Sequential Odour Treatment and Microalgal-based Lipids Production: a Novel Platform for Resource Recovery from Odour Emissions

Abstract

The research presents the microalgal lipids production from odour treatment emissions as innovative platform for resource recovery. The study investigated the sequential treatment of xylene and the production of microalgal lipids that are of interest for biodiesel production. The effect of inlet gas flowrate was assessed in a moving bed bioreactor treating xylene, a mean maximum EC_xyl of 0.32±0.25 g xyl m^-3 h^-1, corresponding to a RE_xyl of 93% and PCO₂ of 4±2.6 g CO₂ m^-3 h^-1, when working with an inlet gas flowrate of 1.0 L min^-1. On the other hand, the PBR recorded a maximum mean EC_CO2 was 4.86±1.42 g CO₂ m^-3 h^-1 corresponding to a RE _CO2 of 33.8%. Simultaneously lipids were produced at a maximum mean calculated rate of 5.5 g lipids m^-3 d^-1, as biomass showed a lipid concentration of 12.7%. The results show the feasibility of producing in a circular economy perspective lipid from odour treatment emissions.