MicroalgaE biomass from phototrophic-heterotrophic cultivation using olive oil Wastewater

The project, financed by the EU LIFE programme aims at demonstrating the environmental benefits and the economic feasibility of an innovative approach to producing microalgal biomass in an integrated phototrophic-heterotrophic cultivation system. The proposed system uses preconcentrated (in a membrane filtration plant) olive wastewaters as carbon sources for the growing algae, thus contributing to water reused and valorization. 

The project consortium consists of 6 partners: NextChem (project Coordinator) BIO-P, HTR, Megara Resins, Technosind and LABOR which is involved in the revamping of a membrane prototype able to treat wastewaters from olive oil production that cannot be treated in conventional biological depuration plants due to their toxic characteristics. As a result, these waters are discharged in the environment. The prototype realized by LABOR is able to treat wastewaters from the agri-food industry and make them reusable and valorized as input for algae cultivation.