Total coliforms, E. coli, Enterococcus spp., and Staphylococcus spp. removal in vertical tubular photobioreactor with and without support medium

Unsafe water has severe implications for human health. Among sanitary wastewater treatment technologies, those that treat effluent in the most natural way possible (avoiding chemicals) need to be employed to minimize environmental damage upon release. Microalgae-based systems are one of the more economical and sustainable methods. Some studies have suggested that the use of photobioreactors incorporating a supporting medium for biofilm formation surpasses suspension reactors in both biomass productivity and effluent treatment efficiency. Therefore, the aim of this study was investigated whether the use of a supporting medium in vertical tubular photobioreactors (T-PBRs) could improve the pathogens removal (total coliforms, E. coli, Enterococcus spp., and Staphylococcus spp.) and analyzed the efficiency under light and dark photoperiods to optimize removal and wastewater treatment in microalgae systems. The novelty of this study is that it is the first time a support medium addition in a T-PBRs has been evaluated for pathogen and microorganism removal from sanitary wastewater. All four pathogens showed better removal in T2-PBR (with support medium) - >90%, and especially during light sampling periods. E. coli was the microorganisms with highest removal efficiency (4.43 log-Re - 99.99%).