Algae-based Treatment of Dairy Wastewater and Generatioin of Renewable Energy

Algae-based Treatment of Dairy Wastewater and Generatioin of Renewable Energy

The proposed project seeks to replace the traditional lagoon approach to waste treatment, and to employ an algaebased approach that will improve water quality as well as reliability, while generating a valuable biomass-based co-product. For the first stage of treatment, raw wastewater is transferred to an anaerobic pond system with a retentation time of 7-14 days, depending on the waste strength. Biogas generated in the anaerobic pond will be piped through the algae ponds, cleaning the gas as the algae consume the carbon dioxide to enhance their growth. Biogas is then collected and stored in a floating gas storage tank for analysis and used to generate electricity. The effluent from the digester is then transferred to a raceway pond to begin the second treatment stage. The nutrient rich effluent provides an ideal medium for growing algae. During the day the algae present in the pond releases high levels of oxygen into the water through photosynthesis. The high level of oxygen transferred into the water allows aerobic bacteria to further breakdown the organix waste present in the water, while the robust growth of the algae depletes the water of pollution nutrients such as ammonia and phosphorus.

San Diego