Development of universal stoichiometric coefficients for modeling microalgal cultivation systems

Biological treatment processes at water resource recovery facilities (WRRFs; a.k.a. wastewater treatment plants) are approaching the limit of technology for nitrogen and phosphorus removal. Algae treatment technologies have the ability to remove additional nitrogen and phosphorus, thereby lowering the effluent nutrient discharge level at WRRFs. A critical challenge for the adoption of algal technologies, however, is the lack of robust algae modeling platforms for wastewater treatment that can predict process performance under fluctuating reactor conditions and despite the inevitable biodiversity of influent wastewater. One necessary step towards improved modeling capabilities for algae treatment systems is the development of generalizable model parameters, such as stoichiometric parameters – like those used in the International Water Association’s (IWA’s) Activated Sludge Models (ASMs). This work introduces universal stoichiometric coefficients for algal process modeling derived from the conserved enzymatic properties for seven algae species using 11 genome-scale models. The model parameters include yield coefficients for algae grown under various energy inputs (photoautotrophic and heterotrophic), nitrogen sources (ammonia and nitrate), and carbon sources (inorganic, acetate, and glucose) as well as stoichiometric parameters for the accumulation of storage compounds (starch and lipids). Generalizable stoichiometric parameters based on conserved metabolic properties would bolster accuracy and the accessibility of algal process models. This will help promote the use of algal technologies by wastewater design engineers and utilities to improve the effluent quality at water resource recovery facilities.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.S.

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Environ Engr in Civil Engr

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2019

Author dc:creator

• Schramm, Stephanie Marie

Contributors dc:contributor

• Guest, Jeremy S.

• metabolic modeling
• wastewater
• microalgae

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2018 Stephanie Schramm

Language dc:language

en

Handle dc:identifier

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/102959

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/102959