PhotoBioValue project: Microalgae-bacteria consortium for the bioremediation of urban wastewater in pilot-scale photobioreactors

Two innovative pilot-scale channel photobioreactors (PBRs) were used to culture a microalgae-bacteria consortium in primary urban wastewater. The abundance of total heterotrophs and faecal coliforms, and the concentrations of nitrogen, phosphorus and seven volatile methylsiloxanes (VMSs) were evaluated. Microalgae grew effectively in these PBRs with high nitrogen and phosphorus removal efficiencies. Cultivable faecal coliforms decreased significantly in both PBRs. Promising results are expected on the capacity of these systems for VMS removal.