Phytoplankton Towards Valorization of Ammonia-containing Liquid for Upgraded Economy

Informazioni relative al progetto

PhyToVALUE

ID dell’accordo di sovvenzione: 101067916

DOI

10.3030/101067916

Progetto chiuso

Data della firma CE 29 Luglio 2022

Data di avvio 17 Luglio 2023

Data di completamento 16 Agosto 2025

Finanziato da

• Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)

Costo totale

Nessun dato

Contributo UE

€ 181 152,96

Coordinato da

UNIVERSIDAD DE VALLADOLID
Spain

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - PhyToVALUE (Phytoplankton Towards Valorization of Ammonia-containing Liquid for Upgraded Economy)

Periodo di rendicontazione: 2023-07-17 al 2025-08-16

Sintesi del contesto e degli obiettivi generali del progetto

Ammonia (NH₃) is a key compound in agriculture and wastewater treatment. It is both an essential nutrient and a potential pollutant: in excess, it is toxic to aquatic organisms and can destabilize algal cultivation systems. In Europe, where resource efficiency and circular economy are strategic priorities, the valorisation of waste-derived nutrients such as NH₃ is of increasing importance. At the same time, reliable and affordable tools for monitoring NH₃ toxicity in real time are lacking.

The PhyToVALUE project set out to address this challenge by developing a fluorescence-based method and device to detect NH₃ toxicity in microalgae rapidly, non-destructively, and at a low cost. Its overall objectives were:
-To evaluate different fluorescence methods and identify the most sensitive approach for detecting NH₃ inhibition.
-To establish a statistical model to distinguish NH₃ toxicity from other environmental stressors.
-To develop a low-cost and open-source monitoring device.
-To test the system in longer-term cultivation experiments with the aim of integrating it into ammonia feeding control.

By pursuing these objectives, the project contributes to the European Green Deal goals, providing tools that support sustainable resource use, reduce reliance on synthetic fertilizers, and enhance algal biotechnology.

Lavoro eseguito dall’inizio del progetto fino alla fine del periodo coperto dalla relazione e principali risultati finora ottenuti

Over two years, PhyToVALUE conducted experiments with three representative algal species (Chlorella vulgaris, Acutodesmus obliquus, Arthrospira platensis).

- Screening of methods: Among several fluorescence approaches, the OJIP transient was identified as the most sensitive. A novel diagnostic signal, the K peak, was discovered, specific to NH₃ stress.

- Recovery and discrimination: Cultures could recover from NH₃ exposures up to ~150% of the inhibitory concentration (EC₅₀). A Lasso regression model was developed to discriminate NH₃ stress from other stressors (light, heat, metals), achieving reliable predictions even under complex conditions.

- Device development: A low-cost, open-source fluorometer (MultiJIP) was built, with dual-wavelength LEDs, variable excitation intensity, and a graphical interface. The system enables real-time estimation of NH₃ toxicity and will be released openly via GitHub.

- Application to cultivation: The method was validated in fed-batch cultures under simulated diurnal light cycles, confirming feasibility under realistic dynamic conditions. While full closed-loop control was not implemented, the monitoring framework was proven.

Progressi oltre lo stato dell’arte e potenziale impatto previsto (incluso l’impatto socioeconomico e le implicazioni sociali più ampie del progetto fino ad ora)

The project delivered several advances beyond the original state of the art:

- Novel diagnostic marker: The OJIP K peak was established as a specific indicator of NH₃-induced damage to the photosynthetic machinery, offering unprecedented sensitivity compared to traditional parameters such as Fv/Fm.

- Seconds-scale detection: NH₃ toxicity can now be detected in seconds, without destructive sampling or lengthy chemical analysis.

- Quantitative recovery thresholds: The project defined species-specific recovery capacities (~150% EC₅₀), providing new insights into reversible vs irreversible stress.

- Affordable monitoring technology: The MultiJIP device provides high-quality data at a fraction of the cost of commercial fluorometers, supporting broader adoption and reproducibility.

- Open science commitment: All tools (hardware designs, software, datasets) will be released openly, ensuring transparency and enabling replication across laboratories worldwide.