Microalgae Harvesting Boat to PreventEnd Harmful Algal Blooms
Microalgae Harvesting Boat to Prevent/End Harmful Algal Blooms Dr. Kevin Shurtleff Associate Professor Department of Chemistry Utah Valley University
Global Problem: Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) • Red Tide, Florida Coast, August 2018. • Microalgae Dinoflagellate species. • Warm water and nutrients stimulate growth. • Can double in less than 24 hours • Release toxins harmful to fish and humans. • Consume oxygen, killing fish.
Global Problem: Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) Cape Coral, Florida Coast, August 2018
Local Problem: Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) • Utah Lake, July 2016. • Microalgae - Blue green algae – cyanobacteria species. • Warm water and nutrients stimulate growth. • Can double in mass in less than 24 hours. • Release toxins harmful to fish and humans. • Consume oxygen, killing fish.
Climate – Past and Present Royal Tyrell Dinosaur Museum – Drumheller, Alberta, Canada At the end of the Triassic and the beginning of the Jurassic (208 million years ago), the climatological conditions of the Earth were much different. • Alberta, Canada was tropical and able to support dinosaurs • Carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere was 2500 -3000 ppm Today, the carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere is approaching 400 ppm. Where did the CO 2 go? • The carbon dioxide was captured by ancient cyanobacteria (algal blooms) and became the fossil fuels we are using today.
What Are Microalgae? • Water plants • Many species and strains • Typically photosynthetic • Typically unicellular • (single cell organism) • Very small • 3 -6 micron diameter. • Difficult to remove from water. • Dominated by cyanobacteria that produce endotoxins
Photosynthesis 106 CO 2 + 16 NO 3 - + carbon dioxide nitrogen HPO 42 - + 188 H 2 O --sunlight ----> phosphorus water C 106 H 263 O 110 N 16 P*50 H 2 O + 146 O 2 algae oxygen • Microalgae are photosynthetic • They consume lots of carbon dioxide, some nitrogen, and a little phosphorus to grow and multiply. • 1000 g of extracted algae removes from the water and air … • 50 g of nitrogen • 7 g of phosphorus • 1, 047 g of carbon dioxide • Growth rate doubles for every 10 C increase in temperature. • Warming climate is increasing the extent of algal blooms.
HAB Growth Model – Utah Lake 2016 • • • Logistic model of population growth N(t) = K*N 0 exp(rt)/(K+N 0(exp(rt) - 1) N(t) = population at time t = 3 days. No = initial population (t = 0) = 20, 000 cells/ml K = localized carrying capacity = 20 million cells/ml R = Malthusian factor = 0. 138
Option to End Harmful Algal Blooms • Kill the microalgae with biocide or pesticide. • Death releases endotoxins, potentially increasing harm. • Decomposition consumes oxygen, producing harmful anoxic water. • Decomposition releases nutrients back into the water for future blooms. • Biocide/pesticide may kill other, non-targeted, species.
Option to Prevent Harmful Algal Blooms • Wasterwater treatment upgrades to prevent nutrient addition. • Does NOT solve current HABs. • Does not reduce existing water nutrients. • Impossible to control agricultural runoff. • Very expensive to implement on existing wastewater treatment facilities.
Best Option to Prevent/End HABs: Microalgae Harvesting Patent pending designs and proprietary processes • Direct water filtration using a floating water treatment system. • Permanently removes microalgae. • Reduces nutrient load in water. • Discharges cleaner, clearer water.
Microalgae Harvesting Experiments Tested six different microalgae harvesting technologies in the lab 1) Microbubble air flotation with microfiber belt collection 2) Flocculent saturated microfiber belt collection 3) Electrostatic separation with microfiber belt collection 4) Diatomaceous earth (DE) filtration with backwash collection 5) Diatomaceous earth (DE) with swept filter collection 6) Plate and Frame Filter Press DE filtration with swept filter collection with filter aid addition
Plate and Frame Filter Press Algae/Cellulose Filter Cake Plate and Frame Filter Press in Operation Cellulose Addition to Pump Intake
Selected Microalgae Harvesting Solution • Boat mounted industrial plate and frame filter press. (MWWatermark) • Proven, large-scale, solid filtration technology. • Proven removal of of algae with cellulose addition. • Truckable, self-propelled boat to transport filter press to HABs. • Low technical risk.
Direct Microalgae Harvesting Boat One - 30 foot x 10 foot harvesting boat. 1800 gpm water filtration. 2 x 8 hour shifts, 16 hours/day. 1. 73 million gallons of water filtered each day. 325 kilograms of dry algae removed each day 975 kilograms of dry biofuel produced each day • 0. 1 gram algae per liter microalgae concentration (1 million cells per milliliter). • 50% removal efficiency. • 26 miles per day at 1. 6 mph • • •
Filter Press Solids – Microalgae Biomass • Filter press produces low water microalgae solids. • Dried, solid, microalgae can be used as a carbon neutral fuel. • Microalgae can be composted to produce a natural fertilizer
Clean Renewable Energy Generation by Gasification • ALL Power Labs, GEK ( Gasifier • • • Experimenter’s Kit) Pallet Generator. Solar dried algae, phragmites, or other biomass fuel. Produces synthesis gas (H 2, CO) from partial oxidation of biomass fuel. 20 k. W, modified Kubota ICE engine generator runs on synthesis gas. 1 kg biomass = 1 k. W-hr of electricity. $20, 000 complete
Commercialization – Algae Removal Services • • • • • • Operational year (months) Capital Costs per Boat truckable, self-propelled, boat, cab (30 x 12) filter presses generator air compressor pumps miscellaneous construction boat payback (yrs) Cost per operational year 6 $251, 000 $80, 000 $100, 000 $25, 000 $6, 000 $10, 000 $20, 000 5 $50, 200 Operating Costs per Operational Year Operators (2 - 8 hr shifts, 6 days/week, 26 weeks) Management (2) Fuel Consumables Overhead $573, 360 $99, 840 $220, 000 $49, 920 $12, 480 $191, 120 Operational yearly costs (6 months) Cost per day per boat Kilogram algae removed (dry weight) per day per boat Cost per kg algae $623, 560 $3, 997 589 $7. 99 Fleet of algae harvesting boats and ships (coastal waters) working around the US and World yearround.
Team Members Dr. Kevin Shurtleff Blake Allred Jeff Keller Austin Bettridge Jacob King Tyler Johnson Phillip Rich Peter Madsen Brenden Truman
Support • Undergraduate Research and Creative Works, Grant for Engaged Learning (GEL) grant • College of Science, student Scholarly Activities Committee grants.
Thank You Questions? Dr. Kevin Shurtleff PS-212 Office: 801 -863 -5499 Direct: 801 -360 -9799 Email: kshurtleff@uvu. edu
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