Culture of microalgae biomass for valorization of table olive processing water

7 Páginas.-- 5 Figuras.-- 3 TablasTable olive processing water (TOPW) contains many complex substances, such as phenols, which could be valorized as a substrate for microalgae biomass culture. The aim of this study was to assess the capability of Nannochloropsis gaditana to grow in TOPW at different concentrations (10-80%) in order to valorize this processing water. Within this range, the highest increment of biomass was determined at percentage of 40% of TOPW, reaching an increment of 0.36 ± 0.05 mg volatile suspended solids (VSS)/L. Components of algal biomass were similar for the experiments at 10-40% of TOPW, where proteins were the major compounds (56-74%). Total phenols were retained in the microalgae biomass (0.020 ± 0.002 g of total phenols/g VSS). Experiments for 80% of TOPW resulted in a low production of microalgae biomass. High organic matter, nitrogen, phosphorus and phenol removal were achieved in all TOPW concentrations. Although high-value products, such as proteins, were obtained and high removal efficiencies of nutrients were determined, microalgae biomass culture should be enhanced to become a suitable integral processing water treatment.The authors are grateful to the Marie Curie International Research Staff Exchange Scheme (IRSES) “Renewable energy production through microalgae cultivation: closing material cycles” (PIRSES-GA-2011-295165) for funding this research. The authors would also like to thank the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness for providing financial support through Project CTM2014-55095-R