Effective Treatment of Livestock Farming Wastewater via Microbial-Algal Biofilm Method

New research out of Changchun, People's Republic of China has shed light on the treatment of livestock farming wastewater. With the rapid growth of the livestock farming industry, finding efficient and safe methods for wastewater treatment has become crucial. The microbial-algal biofilm method has gained attention for its non-toxic nature and high treatment efficiency. A recent study conducted by Jilin Jianzhu University evaluated the effectiveness of three types of substrates – polyurethane sponge, ceramic material, and moving bed biofilm reactor media – in forming biofilms that can treat cattle wastewater.

Key Takeaways:

• The microbial-algal biofilm method has been identified as a promising approach for cattle wastewater treatment, owing to its non-toxic nature and high treatment efficiency.
• The study evaluated three types of substrates: polyurethane sponge, ceramic material, and moving bed biofilm reactor media, and found that polyurethane sponge was the most effective substrate in forming biofilms.
• The optimal cultivation conditions for the microbial-algal biofilms were identified as: illumination intensity of 8000 lux, red light, a temperature of 20°C, a pH of 7, and an aeration intensity of 8 L/min.
• Under these conditions, the pollutant removal rates were exceptionally high: 73.4% for COD, 51.8% for TP, 57.0% for TN, and 75.1% for NH4+-N.
• The research concluded that the microbial-algal biofilm method can be a viable solution for treating livestock farming wastewater.
• The findings of this study have significant implications for the development of sustainable and efficient wastewater treatment systems.

Statistics:

• 73.4%: Pollutant removal rate for COD (Chemical Oxygen Demand) under optimal conditions.
• 51.8%: Pollutant removal rate for TP (Total Phosphorus) under optimal conditions.
• 57.0%: Pollutant removal rate for TN (Total Nitrogen) under optimal conditions.
• 75.1%: Pollutant removal rate for NH4+-N (Ammonium Nitrogen) under optimal conditions.
• 8000 lux: Illumination intensity identified as optimal for microbial-algal biofilm growth.
• 20°C: Temperature identified as optimal for microbial-algal biofilm growth.

Sources:

• Exploring the Effects of Fillers and Cultivation Conditions On Microbial-algal Biofilm Formation and Cattle Wastewater Treatment Efficiency. Water, 2025;17(12):1835.
• Mdpi, St Alban-Anlage 66, Ch-4052 Basel, Switzerland.
• Lei Wu, Jilin Jianzhu University, Key Laboratory of Songliao Aquatic Environment, Ministry of Education, Changchun 130000, People's Republic of China.
• Weice Zhang, Yuting Chen, Chenyang Li, Ming Li, Cong Wang, and Shiyao Sun.