Characterization of biomass produced in Algae Turf Scrubber (ATS®) system instaled in the Lago Dourado – Santa Cruz do Sul - RS.

Eutrophication is recognized as one of the most important water quality problems today, and there is a strong need to develop strategies that reduce nutrient loading in water. The aim of this study was to characterize the periphytic biomass produced in the Algae Turf Scrubber (ATS®) system used to promote the treatment of eutrophic waters. The system was drained from the freshwater reservoir for human supply in the Santa Cruz do Sul city (Lago Dourado). A pilot-scale ATS® system (0.9 m wide, 5 m long, 1.0% inclination) was constructed which received continuous flow of approximately 2 L min-1 of pumped water from Lago Dourado, during 7 months. On average, the system produced 1.33 - 7.64 g m2 d-1 of periphytic biomass (dry weight). The analysis were performed based on the methods of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) - USA. The lipid phase of the biomass was extracted by Bligh Dyer method, transesterified with BF3-methanol and analyzed by Gas Chromatography with Mass Spectrometry Detector and pigments were extracted with acetone. The collected periphyton contained a mean composition of fixed carbon 27.97%, protein 17.81%, lipids 5.90% (fatty acids: saturated (53.72%) and unsaturated (45.59%), pigments 0.25% and carbohydrate 50 to 55%. The results indicated that the use of ATS® systems being used as an effective means of treatment of eutrophic waters, also produces periphytic biomass that can be used with potential market value, mainly due to the content of proteins and carbohydrates