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Microalgae Harvesting Boat to Prevent/End 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.

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Microalgae Harvesting Boat to Prevent/End Harmful Algal Blooms

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  1. Microalgae Harvesting Boat to Prevent/End Harmful Algal Blooms Dr. Kevin Shurtleff Associate Professor Department of Chemistry Utah Valley University

  2. 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.

  3. Global Problem: Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) Cape Coral, Florida Coast, August 2018

  4. 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.

  5. 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 atmospherewas 2500-3000 ppm • Today, the carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere is approaching 400 ppm. Where did the CO2 go? • The carbon dioxide was captured by ancient cyanobacteria (algal blooms) and became the fossil fuels we are using today.

  6. 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

  7. Photosynthesis • 106 CO2 + 16NO3- + HPO42- + 188H2O --sunlight ----> • carbon dioxide nitrogen phosphorus water • C106H263O110N16P*50H2O + 146O2 • 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.

  8. HAB Growth Model – Utah Lake 2016 • Logistic model of population growth • N(t) = K*N0exp(rt)/(K+N0(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

  9. 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.

  10. 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.

  11. Best Option to Prevent/End HABs: Microalgae Harvesting • Direct water filtration using a floating water treatment system. • Permanently removes microalgae. • Reduces nutrient load in water. • Discharges cleaner, clearer water. Patent pending designs and proprietary processes

  12. Microalgae Harvesting Experiments Tested six different microalgae harvesting technologies in the lab • Microbubble air flotation with microfiber belt collection • Flocculent saturated microfiber belt collection • Electrostatic separation with microfiber belt collection • Diatomaceous earth (DE) filtration with backwash collection • Diatomaceous earth (DE) with swept filter collection • Plate and Frame Filter Press with filter aid addition DE filtration with swept filter collection

  13. Plate and Frame Filter Press Algae/Cellulose Filter Cake Plate and Frame Filter Press in Operation Cellulose Addition to Pump Intake

  14. 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.

  15. 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

  16. 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

  17. 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 (H2, CO) from partial oxidation of biomass fuel. • 20 kW, modified Kubota ICE engine generator runs on synthesis gas. • 1 kg biomass = 1 kW-hr of electricity. • $20,000 complete

  18. Commercialization – Algae Removal Services • Operational year (months) 6 • Capital Costs per Boat $251,000 • truckable, self-propelled, boat, cab (30x12) $80,000 • filter presses $100,000 • generator $25,000 • air compressor $6,000 • pumps $10,000 • miscellaneous $10,000 • construction $20,000 • boat payback (yrs) 5 • Cost per operational year $50,200 • Operating Costs per Operational Year $573,360 • Operators (2 - 8 hr shifts, 6 days/week, 26 weeks) $99,840 • Management (2) $220,000 • Fuel $49,920 • Consumables $12,480 • Overhead $191,120 • Operational yearly costs (6 months) $623,560 • Cost per day per boat $3,997 • Kilogram algae removed (dry weight) per day per boat 589 • Cost per kg algae $7.99 Fleet of algae harvesting boats and ships (coastal waters) working around the US and World year-round.

  19. Team Members Dr. Kevin Shurtleff Blake Allred Austin Bettridge Tyler Johnson Peter Madsen Jeff Keller Jacob King Phillip Rich Brenden Truman

  20. Support • Undergraduate Research and Creative Works, Grant for Engaged Learning (GEL) grant • College of Science, student Scholarly Activities Committee grants.

  21. Questions? Dr. Kevin Shurtleff PS-212 Office: 801-863-5499 Direct: 801-360-9799 Email: kshurtleff@uvu.edu Thank You

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