On the Perspective of Applying of a New Method for Wastewater Treatment Technology: Modification of the Third Traditional Stage with Two Units, One by Cultivating Microalgae and Another by Solar Vaporization

Abstract

This Short Communication presents the concept of a new method for water/wastewater treatment technology using microalgae cultivation in effluents with the aims to treat, clean, and recycle waters using two units: the first one for cultivating microalgae and the second one through using sunlight and other types of renewable energy (wind photoelectric phenomena) modifying the physicochemical properties for vaporizing water that resulting from microalgae cultivation. The combined production of biomass by microalgae cultivation in polluted waters can allow achieving two main objectives: first, generate clean water and reuse it, and second, producing biomass, which may be used as resource for biofuels. Alternatively, it can be grown the microalgae using the CO2 produced by anaerobic digestion, while methane (CH4) as fuel after separation of biogases. The research objectives will be attained by setting up a device for wastewater treatment, microalgae cultivation, and cleaning water from wastewater by a solar unit. This process will reuse the effluent for growth of microalgae in photo-bioreactor and open system (outdoor pond). A global process study should also be performed with the aim of establishing the feasibility of scale-up application.