fundamental studies of microalgal biofilm formation and microalgalbacterial membrane photobioreactors
abstract
microalgae is one of the photoautotrophic microorganisms that has attracted significant
attention in wastewater treatment and biofuel production. although researchers claimed that
microalgae cultivation in wastewater treatment has a very high potential for nutrient removal and
economic benefit from downstream production, microalgae brought drawbacks such as extra cost
and energy consumption due to diluted concentration, lower effluent quality because of suspended
biomass, and risk of contamination by bacteria. biofilm cultivation is considered an alternative to
overcome the prementioned disadvantages. furthermore, involving membrane technology in
biofilm cultivation could further promote biomass harvesting efficiency and effluent quality. thus,
the new biofilm membrane bioreactors such as membrane carbonated microalgal biofilm reactor
(mcmbr), and extractive membrane microalgal biofilm reactor (emmbr) should have great
prospects in sewage treatment. [...]