Coupling Algae Biofilm Cultivation with Wastewater Treatment for Sustainable Biomass Production and Nutrient Recycling
Scientists from University of Texas, Austin conducted a model experiment to cultivate algae biofilm using waste water for sustained biomass production and nutrient recycling. The biofilm was modeled as a flat surface
and the fluid over the biofilm was modeled as a one-dimensional flow over the flat surface. A novel derivation of the concentration boundary layer was demonstrated for use in a fully developed thin fluid layer. The algal productivity and nutrient removal rate was determined using the generated model and compared with literature data.
Results showed that the biofilm productivity and nutrient removal rates were highly sensitive to the presence of boundary layers. A parametric study was also carried out to analyse the effect of process conditions for determining the suitable nutrient source for algae cultivation.
