Keywords:
ALTERNATIVE ENERGY, RENEWABLE ENERGY, WASTE TO ENERGY, BIOGAS, BIOMETHANE, ANIMAL WASTE GASIFICATION, WASTEWATER TREATMENT, AGRICULTURAL BYPRODUCTS, BIOBASED FEEDSTOCKS, RENEWABLE FEEDSTOCKS, WASTE TO VALUE, SUSTAINABLE WASTE MANAGEMENT, BIODEGRADATION, RESOURCE RECOVERY, CLOSED-LOOP RECYCLING, POLLUTION MITIGATION, AIR EMISSIONS REDUCTION, CONSERVATION, DESIGN FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, HOLISTIC DESIGN, MODEL FOR SUSTAINABILITY, ECOLOGICAL SUSTAINABILITY, CARBON SEQUESTRATION,
Related Organizations:
Role
:OWNER
Organization Name
:UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
Citation
:Gainesville
State
:FL
Zip Code
:32611
Project Information:
Approach
:Eco-Energy is a concept that actively integrates biological systems to create energy in resource-efficient, closed-loop ecologies capable of simultaneously mitigating pollutants and producing energy. Phase 1 of our project delves into the design and basic scientific understanding of the aspects that make our eco-energy system effective. The main components, the methanogenic anaerobic digester and the algal photo-bioreactor, present technical challenges that must be understood for successful technology integration. These inquiries include the varied parameters of both anaerobic and photosynthetic ecologies. Our project will investigate the basic biological structure and function of attached aquatic algal communities and their potential productivity using anaerobic digester effluent as a primary source of mineral nutrients. Our investigation will characterize digester effluent from different feedstocks (e.g. sewage, manures, food wastes) to determine if these reflect a difference in algal growth. Understanding the basic environmental parameters that promote climax communities of algae will allow steady-state productivity and an enhanced degree of culture stability. A further challenge to the utilization of algae as a primary source of energy is the ability to harvest the algae. Current methods in algal culturing are energy intensive, and therefore economically and sustainably prohibitive. Our model, once constructed, will allow our team to investigate methods of passive, low-tech algal harvesting. The entire model will operate on waste nutrients and sunlight, incorporating photovoltaic solar cells to run water pumps.
Cost
:$9,999.95
Research Component
:Pollution Prevention/Sustainable Development
Approach
:Eco-Energy is a concept that actively integrates biological systems to create energy in resource-efficient, closed-loop ecologies capable of simultaneously mitigating pollutants and producing energy. Phase 1 of our project delves into the design and basic scientific understanding of the aspects that make our eco-energy system effective. The main components, the methanogenic anaerobic digester and the algal photo-bioreactor, present technical challenges that must be understood for successful technology integration. These inquiries include the varied parameters of both anaerobic and photosynthetic ecologies. Our project will investigate the basic biological structure and function of attached aquatic algal communities and their potential productivity using anaerobic digester effluent as a primary source of mineral nutrients. Our investigation will characterize digester effluent from different feedstocks (e.g. sewage, manures, food wastes) to determine if these reflect a difference in algal growth. Understanding the basic environmental parameters that promote climax communities of algae will allow steady-state productivity and an enhanced degree of culture stability. A further challenge to the utilization of algae as a primary source of energy is the ability to harvest the algae. Current methods in algal culturing are energy intensive, and therefore economically and sustainably prohibitive. Our model, once constructed, will allow our team to investigate methods of passive, low-tech algal harvesting. The entire model will operate on waste nutrients and sunlight, incorporating photovoltaic solar cells to run water pumps.
Cost
:$9,999.95
Research Component
:P3 Challenge Area - Water
Approach
:Eco-Energy is a concept that actively integrates biological systems to create energy in resource-efficient, closed-loop ecologies capable of simultaneously mitigating pollutants and producing energy. Phase 1 of our project delves into the design and basic scientific understanding of the aspects that make our eco-energy system effective. The main components, the methanogenic anaerobic digester and the algal photo-bioreactor, present technical challenges that must be understood for successful technology integration. These inquiries include the varied parameters of both anaerobic and photosynthetic ecologies. Our project will investigate the basic biological structure and function of attached aquatic algal communities and their potential productivity using anaerobic digester effluent as a primary source of mineral nutrients. Our investigation will characterize digester effluent from different feedstocks (e.g. sewage, manures, food wastes) to determine if these reflect a difference in algal growth. Understanding the basic environmental parameters that promote climax communities of algae will allow steady-state productivity and an enhanced degree of culture stability. A further challenge to the utilization of algae as a primary source of energy is the ability to harvest the algae. Current methods in algal culturing are energy intensive, and therefore economically and sustainably prohibitive. Our model, once constructed, will allow our team to investigate methods of passive, low-tech algal harvesting. The entire model will operate on waste nutrients and sunlight, incorporating photovoltaic solar cells to run water pumps.
Cost
:$9,999.95
Research Component
:P3 Challenge Area - Energy
Project IDs:
ID Code
:SU834290
Project type
:EPA Grant