OBTAINING MICROALGAE BIOMASS IN WASTEWATER FOR BIOFUELS PRODUCTION

Abstract

The objective of the study was to study the implementation of an industrial wastewater treatment system, more sustainable treatment technologies such as the cultivation of microalgae, taking advantage of microalgal biomass to obtain biodiesel, animal feed or other uses. Native microalgae were isolated from natural sources in the department of Santander, evaluating their growth in a synthetic medium, and scaled in order to promote adaptation to cultivation conditions. The growth conditions and variables of the microalgae in industrial wastewater and their purification capacity were determined; considering the photoperiod and sterilization or not of the wastewater. Finding that the microalgae showed significant growth, easily adapting to the conditions of the environment; A decrease in parameters such as COD, phosphates and nitrates was observed, demonstrating the possibility of applying it as tertiary wastewater treatments. The biomass was separated from the culture medium, carrying out an extraction of the lipids, theoretically calculating the biodiesel production based on the efficiency of the transesterification reaction. Concluding that this dual-purpose system constitutes a viable alternative for the production of biodiesel and the treatment of wastewater.