PROGRAMME

Session 58(V) - Environmental Biotechnology and Bioenergy

Dr Eleftheria Klontza

Production and characterization of microalgal biomass from dairy wastewater

VR3 Saturday 4 September 16:00 - 16:03

During the last decade, a large scientific effort has been directed towards the cultivation of microalgae in dairy wastewater. Among different microalgal species, Chlorella sorokiniana is a small, fast-growing, robust microalgae that can be grown under mixotrophic conditions. In the current study, sequencing batch experiments were conducted with Chlorella sorokiniana and three different types of milk processing wastewater; raw dairy wastewater (DWW), anaerobically treated DWW, and cheese whey. The wastewater were analyzed before and after treatment with microalgae while the microalgal biomass was collected at the end of the experiments and characterized for proteins, lipids, starch as well as for the existence of specific organic compounds. According to the results, the protein content of microalgal biomass reached 52.8% when anaerobically treated DWW were used. Important concentrations of lutein and b-carotene were also found in the collected biomass.