Algae for chemical free removal & recovery of phosphorus An industrial approach

Transcription

1 Algae for chemical free removal & recovery of phosphorus An industrial approach Dr Daniel Murray & Dr Lucie Novoveska / Industrial Phycology 2017 CIC not for distribution. dan@i-phyc.com

2 Industrial Phycology. Industrial Phycology SME focused on the development of algal based technology for use at industrial scales IP protected algal technology allowing purification of wastewater & recovery of valuable materials Multi-award winning multi disciplinary team of committed experts Support of Wessex Water & major UK and EU grant funding Technology has been piloted in the field & first commercial demonstrator built

3 Progress To Date 2013 Successfully designed, built and piloted process on site in winter 2014 Established strategic partnerships & facilities > 1.2m in Industry & Government support Begin design and construction of industry demonstrator Jan 2016 Complete first fully specified, small commercial demonstrator Initial site trials with industry support over March Aug Jun 2016 Awarded phase 2 funding from the EU H2020 SME instrument ( ~ 1.4m) Only biotech project funded across the EU for the April 2016 round 2017 construction of largest and most advanced algal process in UK

4 The Wastewater Challenge Globally wastewater (WW) operators have a big challenge 330km 3 of WW discharged to the environment PA (UNEP, UN Aquastat) Economic, legislative & CSR pressures are demanding cleaner effluents Effluents contain material that causes: Environmental damage & contamination of water table Many problem materials are valuable, finite resources e.g. Phosphorus

5 Current Situation 330km 3 of effluents released globally p.a. Vast power requirements for treatment (e.g. utilities alone = 5% of UK power) & linked CO 2 Outdated equip needs chemicals; produces waste; limited recovery; cannot meet new legislation E.g. flocculation, reed beds, EBPR, RO Current main technology metal salt dosing (MSD) will see costs rise >5x if used as a stop gap Exponential increase in use of flocculants and other chem s, cannot meet all new challenges MSD for mid-sized works Hi CAPEX for a tertiary solution + infrastructure Ongoing OPEX for chemicals and disposal Struggle to meet new legislation. Produces Waste. Can still causes eutrophication Benefits Currently no viable solution for small sites - ~1300 in UK alone

6 Algae Can Help Solve the Problem Normal bio-processes rely on microorganisms consuming energy rich organic material Organic matter Bacteria Bacterial consumption More Bacteria Remaining organic matter High nutrients Unwanted material This leaves diffuse, small, limited energy compounds such as PO 4, NO 3, NH 4

7 Algae A Different Function Algae being plants use photosynthesis Remaining organic matter Microalgae Microalgal biomass Polished effluent CO 2 Low energy material hungry algae wastewater treatment Use small nutrients and other materials + sunlight to make energy

8 Algae Can Help Solve the Problem This produces biomass that can be taken, processed & valorised e.g. Gasification; fertiliser; metal recovery, feedstock for bio-based industries

9

10 Algae Can Help Solve the Problem This produces biomass that can be taken, processed & valorised e.g. Gasification; fertiliser; metal recovery, feedstock for bio-based industries Current algal tech however is not developed for industrial use

11 Current Main Algal Technology Open Ponds Tubular / flat panel Relatively cheep to build Inefficient with most species Very large foot print Weather & light dependence Need restocking High productivity & control Very expensive Large footprint Difficult to maintain Weather & light dependence

12 Retro-fit Drop-in Purpose Built Patented Solution Unique expertise in algae has been applied to solve the problem at industrial scales Light & weather independence allows year round use & building up - not out, saving space Optimal conditions and separation of HRT maximises throughput lower CAPEX for a tertiary solution No chemicals No Land fill Meets Legislation Reduced OPEX as no ongoing chemical requirements Biomass for valorisation (e.g. Biogas) Reduced costs including no chemical requirements and no waste Instead the process produces biomass - a product which can be monetised e.g. feedstock for bio based industry, organic compounds, sustainable energy ( e.g. gasification) Algae are condition tolerant and will accumulate a range of materials: Multiple markets and future proof Key Features Minimised energy usage Modular, scalable design Full control system Weather & light independent Maximised Biomass Autonomous working & telemetry

13 Industrial Biophotonics Algae require light to grow - cheap but inefficient Low penetration means: low grow, low removal, large volume! Standard artificial light is effective but expensive and wastes energy Plants are green because they don t use all available light

14 Industrial Biophotonics Biophotonics integrates biology and photonics to optimise performance Specific shades of light encourage best growth and removal Saves energy and is cheaper than traditional light sources (e.g. halogen) Bioreactor and equipment design optimises access to light Further improves performance Reduces cost Innovate UK LIGHTWAY project - Use of columnated beam to increase light penetration Massive reduction in footprint Most energy efficient design best performance

15 Field Trials Municipal

16 Field Trials - municipal Small scale batch trials <20L demonstrated >95% removal of target materials within 4 days: (e.g. PO 4, NH 4, NO 3 ) Summary of microalgal treatment of municipal final effluent. 4 day batch trials Scenedesmus sp Influent average Effluent average Removal PO4-P (mg/l) % PO4 (mg/l) NO3-N (mg/l) % NO3 (mg/l) NH4-N (mg/l) 1.34 Not detected 100%

17 Field Trials - municipal Semi continuous pilot trials in 1m 3 reactors Final effluent from large urban works, significant industrial input Removal of target materials (e.g. PO 4 ) to below 0.5mg.l -1. Summary of microalgal treatment of municipal final effluent using Scenedesmus Sp. 1 week snapshot of 6 month semi-continuous trial

18 Field Trials - municipal Initial trials (pre-optimisation) using I-PHYCs first demonstrator (Avonmouth WWTW) showed average removal of 58% of all PO 4 (discharges from <0.5mg.l -1 ) Summary of microalgal treatment of municipal final effluent. TP removal from initial trial run (daily 3 rd June 30 th June) 2016) Influent Effluent Phosphate average average removal Total phosphate (mg/l) 3.2 ± ± % A new large, fully specified process is currently being built with EU H2020 support Field trials over 2017/2018 to show consistency over seasons. Target P of 0.2mg.l -1

19 Trials Non-Municipal

20 Trials - Non-municipal Algae being tolerant are able to thrive in a range of conditions and accumulate a range of materials; low / high ph Salt / freshwater Presence of heavy metals / radiation breakdown products from chemicals (hormones, etc..) Through our H2020 work I-PHYC is looking more closely at treating various non-municipal effluents and what value can be recovered :

21 Non-municipal Food production Summary of microalgal treatment of food production wash-down water (RAW), including cleaning chemicals. 7 day batch trials. TSS* used to measure algae growth. Scenedesmus Raw Raw+algae Raw+algae Raw+algae Day 1 vs Day 7 Variable Unfiltered Filtrate Day 1 Filtrate Day 4 Filtrate Day 7 % Removal NO3-N (mg/l) NO3 (mg/l) NH4-N (mg/l) below detection 100 TN (mg/l) PO4-P (mg/l) PO4 (mg/l) COD (mg/l) TSS (mg/l)* N/A

22 Non-Municipal Salt water aquaculture Summary of microalgal treatment of aquaculture final effluent. 9 day batch trials. TSS* used to measure algae growth. Species 1 Raw+algae Raw+algae Raw+algae Raw+algae Day 1 vs 9 Variable Filtrate Day 1 Filtrate Day 5 Filtrate Day 7 Filtrate Day 9 %Removal NO3 (mg/l) PO4 (mg/l) TSS (mg/l)* N/A Species 1-3 Raw+algae Raw+algae Raw+algae Raw+algae Day 1 vs 9 Variable Filtrate Day 1 Filtrate Day 5 Filtrate Day 7 Filtrate Day 9 %Removal NO3 (mg/l) PO4 (mg/l) TSS (mg/l)* N/A

23 Non-Municipal Agricultural washdown Summary of microalgal treatment of agricultural wash-down. 50% dilution of raw effluent + solids removal. 8 day batch trials. TSS* used to measure algae growth. Scenedesmus Raw+algae Raw+algae Raw+algae Variable Filtrate Day 1 Filtrate Day 4 Filtrate Day 8 % Removal NO3-N (mg/l) increase NO3 (mg/l) increase NH4-N (mg/l) TN (mg/l) PO4-P (mg/l) PO4 (mg/l) COD (mg/l) TSS (mg/l)* N/A

24 Non-municipal I-PHYC has shown potential for algae to treat a range of materials E.g Batch tested samples from food production - ~95% removal of target materials Solids content of effluents + effluent preparation can be important. High removal of P seen 4 materials tested average removal of P >85% Optimise residence time & acclimatise algae will improve treatment Next steps: Continue to look at other materials. Look to blend effluents Repeat with optimal levels of biomass Assess biomass composition for best reuse avenues

25 Present & Future Demonstrated a compact algal process can be used to remove phosphorus to low levels. Municipal type of site identified smaller rural works <150m3 Initially look at special measure sites / sites facing ODI challenges Show fully specified process can deliver treatment over seasons Continue to increase understanding of the stoichiometry and bio-community Building the plant to carry this out looking for collaborators, trials etc. Industrial effluents Test more materials learn more about what can and cannot be treated. More complex materials require more thought blending, advanced ox etc.. Savings and sustainability for producers or at the gate allows more centralisation / reduced costs. Provide back biomass / recovered materials and potentially reuse of water

26 Awards To Date The huge potential of I-PHYCs technology has been recognised globally e.g. : UK Company with most Commercial Potential MIT eteam 2x Algal SPARK award Most disruptive technology Innovator in Technology development

27 Thanks for Your Time Third tier : heading dan@i-phyc.com Mobile: (+44)