Researchers have found that pairing green algae with yeast improves the efficiency of treating wastewater.
While bakeries and wineries rely on yeast, green algae aren’t typically needed in those contexts. However, wastewater treatment plants could benefit from a collaboration between these microorganisms. A team from Osaka Metropolitan University has shown that using both organisms together significantly enhances the effectiveness of wastewater treatment.
The active sludge technique used in wastewater treatment depends on electricity to supply oxygen, which is essential for bacteria and other organisms to process the water. Introducing microalgae that can perform photosynthesis to produce oxygen helps increase energy efficiency. However, the growth of these algae is limited by low levels of carbon dioxide. This is where the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae comes in, as it generates carbon dioxide.
Associate Professor Ryosuke Yamada from the Graduate School of Engineering spearheaded a study to identify the optimal mix of these microorganisms to maximize wastewater treatment efficiency. For the first time, the research team discovered that combining the green algae Chlamydomonas reinhardtii with yeast yielded the highest efficiency. Remarkably, this pairing also improved the algae’s ability to take up ammonium and phosphate ions.
“Both the green algae and yeast are very safe for humans, especially since the treated wastewater goes back into the environment,” Professor Yamada stated. “Additionally, these microorganisms can store beneficial materials like polysaccharides, fats, and oils in their cells, allowing them to be used as microbial fertilizers. This means that we could anticipate the generation of useful compounds while simultaneously treating the wastewater.”