The Effect of Light on Nitrogen Removal by Microalgae-Bacteria Symbiosis System (MBS)

Abstract

The littering of nitrogen into water bodies has led to several adverse effects on the environment. “Nitrification-denitrification” is still a prevalent method for removing nitrogen from water bodies, which demands high energy consumption and complex operational conditions. In recent years, MBS has attracted much attention because of its advantages in recovering nitrogen, emitting oxygen, and capturing CO2. It has been proven that light is the top factor influencing the performance of MBS. This paper will critically review the effects of light parameters on nitrogen removal by MBS, and the nitrogen-removal mechanisms of MBS driven by artificial illumination.

Keywords

• bacterial–algal symbiosis systems
• light
• nitrogen removal
• water treatment