Class
Article
College
College of Engineering
Department
Biological Engineering Department
Faculty Mentor
Ronald Sims
Presentation Type
Poster Presentation
Abstract
Excess nutrient loading due to phosphorus and nitrates is a ubiquitous problem in water treatment facilities across the United States. While these compounds are valuable commodities in fertilizers, they can be harmful to humans when consumed in high concentrations and lead to toxic algae blooms and eutrophication when released into the environment. Established treatment methods include bacterial reduction, biomass uptake, and chemical processes like magnesium spiking to encourage struvite precipitation. Previous studies have noted that algae are a particularly promising tool for phosphorus and nitrate removal in wastewater through mechanisms such as struvite formation (Hillman, 2020). In addition, studies have noted that algae are good for biofuel production through wet processes like hydrothermal liquefaction (Barlow, 2016 and Peterson, 2018). Biofuel production using raw algae alone is not economically feasible, however this can be addressed by combining biofuel production with other processes like wastewater treatment and bioplastic production in order to turn a profit. Struvite precipitation increases the ash content of the biofilm and can diminish the cost-effectiveness of biofuel production if not addressed.In this project, naturally occurring algae from the Central Valley Water Reclamation Facility were collected and used to treat pressate for excess nutrient loading. Produced biomass is then available for use in a number of bioproduct operations, including production of bioplastics, biofuels, therapeutics, and feed stock. This project focuses on the quantification of nutrient removal during biofilm growth and on the removal of struvite from biomass to optimize biofuel production from the biomass. Citations: Jay Barlow, Ronald C. Sims, Jason C. Quinn, “Techno-economic and life-cycle assessment of an attached growth algal biorefinery, Bioresource Technology,” Volume 220, 2016, Pages 360-368, ISSN 0960-8524, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2016.08.091.Peterson, Benjamin L., 'Development and Optimization of a Produced Water, Biofilm Based Microalgae Cultivation System for Biocrude Conversion with Hydrothermal Liquefaction' (2018). All Graduate Theses and Dissertations. 7237. https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/etd/7237Hillman, Kyle M., 'Observation of Struvite in the Mixed Microalgae Biofilm Matrix of a Rotating Algal Biofilm Reactor During Nutrient Removal from Municipal Anaerobic Digester Filtrate' (2020). All Graduate Theses and Dissertations. 7796. https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/etd/7796Presentation Time: Wednesday, 9-10 a.m.
Location
Logan, UT
Start Date
4-11-2021 12:00 AM
Included in
Microalgae Growth for Wastewater Remediation and Biofuel Production
Logan, UT
Excess nutrient loading due to phosphorus and nitrates is a ubiquitous problem in water treatment facilities across the United States. While these compounds are valuable commodities in fertilizers, they can be harmful to humans when consumed in high concentrations and lead to toxic algae blooms and eutrophication when released into the environment. Established treatment methods include bacterial reduction, biomass uptake, and chemical processes like magnesium spiking to encourage struvite precipitation. Previous studies have noted that algae are a particularly promising tool for phosphorus and nitrate removal in wastewater through mechanisms such as struvite formation (Hillman, 2020). In addition, studies have noted that algae are good for biofuel production through wet processes like hydrothermal liquefaction (Barlow, 2016 and Peterson, 2018). Biofuel production using raw algae alone is not economically feasible, however this can be addressed by combining biofuel production with other processes like wastewater treatment and bioplastic production in order to turn a profit. Struvite precipitation increases the ash content of the biofilm and can diminish the cost-effectiveness of biofuel production if not addressed.In this project, naturally occurring algae from the Central Valley Water Reclamation Facility were collected and used to treat pressate for excess nutrient loading. Produced biomass is then available for use in a number of bioproduct operations, including production of bioplastics, biofuels, therapeutics, and feed stock. This project focuses on the quantification of nutrient removal during biofilm growth and on the removal of struvite from biomass to optimize biofuel production from the biomass. Citations: Jay Barlow, Ronald C. Sims, Jason C. Quinn, “Techno-economic and life-cycle assessment of an attached growth algal biorefinery, Bioresource Technology,” Volume 220, 2016, Pages 360-368, ISSN 0960-8524, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2016.08.091.Peterson, Benjamin L., 'Development and Optimization of a Produced Water, Biofilm Based Microalgae Cultivation System for Biocrude Conversion with Hydrothermal Liquefaction' (2018). All Graduate Theses and Dissertations. 7237. https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/etd/7237Hillman, Kyle M., 'Observation of Struvite in the Mixed Microalgae Biofilm Matrix of a Rotating Algal Biofilm Reactor During Nutrient Removal from Municipal Anaerobic Digester Filtrate' (2020). All Graduate Theses and Dissertations. 7796. https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/etd/7796Presentation Time: Wednesday, 9-10 a.m.