Abstract
Odour emissions from environmental engineering plants represent a significant environmental and social issue, requiring sustainable mitigation strategies. The research presents and discusses the development and experimental validation of an advanced integrated biotechnological system for the treatment of real odour emissions, combining a Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor (MBBR) with a downstream algal photobioreactor (aPBR). The proposed platform enables simultaneous odour abatement and carbon valorisation through microbial degradation and CO2 biofixation, within a waste-to-energy nexus framework integrating emission control and resource recovery. Experimental validation was performed under controlled laboratory batch conditions using real odour emissions collected from a full-scale wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) located in the municipality of Salerno (Campania Region, Italy). System performance was assessed by determining odour concentration (OUE m?³) abatement, removal efficiencies of target compounds, and CO2 biofixation rates. The results showed odour removal efficiencies of up to 95%, with nearly complete removal (~100%) of the target compound methyl mercaptan. The algal photobioreactor achieved CO2 biofixation efficiencies of up to 86% while producing algal biomass with a lipid content of approximately 22%, supporting its potential for energy recovery. The study highlights the potential of integrated biotechnological solutions to simultaneously address odour control, climate change mitigation, and resource recovery, contributing to the development of next-generation sustainable emission management strategies.
