Algal-sludge granule for wastewater treatment and bioenergy feedstock generation

A method comprising the steps of:

• providing a vessel configured to contain a water-based reaction medium;
• placing in said vessel a mixture comprising a quantity of said water-based reaction medium and at least one microalgae including filamentous cyanobacteria, said water-based reaction medium comprising material that is consumable by a live bacterium or by a live protozoan present in said water-based reaction medium;
• incubating said mixture comprising said quantity of said water-based reaction medium and said at least one microalgae including said filamentous cyanobacteria in said vessel under quiescent conditions and under at least intermittent illumination such that said filamentous cyanobacteria forms a supporting matrix that incorporates said live bacterium or said live protozoan into a biologically-active bioaggregate granule;
• and
• recovering from said incubated mixture said biologically-active bioaggregate granule.