Utilization of Wastewater for Microalgal Cultivation

Abstract

Bioreactors and methods for cultivating microalgae using fruit wastewater are provided herein. The bioreactor and methods include features and modifications to improve heterotrophic growth efficiency by providing a light signal.

1 . A method for cultivating a microalgae capable of heterotrophic growth, comprising: incubating the microalgae under a heterotrophic growth condition for a period of time sufficient to allow the microalgae to grow, wherein the heterotrophic growth condition comprises a media comprising a fruit wastewater, and wherein the heterotrophic growth condition further comprises light. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the microalgae is a Botryococcus strain, wherein the fruit wastewater is raisin wastewater or wine wastewater, and wherein the light is a low irradiance of light between 3-5 μmol photons m −2  s −1 . 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the microalgae is a  Botryococcus sudeticus  strain, a  Botryococcus  strain, a UTEX 2629 strain, a  Botryococcus braunii  strain, a UTEX 2441 strain, a  Neochloris oleabundans  strain, a  Neochloris  strain, a UTEX 1185 strain, a  Chlamydomonas reinhardtii  strain, a  Chlamydomonas  strain, a UTEX 2243 strain, or a strain comprising a photoreceptor. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fruit wastewater is raisin wastewater or wastewater from a winery. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the light is produced by a natural light source, the light is natural sun light, the light comprises full spectrum light or a specific wavelength of light, the light is produced by an artificial light source, or the light is artificial light. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the intensity of the light is between 0.01-1 μmol photons m −2  s −1 , between 1-10 μmol photons m −2  s −1 , between 10-100 μmol photons m −2  s −1 , between 100-300 μmol photons m −2  s −1 , 3-4 μmol/m 2 s −1  photons, 2-3 μmol/m 2 s −1  photons, 1-2 μmol/m 2 s −1  photons, or 3-5 μmol/m 2 s −1  photons. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising producing a material from the microalgae. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the material is a polysaccharide, a pigment, a lipid, or a hydrocarbon. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising processing the material. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the processing of the material produces a processed material. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the processed material is selected from the group consisting of a fuel, biodiesel, jet fuel, a cosmetic, a pharmaceutical agent, a surfactant, and a renewable diesel. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the growth rate of the microalgae is higher than a second microalgae incubated under a second heterotrophic growth condition for a period of time sufficient to allow the microalgae to grow, wherein the second heterotrophic growth condition comprises a growth media comprising a non-wastewater carbon source. 
     
     
         13 . A culture for cultivating a microalgae capable of heterotrophic growth, wherein the culture comprises the microalgae placed under a heterotrophic growth condition for a period of time sufficient to allow the microalgae to grow, wherein the heterotrophic growth condition comprises a media comprising a fruit wastewater, and wherein the heterotrophic growth condition further comprises light. 
     
     
         14 . The culture of  claim 13 , wherein the microalgae is a  Botryococcus  strain, wherein the fruit wastewater is raisin wastewater or wine wastewater, and wherein the light is a low irradiance of light between 3-5 μmol photons m −2  s −1 . 
     
     
         15 . The culture of  claim 13 , wherein the microalgae is a  Botryococcus sudeticus  strain, a  Botryococcus  strain, a UTEX 2629 strain, a  Botryococcus braundii  strain, a UTEX 2441 strain, a  Neochioris oleabundans  strain, a  Neochloris  strain, a UTEX 1185 strain, a  Chiamydomonas reinhardtii  strain, a  Chiamydomonas  strain, a UTEX 2243 strain, or a strain comprising a photoreceptor. 
     
     
         16 . The culture of  claim 13 , wherein the fruit wastewater is raisin wastewater or wastewater from a winery. 
     
     
         17 . The culture of  claim 13 , wherein the intensity of the light is between 0.01-1 μmol photons m −2  s −1 , between 1-10 μmol photons m −2  s −1 , between 10-100 μmol photons m −2  s −1 , between 100-300 μmol photons m −2  s −1 , 3-4 μmol/m 2 s −1  photons, 2-3 μmol/m 2 s −1  photons, 1-2 μmol/m 2 s −1  photons, or 3-5 μmol/m 2 s −1  photons. 
     
     
         18 . The culture of  claim 13 , wherein the fruit wastewater is the only carbon source in the media. 
     
     
         19 . The culture of  claim 13 , wherein the fruit wastewater is the only source of glucose in the media or the fruit wastewater is the only source of sugar in the media.