Algal Biomass from Digestate: Seasonal Biochemical Analysis

This report analyzes seasonal variations in the biochemical composition of microalgal biomass grown using nutrient-rich digestate (NRD) across three pilot sites in the UK, France, and Belgium. Part of the INTERREG North-West Europe-funded ALG-AD project, it evaluates digestate pre-treatment and nutrient profiles to optimize nitrogen-to-phosphorus ratios and prevent algal toxicity. Findings highlight microalgae’s potential to remediate NRD through high nutrient uptake, supporting a circular economy by converting waste nutrients into protein, oil, and peptides for animal feed. The study addresses challenges from excess NRD under environmental regulations like the European Nitrate Directive and proposes an integrated algal-anaerobic digestion platform to reduce pollution and enhance resource recovery.