Maximizing nutrient recycling from digestate for production of protein-rich microalgae for animal feed application

Seelam, J.S.; Fernandes de Souza, M.; Chaerle, P.; Willems, B.; Michels, E.; Vyverman, W.; Meers, E.

doi:/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.133180

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Maximizing nutrient recycling from digestate for production of protein-rich microalgae for animal feed application

Seelam, J.S.; Fernandes de Souza, M.; Chaerle, P.; Willems, B.; Michels, E.; Vyverman, W.; Meers, E. (2022). Maximizing nutrient recycling from digestate for production of protein-rich microalgae for animal feed application. Chemosphere 290: 133180. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.133180

In: Chemosphere. Elsevier: Oxford. ISSN 0045-6535; e-ISSN 1879-1298

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Keyword

Animal feed

Author keywords

Digestate; Microalgae; Microplate experiments; Paper-filtration; Photobioreactor

Authors		Top
Seelam, J.S. Fernandes de Souza, M. Chaerle, P. Willems, B.	Michels, E. Vyverman, W. Meers, E.

Abstract

The integration of phototrophic microalgal production and anaerobic digestion can recycle excess nutrients across European surplus hotspots to produce protein-rich biomass for nutritional applications. However, the challenging physico-chemical properties of raw digestate constrain microalgal growth and limit digestate valorization potential. This study focused on the pre-treatment of food waste-based digestate using paper-filtration to improve its properties for cultivating Desmodesmus sp. and Chlorella vulgaris. The microalgal growth performance in paper-filtered digestate (PFD, 10 μm-pore size) was then compared to growth in membrane-filtered digestate (MFD, 0.2 μm-pore size). A microplate-based screening coupled with Cytation device assessment of PFD and MFD samples after dilution and with/without phosphorus supplementation showed that PFD was the best substrate. Moreover, phosphorus supplementation resulted in improved growth at higher digestate concentrations (5–10% v/v PFD), indicating the importance of using a balanced growth medium to increase the volumetric usage of digestate. Results were validated in a 3-L bioreactor at 10% PFD with phosphorus supplementation, reaching a biomass concentration of 2.4 g L−1 with a protein and carbohydrate content of 67% and 13% w/w respectively. This trial indicates that paper-filtration is a promising pre-treatment technique to maximize digestate recycling and deliver a sustainable animal feed-grade protein alternative.

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