Class
Article
College
College of Engineering
Faculty Mentor
Ron Sims
Presentation Type
Poster Presentation
Abstract
Wastewater treatment includes anaerobic digestion of a biosolids, which are generated through the treatment of soluble organic chemicals and conversion to carbon dioxide and water, which produces biomethane. Biomethane production is beneficial since it can be converted to usable energy forms such as electricity and natural gas. In this experiment, microalgae was combined with wastewater to determine if it aids in wastewater treatment by increases biomethane production. Microalgae was cultivated on a rotating algal biofilm reactor at the largest wastewater treatment plant in Utah, the Central Valley Water Reclamation Facility. Methane was measured using gas chromatography. Microalgae, wastewater, and food waste were combined to provide an optimal molar ratio of 21:5 C:N to enhance methane production. Biosolids without microalgae was shown to produce an average of 39 mL of methane per 10mL of biosolids. Further tests are hypothesized to produce more methane as microalgae and food waste. Results of this research will be used to evaluate the effect of microalgae on enhancing bioenergy production through anaerobic digestion of biosolids produced during wastewater treatment.
Location
The South Atrium
Start Date
4-12-2018 10:30 AM
End Date
4-12-2018 11:45 AM
Increasing Methane Production in Anaerobic Digestion Methane Production With Wastewater Algae
The South Atrium
Wastewater treatment includes anaerobic digestion of a biosolids, which are generated through the treatment of soluble organic chemicals and conversion to carbon dioxide and water, which produces biomethane. Biomethane production is beneficial since it can be converted to usable energy forms such as electricity and natural gas. In this experiment, microalgae was combined with wastewater to determine if it aids in wastewater treatment by increases biomethane production. Microalgae was cultivated on a rotating algal biofilm reactor at the largest wastewater treatment plant in Utah, the Central Valley Water Reclamation Facility. Methane was measured using gas chromatography. Microalgae, wastewater, and food waste were combined to provide an optimal molar ratio of 21:5 C:N to enhance methane production. Biosolids without microalgae was shown to produce an average of 39 mL of methane per 10mL of biosolids. Further tests are hypothesized to produce more methane as microalgae and food waste. Results of this research will be used to evaluate the effect of microalgae on enhancing bioenergy production through anaerobic digestion of biosolids produced during wastewater treatment.