Grantee Research Project Results
Technology for Recovery and Reuse of Plant Nutrients as a Prevention Strategy for Hazardous Algal Blooms
EPA Grant Number: R840085Title: Technology for Recovery and Reuse of Plant Nutrients as a Prevention Strategy for Hazardous Algal Blooms
Investigators: Apblett, Allen W. , Materer, Nicholas F.
Institution: Oklahoma State University
EPA Project Officer: Ludwig-Monty, Sarah
Project Period: September 1, 2020 through April 25, 2025
Project Amount: $687,660
RFA: Approaches to Reduce Nutrient Loadings for Harmful Algal Blooms Management (2020) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Harmful Algal Blooms , Water
Objective:
The objective of the research is to develop a novel technology for sustainably and economically preventing harmful algal blooms in watering ponds. The approach is based on the hypothesis that sorption of nutrients from ponds or fertilizer run-off using a sorbent/fertilizer that allows for the absorbed nutrients to be used as a time-release fertilizer will provide a sustainable solution for the prevention of hazardous algal blooms while also reducing the environmental and financial costs associated with the decontamination of ponds and the production of fertilizers.
Approach:
The research design involves: (1) The synthesis of eight candidate magnesium-aluminum oxide and magnesium-iron oxide sorbent media with varying magnesium to metal molar ratios. (2) Determination of the sorbent medias' kinetics and uptake capacities for urea, ammonium, phosphate, and nitrate ions (3) Demonstration of the sorbent medias' ability to treat algae-prone pond water (5) Field testing of the developed sorbent media in farm ponds and (6) Plant growth studies using nutrient-loaded sorbent media as a fertilizer.
Expected Results:
The major output of this research project is a novel treatment technology for the capture of nitrogen and phosphorus from water in a fashion that the plant-nutrient containing sorbent can be applied as a fertilizer. This technology will provide improved control of nitrogen and phosphorus runoff into waterways that can reduce the occurrence of harmful algal blooms and hypoxia in U.S. waterways and coastal areas. The ability to accomplish this will have a definite positive impact on the protection of both human and ecosystem health. It will absolutely provide the means for extensive risk management of harmful algal blooms. The, technology can readily be adapted to point sources and nonpoint sources of plant nutrients such as septic tanks, animal feedlots, brewery waste, municipal wastewater, and urban storm water runoff. Further, the technology could be adapted to sites that are unsuitable for traditional septic systems. The proposed solution to nutrient removal from wastewater will provide significant economic, environmental, and food supply benefits. The ability to recover some of the costs of water treatment through fertilizer sales, sorbent reuse will make it possible for municipalities, farmers, landowners and industry to economically prevent nutrient pollution of rivers, lakes, and aquifers.
Publications and Presentations:
Publications have been submitted on this project: View all 2 publications for this projectSupplemental Keywords:
drinking water, watersheds, adsorption, aquatic, environmental chemistry, Midwest, recovery and reuseProgress and Final Reports:
The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.