Removal of Clostridium perfringens and Staphylococcus spp. in Microalgal–Bacterial Systems: Influence of Microalgal Inoculum and CO2/O2 Addition

Conventional biological wastewater treatment systems have a low pathogen removal capacity. Microalgae-based systems are sustainable and low-cost alternatives for wastewater treatment and are capable of removing pathogens from domestic effluents. Other microorganisms have been identified as alternati...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Water (Basel) 2023-01, Vol.15 (1), p.5
Main Authors: Ruas, Graziele, Farias, Sarah Lacerda, dos Reis, Bruno A. B., Serejo, Mayara Leite, da Silva, Gustavo Henrique Ribeiro, Boncz, Marc Árpád
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Algae
Aquatic microorganisms
Bacteria
Biological wastewater treatment
Carbon dioxide
Chemical oxygen demand
Chlorella
Clostridium perfringens
Disinfection
Domestic wastewater
Drinking water
E coli
Efficiency
Experiments
Household wastes
Inoculum
Microorganisms
Pathogens
Reactors
Sludge
Spores
Staphylococcus
Staphylococcus infections
Toxins
Variance analysis
Wastewater treatment
Wastewater treatment plants
Water treatment
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Summary:Conventional biological wastewater treatment systems have a low pathogen removal capacity. Microalgae-based systems are sustainable and low-cost alternatives for wastewater treatment and are capable of removing pathogens from domestic effluents. Other microorganisms have been identified as alternative indicators of disinfection since they have greater resistance than Escherichia coli, either because of the formation of spores or because of other mechanisms of protection, and because they spread in wastewater treatment plants; the most important are Clostridium perfringens and Staphylococcus spp. This study assessed the influence of microalgal strains (e.g., Chlorella vulgaris and Scenedesmus acutus Meyen) and the addition of CO2 and O2 on the removal of C. perfringens and Staphylococcus spp. from domestic wastewater in microalgal–bacterial systems. The removal of C. perfringens (2.5 to 3.2 log units) and Staphylococcus sp. (1.8 to 2.0 log units) was higher when using Chlorella sp. inoculum. The addition of CO2 and O2 did not have a significant effect on the removal of pathogenic bacteria. The main mechanism of C. perfringens removal was by means of toxins and bactericidal substances produced by the microalgae, while Staphylococcus spp. removal also occurred through photooxidative processes.
ISSN:2073-4441
2073-4441
DOI:10.3390/w15010005