrid membrane in algal-membrane photoreactor: Microalgae cultivation and wastewater polishing

Woon Chan Chong^1,2, Abdul Wahab Mohammad^1,3, Ebrahim Mahmoudi^1,3, Ying Tao Chung⁴, Kamrul Fakir Kamarudin^1,3, Mohd Sobri Takriff^1,3

1 Chemical Engineering Programme, Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia;
2 Department of Chemical Engineering, Lee Kong Chian Faculty of Engineering and Science, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Jalan Sungai Long, Bandar Sungai Long, Cheras, 43000 Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia;
3 Research Center for Sustainable Process Technology(CESPRO), Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia;
4 Department of Chemical Engineering and Petroleum Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Technology and Built Environment, UCSI University, No. 1, Jalan Menara Gading, UCSI Heights, Cheras, 56000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

通讯作者: Woon Chan Chong

Abstract

Abstract: Microalgae cultivation has gained tremendous attention in recent years due to its great potential in green biofuel production and wastewater treatment application. Membrane technology is a great solution in separating the microalgae biomass while producing high quality of permeate for recycling. The main objective of this study was to investigate the filtration performance of Ag/GO-PVDF (silver/graphene oxide-polyvinylidene fluoride) membrane in an algalmembrane photoreactor (A-MPR) by benchmarking with a commercial PVDF (com-PVDF) membrane. In this study, Chlorella vulgaris microalgae was cultivated in synthetic wastewater in an A-MPR for ammoniacal-nitrogen and phosphorus recovery and the wastewater was further filtered using Ag/GO-PVDF and com-PVDF membranes to obtain high quality water. Spectrophotometer was used to analyze the chemical oxidation demand (COD), ammoniacal nitrogen (NH₃-N) and phosphate (PO₄^3-). The concentration of proteins and carbohydrates was measured using Bradford method and phenol-sulfuric acid method, respectively. The COD of the synthetic wastewater was reduced from (180.5 ±5.6) ppm to (82 ±2.6) ppm due to nutrient uptake by microalgae. Then, the Ag/GO-PVDF membrane was used to further purify the microalgae cultivated wastewater, resulting in a low COD permeate of (31 ±4.6) ppm. The high removal rate of proteins (100%) and carbohydrates (86.6%) as the major foulant in microalgae filtration, with low membrane fouling propensity of Ag/GO-PVDF membrane is advantageous for the sustainable development of the microalgae production. Hence, the integrated A-MPR system is highly recommended as a promising approach for microalgae cultivation and wastewater polishing treatment.

Key words: Algal-membrane photoreactor, Nanohybrid membrane, Wastewater polishing, Microalgal cultivation, Nutrient recovery

摘要： Microalgae cultivation has gained tremendous attention in recent years due to its great potential in green biofuel production and wastewater treatment application. Membrane technology is a great solution in separating the microalgae biomass while producing high quality of permeate for recycling. The main objective of this study was to investigate the filtration performance of Ag/GO-PVDF (silver/graphene oxide-polyvinylidene fluoride) membrane in an algalmembrane photoreactor (A-MPR) by benchmarking with a commercial PVDF (com-PVDF) membrane. In this study, Chlorella vulgaris microalgae was cultivated in synthetic wastewater in an A-MPR for ammoniacal-nitrogen and phosphorus recovery and the wastewater was further filtered using Ag/GO-PVDF and com-PVDF membranes to obtain high quality water. Spectrophotometer was used to analyze the chemical oxidation demand (COD), ammoniacal nitrogen (NH₃-N) and phosphate (PO₄^3-). The concentration of proteins and carbohydrates was measured using Bradford method and phenol-sulfuric acid method, respectively. The COD of the synthetic wastewater was reduced from (180.5 ±5.6) ppm to (82 ±2.6) ppm due to nutrient uptake by microalgae. Then, the Ag/GO-PVDF membrane was used to further purify the microalgae cultivated wastewater, resulting in a low COD permeate of (31 ±4.6) ppm. The high removal rate of proteins (100%) and carbohydrates (86.6%) as the major foulant in microalgae filtration, with low membrane fouling propensity of Ag/GO-PVDF membrane is advantageous for the sustainable development of the microalgae production. Hence, the integrated A-MPR system is highly recommended as a promising approach for microalgae cultivation and wastewater polishing treatment.

关键词: Algal-membrane photoreactor, Nanohybrid membrane, Wastewater polishing, Microalgal cultivation, Nutrient recovery

Woon Chan Chong, Abdul Wahab Mohammad, Ebrahim Mahmoudi, Ying Tao Chung, Kamrul Fakir Kamarudin, Mohd Sobri Takriff. Nanohybrid membrane in algal-membrane photoreactor: Microalgae cultivation and wastewater polishing[J]. Chinese Journal of Chemical Engineering, 2019, 27(11): 2799-2806.

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Nanohybrid membrane in algal-membrane photoreactor: Microalgae cultivation and wastewater polishing

Nanohybrid membrane in algal-membrane photoreactor: Microalgae cultivation and wastewater polishing

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