Waste water treatment through microalgae and cyanobacteria

Resource recovery systems for microalgae and cyanobacteria could substantially advance the recovery of nutrients from waste water by reaching the rate of effluent nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) below the current technology limits. However, the efficient introduction of phytoplankton involves the creation of process models that retain efficiency and simplicity in order to effectively replicate complex performance in response to environmental conditions. This research synthesises the variety of model structures that have gained from the modelling of algae and cyanobacteria and the key model features needed to allow reliable process modelling in water resource recovery facilities. Processes of cyanobacteria, including comprehensive growth prediction guidelines (under phototrophic, heterotrophic and mixotrophic conditions), nutrient absorption, carbon absorption and accumulation, and respiration are provided.