Nutrient removal and lipid production by Coelastrella sp. in anaerobically and aerobically treated swine wastewater

•A strain of algae was isolated from a local pond and identified to be Coelastrella sp.•This strain could grow well at a high ammonium concentration of 320mg/L and high pH of 11.•This strain exhibited high removal of nutrients from anaerobically and aerobically treated swine wastewater (AnATSW).•This strain could remove 100% NH3-N and TP, and 77% IC at 40% AnATSW. Coelastrella sp. QY01, a microalgae species isolated from a local pond, was identified and used for the treatment of anaerobically and aerobically treated swine wastewater (AnATSW). Microalgal growth characteristics, nutrient removal and lipid accumulation of QY01 cultivated in the initial concentration of AnATSW ranged from 63 to 319mg NH3-N/L were examined. The specific growth rate of QY01 cultivated in cultures ranged from 0.269 to 0.325day−1 with a biomass productivity from 42.77 to 57.46mgL−1day−1. Removal rates for NH3-N, TP and inorganic carbon in AnATSW at the various nutrient concentrations ranged from 90% to 100%, from 90% to 100% and from 74% to 78%, respectively. The lipid content of QY01 ranged from 22.4% to 24.8%. The lipid productivity was positive correlation with the biomass productivity. 40% AnATSW was optimal for QY01 cultivation, in which nutrient removal and productivity of biomass and lipid were maximized.