As microalgas são candidatas promissoras para a produção em larga escala de biocombustíveis devido a sua alta eficiência fotossintética. No entanto, os custos relativamente altos de produção por baixas produtividades em lipídios têm sido um dos principais obstáculos que impedem sua produção comercial. Portanto, é necessário focar a pesquisa no aumento da biomassa e na produtividade em lipídios, através do desenvolvimento de biorreatores e técnicas de cultivo inovadoras. Numa primeira fase, este estudo mostra a otimização dos regimes de adição de nutrientes no cultivo de Neochloris oleoabundans em fotobiorreatores tubulares, determinando que a melhor metodologia de adição de CO2 é adicionando-o de forma intermitente e automatizada, enquanto que o melhor processo de alimentação de nitrogênio é por meio de um processo em batelada alimentada tomando como uma referência a produtividade diária de biomassa. Na segunda etapa, foi testada a influência de agentes estressores adicionados ao cultivo sob carência de nitrogênio, tais como tiossulfato de sódio como agente redutor e cloreto de sódio e glicerina como agentes de choque osmótico, buscando um acúmulo de lipídios na biomassa. Os resultados mostraram que o tiossulfato de sódio em 1,2 mM e o cloreto de sódio em 2,2 mM aumentaram o total de lipídios em 21% e 25%, respectivamente. Finalmente, foram testados diferentes regimes de luz, com um esquema 12:12, sendo 12 horas de luz fluorescente e 12 horas com um sistema distinto: escuro, diodos emissores de luz (LED) vermelha e LED branca. Os melhores resultados foram obtidos com LED branca, com um acúmulo de lipídios de até 27% da biomassa seca e uma concentração final de células de 2335mg/L, estabelecendo assim um método de iluminação econômica com alta produtividade (145mg / L dia). / Microalgae are promising candidates for large-scale global biofuel production because of their high photosynthetic efficiency. However, relatively high production costs due to low lipid productivity have been one of the major obstacles impeding their commercial production. Therefore, it is necessary to accurate the research into an increase in biomass and oil productivity, by means of novel bioreactors\' design and cultivation techniques. On a first stage, this study shows the optimization of nutrients\' addition regimes in Neochloris oleoabundans cultivation in tubular photobioreactors, finding that the best CO2 addition methodology is an automatized intermittent adding and the best feeding process for nitrogen is a fed-batch process taking as a reference the daily biomass productivity. On the second step, it was tested the influence of stressing agents added to the culture under nitrogen starvation, such as sodium thiosulphate for reducing environment and sodium chloride and glycerol for osmotic shock, aiming lipid accumulation in the biomass. The results showed that sodium thiosulphate at 1,2mM and sodium chloride at 2,2mM raised the total lipids up to 21% and 25% respectively. Finally, there were tested different light regimes, with a scheme 12:12, being 12 hours of fluorescent light and 12 hours of a singular system: dark, red light-emitting-diodes (LED) and white LED. The best results were obtained with white LED, with an accumulation up to 27% of dry biomass and a final cell concentration up to 2335mg/L, establishing an economic illumination method with high productivity.

Microbial communities are key drivers of biogeochemical cycles and several important industrial processes rely on complex, undefined microbial ecosystems for production or conversion of substrates for example in wastewater treatment or anaerobic digestion plants. Despite their significance, such communities are often poorly defined, if at all. This project concerned previously undefined secondary microbial communities (SMCs) from photobioreactors culturing cyanobacterium Arthrospira platensis, known for producing high-value protein-pigment complex C-phycocyanin (C-PC). C-PC has a range of applications in the biochemical/pharmaceutical and food industries. Next-generation sequencing methods were applied to characterize the SMCs sampled over the course of various batch runs. The bioreactor exerted a strong selective pressure on the SMC, initially diverse and dynamic, succeeded by a stable and predictable SMC dominated by a few species. SMC stability and diversity correlated with reactor performance, especially proliferation and instability of the rare-abundance sub-population; dominant species ratios were likely less important. The substantially larger (compared to other species present) A. platensis filaments may represent a dynamic microenvironment in itself, and if so, constitutes a significant parameter when optimizing culture conditions. Denser and carefully pre-acclimated inocula reduce the ecological space available to undesirable taxa (e.g. pathogens) otherwise below detectable/significant limits. This has implications for other processes that rely on mixed cultures and may be a control strategy in manufacturing active pharmaceutical ingredients to cGMP standards. Molecular data was used to obtain several pure isolates which were characterized further. Strategies to optimize performance with respect to SMCs were explored and evaluated. A significant aspect of this CASE project was an industrial placement with Scottish Bioenergy. The placement involved set-up of a production facility and incremental scale-up of cultivation from 2 L to 1000 L reactors; development of a downstream processing protocol covering harvesting, pigment extraction and protein purification, and some formulation/stability testing. A very low-cost method is described for obtaining relatively high-purities of C-PC, broadly considered the most costly part of the entire production process.

As microalgas são candidatas promissoras para a produção em larga escala de biocombustíveis devido a sua alta eficiência fotossintética. No entanto, os custos relativamente altos de produção por baixas produtividades em lipídios têm sido um dos principais obstáculos que impedem sua produção comercial. Portanto, é necessário focar a pesquisa no aumento da biomassa e na produtividade em lipídios, através do desenvolvimento de biorreatores e técnicas de cultivo inovadoras. Numa primeira fase, este estudo mostra a otimização dos regimes de adição de nutrientes no cultivo de Neochloris oleoabundans em fotobiorreatores tubulares, determinando que a melhor metodologia de adição de CO2 é adicionando-o de forma intermitente e automatizada, enquanto que o melhor processo de alimentação de nitrogênio é por meio de um processo em batelada alimentada tomando como uma referência a produtividade diária de biomassa. Na segunda etapa, foi testada a influência de agentes estressores adicionados ao cultivo sob carência de nitrogênio, tais como tiossulfato de sódio como agente redutor e cloreto de sódio e glicerina como agentes de choque osmótico, buscando um acúmulo de lipídios na biomassa. Os resultados mostraram que o tiossulfato de sódio em 1,2 mM e o cloreto de sódio em 2,2 mM aumentaram o total de lipídios em 21% e 25%, respectivamente. Finalmente, foram testados diferentes regimes de luz, com um esquema 12:12, sendo 12 horas de luz fluorescente e 12 horas com um sistema distinto: escuro, diodos emissores de luz (LED) vermelha e LED branca. Os melhores resultados foram obtidos com LED branca, com um acúmulo de lipídios de até 27% da biomassa seca e uma concentração final de células de 2335mg/L, estabelecendo assim um método de iluminação econômica com alta produtividade (145mg / L dia). / Microalgae are promising candidates for large-scale global biofuel production because of their high photosynthetic efficiency. However, relatively high production costs due to low lipid productivity have been one of the major obstacles impeding their commercial production. Therefore, it is necessary to accurate the research into an increase in biomass and oil productivity, by means of novel bioreactors\' design and cultivation techniques. On a first stage, this study shows the optimization of nutrients\' addition regimes in Neochloris oleoabundans cultivation in tubular photobioreactors, finding that the best CO2 addition methodology is an automatized intermittent adding and the best feeding process for nitrogen is a fed-batch process taking as a reference the daily biomass productivity. On the second step, it was tested the influence of stressing agents added to the culture under nitrogen starvation, such as sodium thiosulphate for reducing environment and sodium chloride and glycerol for osmotic shock, aiming lipid accumulation in the biomass. The results showed that sodium thiosulphate at 1,2mM and sodium chloride at 2,2mM raised the total lipids up to 21% and 25% respectively. Finally, there were tested different light regimes, with a scheme 12:12, being 12 hours of fluorescent light and 12 hours of a singular system: dark, red light-emitting-diodes (LED) and white LED. The best results were obtained with white LED, with an accumulation up to 27% of dry biomass and a final cell concentration up to 2335mg/L, establishing an economic illumination method with high productivity.

abstract: Over the past decade, there has been a revival in applied algal research and attempts at commercialization. However, the main limitation in algal commercialization is the process of cultivation, which is one of the main cost and energy burdens in producing biomass that is economically feasible for different products. There are several parameters that must be considered when growing algae, including the type of growth system and operating mode, preferred organism(s), and many other criteria that affect the process of algal cultivation. The purpose of this dissertation was to assess key variables that affect algal productivity and to improve outdoor algal cultivation procedures. The effect of reducing or eliminating aeration of algal cultures at night, in flat panel photobioreactors (panels), was investigated to assess the reduction of energy consumption at night. The lack of aeration at night resulted in anoxic conditions, which significantly reduced lipid accumulation and productivity, but did not affect log phase biomass productivity. In addition, the reduction in aeration resulted in lower pH values, which prevented ammonia volatility and toxicity. Raceways are operated at deeper cultivation depths, which limit culture density and light exposure. Experimentation was accomplished to determine the effects of decreasing cultivation depth, which resulted in increased lipid accumulation and lipid productivity, but did not significantly affect biomass productivity. A comparison of semi-continuous cultivation of algae in raceways and panels in side-by-side experiments showed that panels provided better temperature control and higher levels of mixing, which resulted in higher biomass productivity. In addition, sub-optimal morning temperatures in raceways compared to panels were a significant factor in reducing algae biomass productivity. The results from this research indicate that increasing lipid productivity and biomass productivity cannot be completed simultaneously. Therefore, the desired product will determine if lipid or biomass productivity is more crucial, which also dictates whether the system should be operated in batch mode to either allow lipid accumulation or in semi-continuous mode to allow high biomass productivity. This work is a critical step in improving algal cultivation by understanding key variables that limit biomass and lipid productivity. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Civil and Environmental Engineering 2015

Orientador: Telma Teixeira Franco / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Engenharia Quimica / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-09T23:18:02Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Lopes_EduardoJacob_D.pdf: 2856802 bytes, checksum: 99aa69511cd3a23d2bb08b6d88de2a71 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2007 / Resumo: A conversão fotossintética de dióxido de carbono em fotobiorreatores foi investigada com o propósito do desenvolvimento de um sistema biológico para o seqüestro de carbono. O processo utilizado consiste na transferência de dióxido de carbono gasoso para a fase líquida de um reator, no qual este composto é convertido em produtos do metabolismo fotossintético pela atividade de microalgas. Em face disto, o trabalho teve por objetivos: (1) avaliar o cultivo fotossintético da microalga $SKDQRWKHFH_ PLFURVFRSLFD_ 1lJHOL em diferentes condições de temperatura, intensidade luminosa e concentração de dióxido de carbono; (2) avaliar a cinética de absorção/dessorção de dióxido de carbono em fotobiorreatores; (3) definir as condições operacionais apropriadas para a remoção biológica de carbono; (4) avaliar os efeitos dos ciclos de luminosidade na fixação de dióxido de carbono e (5) estudar diferentes configurações e modos de operação de fotobiorreatores para remoção de CO2. A capacidade de seqüestro de carbono do sistema foi considerada através de análises dos perfis de CO2 livre na fase líquida do sistema, medidas das concentrações da fase gasosa e conversão estequiométrica em biomassa. Os resultados obtidos demonstraram a importância dos parâmetros operacionais avaliados na fixação de carbono em biomassa, bem como na remoção de global de CO2. O uso da metodologia de superfície de resposta foi adequada na otimização do processo, a qual resultou em um acréscimo superior a 58% nas densidades celulares máximas. O efeito da duração do ciclo de luz foi determinante no desempenho do processo, resultando em reduções de eficiências máximas de até 99,69%. As configurações de reatores estudadas demonstraram o melhor desempenho dos sistemas air-lift, quando comparados aos reatores de coluna de bolhas. Quanto ao modo de operação, os sistemas com recirculação do ar contaminado demonstraram-se eficientes para o abatimento de reduzidas quantidades de dióxido de carbono, embora as séries de dois reatores ligados em série tenham maior eficiência e capacidade de eliminação de dióxido de carbono. O atual estágio de desenvolvimento deste trabalho evidenciou o potencial da aplicação deste tipo de reator em processos de seqüestro de carbono, devido às elevadas taxas de eliminação obtidas. Entretanto, apenas a caracterização parcial das rotas de conversão fotossintética de CO2 foi considerada / Abstract: The photosynthetic conversion of carbon dioxide in photobioreactors was investigated with the objective of developing a biological carbon sequestering system. The process used consisted of transferring gaseous carbon dioxide to the liquid phase of a reactor, in which this compound was converted into photosynthetic metabolism products by the activity of microalgae. Considering this, the objectives of the present work were: (1) evaluate the photosynthetic culture of the microalgae $SKDQRWKHFH_PLFURVFRSLFD_1lJHOL under different conditions of temperature, light intensity and carbon dioxide concentration; (2) evaluate the absorption/desorption kinetics of carbon dioxide in photobioreactors; (3) define the appropriate operational conditions for the biological removal of carbon; (4) evaluate the effects of light cycles on the fixation of carbon dioxide and (5) study different configurations and operational modes of photobioreactors for the removal of CO2. The carbon sequestering capacity of the system was considered from an analysis of the free CO2 profiles in the liquid phase of the system, measurements of the gas phase concentration and the stoichiometric conversion into biomass. The results obtained demonstrated the importance of the operational parameters evaluated in the fixation of carbon in biomass, as also in the overall removal of CO2. The use of response surface methodology was adequate to optimise the process, and resulted in an increase greater than 58% in the maximum cell density. The effect of the duration of the light cycle was determinant in process performance, resulting in reductions in maximum efficiency of up to 99.69%. The configurations of the reactors studied demonstrated the superior performance of airlift systems, as compared to bubble-column reactors. With respect to operational mode, the systems involving the recirculation of contaminated air were shown to be efficient in decreasing reduced amounts of carbon dioxide, although two reactors connected in series were more efficient and showed greater capacity in eliminating carbon dioxide. The current stage of development of this work is evidence of the potential for the application of this type of reactor in carbon sequestering processes, due to the elevated elimination rates. However, only the partial characterisation of the photosynthetic CO2 conversion routes was considered. / Doutorado / Desenvolvimento de Processos Químicos / Doutor em Engenharia Química

No description available.

L'ingénierie de la photosynthèse est une voie prometteuse en vue de produire à la fois des vecteurs énergétiques et des molécules plateformes pour palier la raréfaction des ressources fossiles. Le défi à relever est de taille car il faut réussir à mettre au point des procédés solaires de production de biomasse à constante de temps courte (quelques jours), là où une centaine de millions d'années a été nécessaire à la formation du pétrole. Cet objectif pourrait être atteint en cultivant des micro-organismes photosynthétiques dans des photobioréacteurs dont les performances cinétiques en surface et en volume seraient optimales. Une telle optimisation nécessite avant tout une analyse fine des transferts radiatifs au sein du procédé. L'analyse radiative des photobioréacteurs qui est ici proposée s'ouvre sur la détermination des propriétés d'absorption et de diffusion des suspensions de micro-organismes photosynthétiques, à partir de leurs caractéristiques morphologiques, métaboliques et structurales. Une chaîne de modélisation est construite, mise en oeuvre et validée expérimentalement pour des micro-organismes de formes simples ; à terme, la démarche développée pourra directement être étendue à des formes plus complexes. Puis, l'analyse du transfert radiatif en diffusion multiple est introduite et illustrée par différentes approximations qui apparaissent pertinentes pour une conceptualisation des photobioréacteurs, menant ainsi à la construction d'un intuitif nécessaire à leur optimisation. Enfin, la méthode de Monte Carlo est mise en oeuvre afin de résoudre rigoureusement la diffusion multiple en géométries complexes (géométries qui découlent d'une conception optimisée du procédé) et afin de calculer les performances cinétiques à l'échelle du photobioréacteur. Ce dernier calcul utilise une avancée méthodologique qui permet de traiter facilement le couplage non-linéaire du transfert radiatif à la cinétique locale de la photosynthèse (et qui laisse entrevoir de nombreuses autres applications dans d'autres domaines de la physique du transport). Ces outils de simulation mettent à profit les développements les plus récents autour de la méthode de Monte Carlo, tant sur le plan informatique (grâce à une implémentation dans l'environnement de développement EDStar) que sur le plan algorithmique : formulation intégrale, algorithmes à zéro-variance, calcul de sensibilités (le calcul des sensibilités aux paramètres géométriques est ici abordé d'une manière originale qui permet de simplifier significativement sa mise en oeuvre, pour un ensemble de configurations académiques testées). Les perspectives de ce travail seront d'utiliser les outils d'analyse développés durant cette thèse afin d'alimenter une réflexion sur l'intensification des photobioréacteurs, et d'étendre la démarche proposée à l'étude des systèmes photoréactifs dans leur ensemble. / Photosynthesis engineering is a promising mean to produce both energy carriers and fine chemicals in order to remedy the growing scarcity of fossil fuels. This is a challenging task since it implies to design process for solar biomass production associated with short time constant (few days), while oil formation took hundred million of years. This aim could be achieved by cultivating photosynthetic microorganisms in photobioreactors with optimal surface and volume kinetic performances. Above all, such an optimization necessitate a careful radiative study of the process. A radiative analysis of photobioreactors is here proposed that starts with the determination of the absorption and scattering properties of photosynthetic microorganisms suspensions, from the knowledge their morphological, metabolic and structural features. A model is constructed, implemented and validated for microorganisms with simple shapes ; the extension of this approach for the treatment of complex shapes will eventually be straightforward. Then, multiple scattering radiative transfer analysis is introduced and illustrated through different approximations that are relevant for the conceptualization of photobioreactors, leading to the construction of physical pictures that are necessary for the optimization of the process. Finally, the Monte Carlo method is implemented in order to rigorously solve multiple scattering in complex geometries (geometries that correspond to an optimized design of the process) and in order to calculate the kinetic performances of the reactor. In this trend, we develop a novel methodological development that simplies the treatment of the non-linear coupling between radiative transfer and the local kinetic of photosynthesis. These simulation tools also benefit from the most recent developments in the field of the Monte Carlo method : integral formulation, zero-variance algorithms, sensitivity evaluation (a specific approach for the evaluation of sensitivities to geometrical parameters is here developed and shown to correspond to a simple implementation in the case of a set of academic configurations that are tested). Perspectives of this work will be to take advantage of the developed analysis tools in order to stimulate the reflexion regarding photobioreactor intensification, and to extend the proposed approach to the study of photoreactive systems engineering in general.

Tesis por compendio / [ES] En el contexto actual de escasez de recursos que sufre el planeta (biomasa, agua y energía), la tecnología basada en los cultivos de microalgas para el tratamiento de aguas residuales aparece como una tecnología muy interesante que permite no sólo la eliminación de los nutrientes (N y P) presentes en el agua, sino también la recuperación de estos nutrientes en la producción de una biomasa algal de alto valor con diversas aplicaciones: generación de biogás, producción de biocombustibles y biofertilizantes, elaboración de fármacos y cosméticos, etc. Estudios previos han demostrado que el efluente de un reactor anaerobio de membranas (AnMBR) resulta ser un medio de cultivo óptimo para el crecimiento de las microalgas. No obstante, la mayoría de los estudios existentes se han llevado a cabo a escala laboratorio en condiciones controladas de luz, temperatura, pH, carga de nutrientes, etc., y normalmente siempre en experimentos batch. Este trabajo consiste en el estudio y modelación matemática del proceso de cultivo de microalgas en una planta piloto de fotobiorreactores de membrana (MPBR) operando en continuo y en condiciones outdoor para el tratamiento del efluente de un sistema AnMBR que trata agua residual urbana real. Durante la fase de experimentación de los cultivos de microalgas se han llevado a cabo diversos experimentos en la planta MPBR donde se han evaluado diversos factores que afectan al crecimiento de las microalgas: temperatura, luz solar, tiempo de retención celular (TRC), carga de nutrientes o tiempo de retención hidráulico (TRH), sistema de recirculación del cultivo y el volumen en zona oscura. Los resultados obtenidos muestran la enorme importancia de las condiciones ambientales (luz solar y temperatura) en el rendimiento de los cultivos de microalgas. La temperatura óptima del cultivo de microalgas con predominancia del género Scenedesmus sp. resultó estar en torno a los 25ºC, mientras que temperaturas por debajo de 20ºC y por encima de 25ºC afectaron negativamente a la productividad de biomasa. La operación del sistema de fotobiorreactores (FBR) sin membranas para TRH 8 días y en condiciones ambientales favorables consiguió reducir la concentración de nutrientes por debajo de los límites de vertido que marca la Directiva 98/15/CE (10 mg N·L-1 y 1 mg P·L-1) alcanzando valores de eliminación de 75,2% de N y 77,9% de P. La operación del sistema MPBR permitió desacoplar el TRC del TRH en la operación de los FBR, lo que resultó en una mejora general del rendimiento de los cultivos de microalgas y permitió obtener un efluente libre de sólidos con alto potencial de reutilización. Los sistemas de recirculación del cultivo de microalgas comparados en el estudio (bombeo mecánico vs sistema airlift) no afectaron significativamente al rendimiento del cultivo. Por otro lado, reduciendo el volumen en zona oscura de un 27,2% al 13,6% en el sistema MPBR se consiguió un incremento del 40% en la productividad de biomasa. Mediante el uso de los datos obtenidos en planta piloto se ha desarrollado un modelo matemático de crecimiento de microalgas que permite simular de manera muy precisa (R2 = 0,9954) el comportamiento de los cultivos de microalgas en un sistema MPBR. Este modelo utiliza la notación y terminología de los modelos ASM, y consta de un total de 14 componentes (10 solubles y 4 suspendidos), 11 procesos gobernados por la cinética y los equilibrios ácido-base que determinan el pH del medio. Además, el modelo considera los efectos la luz y la temperatura en el crecimiento. Como novedad interesante respecto a otros modelos matemáticos de crecimiento de microalgas ya publicados, este modelo contempla, en condiciones de ausencia de P en el medio de cultivo, el crecimiento de las microalgas a partir del polifosfato almacenado internamente. El modelo desarrollado en este trabajo pretende ser una herramienta para facilitar la implementación futura de la tecnología de cultivos de microalgas en una EDAR a escala industrial. / [CAT] En el context actual d'escassetat de recursos que sofreix el planeta (biomassa, agua i energia), la tecnologia basada en els cultius de microalgues per al tractament d'aigües residuals apareix com una tecnologia molt interessant que permet no només l'eliminació dels nutrients (N i P) presents a l'aigua, sinó també la recuperació d'aquests nutrients amb la producció d'una biomassa algal d'alt valor amb diverses aplicacions: generació de biogàs, producció de biocombustibles i biofertilitzants, elaboració de fàrmacs i cosmètics, etc. Estudis previs han demostrat que l'efluent d'un reactor anaerobi de membranes (AnMBR) resulta ser un mitjà de cultiu òptim per al creixement de les microalgues. Tot i això, la majoria dels estudis existents s'han dut a terme a escala laboratori en condicions controlades de llum, temperatura, pH, càrrega de nutrients, etc., i normalment sempre en experiments batch. Aquest treball consisteix en l'estudi i la modelació matemàtica del procés de cultiu de microalgues en una planta pilot de fotobioreactors de membrana (MPBR) operant en continu i en condicions outdoor per al tractament de l'efluent d'un sistema AnMBR que tracta aigua residual urbana real. Durant la fase d'experimentació dels cultius de microalgues s'han dut a terme diversos experiments a la planta MPBR on s'han avaluat diversos factors que afecten al creixement de les microalgues: temperatura, llum solar, temps de retenció cel·lular (TRC), càrrega de nutrients o temps de retenció hidràulic (TRH), sistema de recirculació del cultiu i el volum en zona obscura. Els resultats obtinguts mostren l'enorme importància de les condicions ambientals (llum solar i temperatura) en el rendiment dels cultius de microalgues. La temperatura òptima del cultiu de microalgues amb predominança del gènere Scenedesmus sp. va resultar estar entorn als 25ºC, mentre que temperatures per sota de 20ºC i per sobre de 25ºC van afectar negativament a la productivitat de biomassa. L'operació del sistema de fotobioreactors (FBR) sense membranes per a TRH 8 dies i en condicions ambientals favorables va aconseguir reduir la concentració de nutrients per sota dels límits d'abocament que marca la Directiva 98/15/CE (10 mg N·L-1 i 1 mg (P·L-1) assolint valors d'eliminació de 75,2% de N i 77,9% de P. L'operació del sistema MPBR va permetre desacoblar el TRC del TRH en l'operació dels FBR, la qual cosa va resultar en una millora general del rendiment dels cultius de microalgues i va permetre obtenir un efluent lliure de sòlids amb un alt potencial de reutilització. Els sistemes de recirculació del cultiu de microalgues comparats en aquest estudi (bombeig mecànic vs sistema airlift) no van afectar significativament al rendiment del cultiu. D'altra banda, reduint el volum en zona obscura del 27,2% al 13,6% al sistema MPBR es va aconseguir un increment del 40% en la productivitat de biomassa. Mitjançant l'ús de les dades obtingudes a la planta pilot s'ha desenvolupat un model matemàtic de creixement de microalgues que permet simular de manera molt precisa (R2 = 0,9954) el comportament dels cultius de microalgues en un sistema MPBR. Aquest model utilitza la notació i la terminologia dels models ASM, i consta d'un total de 14 components (10 solubles i 4 suspesos), 11 processos governats per la cinètica i els equilibris àcid-base que determinen el pH del medi. A més, el model considera els efectes de la llum i la temperatura en el creixement. Com a novetat interessant respecte d'altres models matemàtics de creixement de microalgues ja publicats, aquest model contempla, en condicions d'absència de P en el mitjà de cultiu, el creixement de les microalgues a partir del polifosfat emmagatzemat internament. El model desenvolupat en aquest treball pretén ser una eina per facilitar la implementació futura de la tecnologia de cultius de microalgues a una EDAR a escala industrial. / [EN] In the actual context of resource scarcity along the world (biomass, water and energy), microalgae-based technology for wastewater treatment appears as a promising technology that allows not only nutrient removal (N and P) from wastewater, but also the recovery of these nutrients for the production of high-value algal biomass which has different applications: biogas generation, biofuel and biofertilizer production, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics manufacturing, etc. Previous studies have proved that the effluent from an anaerobic membrane bioreactor (AnMBR) could be a suitable growth medium for microalgae cultivation. However, most of the existing studies have been carried out at bench scale under controlled conditions of light, temperature, pH, nutrient load, etc., when working in batch mode. The present work consists of the study and mathematical modelling of an outdoor pilot-scale membrane photobioreactor (MPBR) for microalgae cultivation under continuous operation for treating the effluent of an AnMBR system fed with real municipal wastewater. During the experimental phase of microalgae cultivation, different experiments were carried out in the MPBR plant to evaluate the main factors that affect microalgae growth: temperature, solar light irradiance, biomass retention time (BRT), nutrient load or hydraulic retention time (HRT), the algae culture recirculation system and the non-photic volume. The results obtained show the significant effect of the environmental conditions (solar light and temperature) on the microalgae cultivation performance. Optimum temperature for the microalgae cultures with a predominance of the genus Scenedesmus sp. resulted to be around 25ºC, while temperatures below 20ºC and above 25ºC negatively affected biomass productivity. During the operation of the photobioreactors (PBRs) system without membranes at HRT of 8 days and under favourable environmental conditions, it was possible to comply with effluent nutrient discharge limits established by Directive 98/15/CE (10 mg N·L-1 and 1 mg P·L-1) and to achieve nutrient removal efficiencies of 75.2% of N and 77.9% of P. The MPBR plant allowed decoupling BRT and TRH in the PBRs operation, which resulted in a general improvement of the microalgae cultivation performance and allowed to obtain a solid-free effluent with high potential for reuse applications. The microalgae culture recirculation systems compared in the study (mechanical pumping vs airlift system) did not significantly affect the culture performance. Moreover, reducing the non-photic volume fraction in the MPBR system from 27.2% to 13.6% resulted in an increase of 40% in biomass productivity. A mathematical model of microalgal growth was developed by making use of the data obtained in the pilot plant. This model was able to reproduce accurately (R2 = 0.9954) the overall microalgae cultivation performance in an MPBR system. This model uses the notation and terminology of the ASM models, and it considers a total of 14 components (10 soluble and 4 suspended), 11 processes governed by kinetics and acid-base equilibria to calculate the pH of the medium. In addition, the model considers the effects of solar light and temperature on microalgae growth. As an interesting novelty with respect to other published mathematical models of microalgae growth, this model contemplates the possibility of using the stored polyphosphate for growing in the absence of P in the culture medium. The model developed in this work is intended to be a tool to promote the future implementation of microalgae cultivation technology on full-scale WWTP. / This research was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (MINECO, Projects CTM2011-28595-C02-01/02, CTM2014-54980-C2-1-R and CTM2014-54980-C2-2-R) jointly with the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and Generalitat Valenciana (GVA-ACOMP2013/203), which are gratefully acknowledged. The authors also like to acknowledge the support received from Generalitat Valenciana via one VALi+d post-doctoral grant (APOSTD/2014/049). / Viruela Navarro, A. (2023). Modelación matemática del proceso de crecimiento de microalgas en el tratamiento de aguas residuales Aplicación a un fotobiorreactor de membranas (MPBR) [Tesis doctoral]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/195826 / Compendio