Picture:
Green algae and yeast reinforce one another’s growth potential and thus increase the efficiency of wastewater treatment.
Photo credit: Osaka Metropolitan University
Bakeries and wineries cannot do without yeast, but they do not need green algae either. Nonetheless, wastewater treatment plants might want these microorganisms to group together. Researchers at Osaka Metropolitan University have found that these easy organisms form the perfect combination to extend the efficiency of wastewater treatment.
The activated sludge approach to wastewater treatment requires electricity to make sure the flow of oxygen that feeds bacteria and other organisms that process the water. Adding microalgae to perform photosynthesis, which produces oxygen, improves energy efficiency, but low carbon dioxide levels hinder their growth. Enter the yeast, which produces carbon dioxide.
Associate Professor Ryosuke Yamada of the Graduate School of Engineering led the group in investigating which combination of most of these microorganisms would supply the best efficiency in wastewater treatment. To the researchers’ knowledge, the group found for the primary time that the mixture of green algae and yeast had the perfect effectiveness. Particularly, the mixture improved the green algae’s ability to soak up ammonium and phosphate ions.
“The green algae and yeasts are extremely secure for humans, especially considering that treated wastewater is discharged into the environment,” explained Professor Yamada. “These microorganisms also can accumulate useful compounds akin to polysaccharides, fats and oils of their cells and be used as microbial fertilizers, so useful compounds might be expected to be produced similtaneously wastewater treatment.”
The outcomes were published in .
About OMU
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magazine
Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology
DOI
Research method
Experimental study
Subject of research
Not applicable
Article title
The joint use of microalgae and heterotrophic microorganisms improves the efficiency of wastewater treatment
Article publication date
September 18, 2024
COI statement
The authors declare that they don’t have any conflicts of interest.
Source: Osaka Metropolitan University
Source: Osaka Metropolitan University
