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Enhancing microalgal cultures in desalinized wastewater from semiarid regions: An assessment of growth dynamics and biomass accumulation

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Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the novel valorization of wastewater through the desalination process of concentrated saline water (CSW) originating from the semiarid regions of Brazil using the growth of two microalgae and modeling their growth using a kinetic model. Chlorella vulgaris and Ankistrodesmus fusiformis were cultured for 15 days in BG 11 medium that was partially replaced with wastewater, and the data from the best growing conditions were fitted to the model of Gompertz. The CSW had a low heavy metal concentration and both algae grew under all conditions studied. However, each microalga exhibited a different behavior under the same conditions. C. vulgaris remained only in the adaptation phase when it was cultured in 100% CSW. In contrast, A. fusiformis was only 3 days in the lag phase and had 67% more biomass than C. vulgaris. 75% CSW was best for both microalgae. This study demonstrates a circular bioeconomy model that can be applied to semiarid regions to provide water and food security for the local population. The potential of A. fusiformis has also been highlighted; however, it has not yet been explored in the field of microalgae culture.

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All data generated or analysed during this study are included in this published article.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the Microalgae Bank of LaBBiotec/IB/UFBA for facilitating the microalgae strains and to Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) and National Council for Technological and Scientific Development - Brazil (CNPq). The authors thank Janice Izabel Druzian, Full Professor at the Federal University of Bahia (in memoriam), for all the teachings provided – our eternal gratitude.

Funding

This study was partially funded by the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - Brazil (CAPES) - Finance Code 001. The authors are also thankful for the financial support provided by the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico - Brazil (CNPq), process CNPq Nº 309955/2022-0.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Graduate Program in Food Science, Faculty of Pharmacy, Federal University of Bahia (UFBA), Salvador, Bahia, 40170-290, Brazil

    Kricelle Mosquera Deamici & Carolina Oliveira de Souza

  2. GreenCoLab, Associação Oceano Verde, 8005-139, Universidade do Algarve, Campus Gambelas, Ed. 2, Faro, Portugal

    Kricelle Mosquera Deamici

  3. Graduate Program in Chemical Engineering (PPEQ), Polytechnic School, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil

    Luiggi Cavalcanti Pessôa & Denilson de Jesus Assis

  4. Environment Department, Senai Cimatec University Center, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil

    Luiggi Cavalcanti Pessôa

  5. Department of Bromatological Analysis, College of Pharmacy, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil

    Saulo Nascimento Mata & Carolina Oliveira de Souza

  6. Green-Blue Laboratory (GBLAB), Environmental Engineering Department (DEA), Polytechnic School (EP), Federal University of Bahia (UFBA), Salvador, Bahia, Brazil

    Ícaro Thiago Andrade Moreira

  7. School of Exact and Technological Sciences, Salvador University, Salvador, 41820-021, Brazil

    Denilson de Jesus Assis

Authors
  1. Kricelle Mosquera Deamici
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  2. Luiggi Cavalcanti Pessôa
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  3. Saulo Nascimento Mata
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  4. Ícaro Thiago Andrade Moreira
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  5. Denilson de Jesus Assis
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  6. Carolina Oliveira de Souza
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Contributions

Kricelle Deamici: Conceptualization, Methodology, Investigation, Writing, Review, Editing - original draft. Saulo Mata: Investigation. Luiggi Pessôa: Writing - original draft, Modeling growth, Editing - original draft. Ícaro Moreira: Methodology. Denilson Assis: Modeling growth, Statistical analysis of the data. Carolina Oliveira: Project administration, Supervision, Editing - original draft.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kricelle Mosquera Deamici.

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Deamici, K.M., Pessôa, L.C., Mata, S.N. et al. Enhancing microalgal cultures in desalinized wastewater from semiarid regions: An assessment of growth dynamics and biomass accumulation. J Appl Phycol (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10811-023-03175-w

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10811-023-03175-w

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