Microalgae-based biorefinery for schnapps vinasse treatment: biomass production, nutrient recovery and carbohydrates, proteins and lipids accumulation

Condori M.A.M.; Beltran J.I.C.; Flores M.I.L.; Torres E.M.; Llayqui N.E.V.; Pires J.C.M. · Journal of Applied Phycology (2025) · DOI: 10.1007/s10811-025-03610-0

Resumen

Schnapps vinasse is a highly polluting by-product of alcoholic beverage production, rich in organic matter and nutrients. In this study, Chlorella sp. MC18 and Scenedesmus sp. MJ23-R were cultivated in schnapps vinasse to evaluate their potential for biomass production and nutrient recovery. The experimental design included vinasse dilutions of 10–50% (v/v) to determine optimal growth conditions. The highest biomass productivity was achieved at 20% and 40% vinasse, with final biomass concentrations up to 1.0 g L–1. Chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal ranged from 40 to 70%, while nitrate (100%) and phosphate (80%) removal efficiencies were high, with elimination rates of 1012, 1 and 9 mg L–1 day–1, respectively. Additionally, the use of schnapps vinasse also promoted the accumulation of carbohydrates (50% dw), proteins (48% dw), and lipids (30% dw). These findings highlight the feasibility of microalgae-based biorefineries for sustainable wastewater treatment and resource recovery, contributing to circular bioeconomy strategies. Overall, this study establishes a sustainable method to maximise nutrient recovery from schnapps vinasse for the production of biomass and high-value metabolites through the cultivation of acclimatised strains of Chlorella and Scenedesmus. © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V. 2025.

Instituciones: Universidad Nacional de San Agustín de Arequipa