Centrate, a type of nutrient-rich municipal wastewater was used to determine the effect of wastewaterborne
bacteria on algal growth and nutrients removal efficiency in this study. The characteristics of algal
and bacterial growth profiles, wastewater nutrient removal and effect of initial algal inoculums were systematically
examined. The results showed that initial algal concentration had apparent effect on bacterial
growth, and the presence of bacteria had a significant influence on algal growth pattern, suggesting symbiotic
relationship between algae and bacteria at the initial stage of algae cultivation. The maximum algal
biomass of 2.01 g/L with 0.1 g/L initial algal inoculums concentration can be obtained during algae cultivation
in raw centrate medium. The synergistic effect of centrate-borne bacteria and microalgae on algae
growth and nutrient removal performance at initial fast growth stage has great potential to be applied to
pilot-scale wastewater-based algae wastewater system cultivated in continuous or semi-continuous
mode.