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Efficient Nitrogen Recovery from Agro-Energy Effluents for Cyanobacteria Cultivation ( Spirulina )

Author

Listed:
  • Luca Attene

    (Department of Civil-Environmental Engineering and Architecture, University of Cagliari, Via Marengo 2, 09123 Cagliari, Italy)

  • Andrea Deiana

    (Livegreen Società Agricola S.r.l., Vico Episcopio 12, 09170 Oristano, Italy)

  • Alessandra Carucci

    (Department of Civil-Environmental Engineering and Architecture, University of Cagliari, Via Marengo 2, 09123 Cagliari, Italy
    National Research Council of Italy (CNR), Institute of Environmental Geology and Geoengineering (IGAG), Piazza d’Armi 1, 09123 Cagliari, Italy)

  • Giorgia De Gioannis

    (Department of Civil-Environmental Engineering and Architecture, University of Cagliari, Via Marengo 2, 09123 Cagliari, Italy
    National Research Council of Italy (CNR), Institute of Environmental Geology and Geoengineering (IGAG), Piazza d’Armi 1, 09123 Cagliari, Italy)

  • Fabiano Asunis

    (Department of Civil-Environmental Engineering and Architecture, University of Cagliari, Via Marengo 2, 09123 Cagliari, Italy)

  • Claudio Ledda

    (Livegreen Società Agricola S.r.l., Vico Episcopio 12, 09170 Oristano, Italy)

Abstract

The present study aimed to obtain an efficient liquid nitrogen fertilizer from the by-product of anaerobic digestion for its subsequent use in the production of cyanobacteria ( Spirulina ). A simple recovery technology was tested based on the stripping and acid absorption, modifying temperature (50 and 70 °C) and pH (10 and 12), of the ammonia nitrogen contained in the digestate produced in a large-scale plant treating livestock manure and grass silage. The results demonstrated how, at a relatively low temperature (50 °C), using sulfuric and citric acid solution, it is possible to recover nitrogen from a digestate in the form of ammonium sulfate and ammonium citrate with yields of 70% and 72.1% respectively. By carrying out Spirulina growth tests, promising results were obtained under semicontinuous production, with a maximum dry biomass daily productivity of 0.344 g L −1 day −1 with ammonium sulfate and 0.246 gDW L −1 day −1 with ammonium citrate. The results showed that nitrogen can be efficiently recovered on site by using the organic acid, digestate and waste heat from anaerobic digestion for Spirulina biomass production.

Suggested Citation

  • Luca Attene & Andrea Deiana & Alessandra Carucci & Giorgia De Gioannis & Fabiano Asunis & Claudio Ledda, 2022. "Efficient Nitrogen Recovery from Agro-Energy Effluents for Cyanobacteria Cultivation ( Spirulina )," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(1), pages 1-14, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2022:i:1:p:675-:d:1020523
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Malhotra, Milan & Aboudi, Kaoutar & Pisharody, Lakshmi & Singh, Ayush & Banu, J. Rajesh & Bhatia, Shashi Kant & Varjani, Sunita & Kumar, Sunil & González-Fernández, Cristina & Kumar, Sumant & Singh, R, 2022. "Biorefinery of anaerobic digestate in a circular bioeconomy: Opportunities, challenges and perspectives," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 166(C).
    2. Marco Baldi & Maria Cristina Collivignarelli & Alessandro Abbà & Ilaria Benigna, 2018. "The Valorization of Ammonia in Manure Digestate by Means of Alternative Stripping Reactors," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(9), pages 1-14, August.
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