Design of microalgae process for nutrient extraction from digestate through laboratory tests and modelling
Résumé
Microalgae culture for extraction of nutrient from digestate was studied at laboratory scale to determine the influence of turbidity of influent, light provided, N:P of the influent, CO2 supplementation and solid retention time on microalgae productivity and associated N removal processes. The experimental results obtained in batch and semi-continuous mode showed the importance of turbidity of influent combined with light intensity on the microalgae roductivity compared to the impact of the level of CO2 supplementation and N:P ratio. Additionally to N assimilation by microalgae, nitrification-denitrification was identified as a major N pathway with N removal at least equal to N assimilation. However, limitation of nitrification process appears possible through the N:P ratio of the influent. The evolution of microalgae communities observed during these trials highlighted the interest of using mix culture allowing a better adaption to the conditions evolutions. Finally, all experimental results were used to build and calibrate a model simulating microalgae growth using nutrients from digestate and such a model was used to design a raceway pond treating digestate from a commercial farm producing 4000 pigs per year.