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Wastewater Treatment Integrated with Algae Production for Biofuel

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Book cover The Science of Algal Fuels

Part of the book series: Cellular Origin, Life in Extreme Habitats and Astrobiology ((COLE,volume 25))

Abstract

The US Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 fuels standard mandates the production of 36 billion gallons (1.363 × 1011 L) of renewable fuels by the year 2022. Similar production goals have been set up in many other countries worldwide. Among biofuels, algae hold the potential to meet the standard, especially due to the high (15–300 times) oil yield per acre as compared to traditional biofuel crops (corn, soybean, etc.). The leading algae biofuel research is pointing toward cost-efficiency involved in integrating algae production with wastewater treatment. Wastewaters (municipal, industrial, and agricultural – including the effluent from farm biodigesters) contain organic material that algae can digest and utilize the nutrients (mainly nitrogen and phosphorus), which otherwise pose a threat to natural water bodies. Environmental benefits of algae production coupled with wastewater treatment revenue can possibly offset algae biofuel production costs; however, growing algae for biofuels (especially oils) in wastewater media has proven challenging. We explore some of these issues and challenges.

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 Acknowledgements

Funding provided by NSF-EPSCoR (VT) and Department of Energy (via VT Sustainable Jobs Fund) to Anju Dahiya are greatly appreciated. Anthony McInnis would like to acknowledge the generous support of the University of Vermont’s George Washington Henderson Fellowship. The authors also thank Matt Beam for his review of the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. General Systems Research, Burlington, VT, 05408, USA

    Anju Dahiya

  2. Plant and Soil Science Department, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA

    Anju Dahiya & Anthony McInnis

  3. Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources, Burlington, VT, USA

    John H. Todd & Anthony McInnis

  4. Gund Institute for Ecological Economics, The University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, 05405, USA

    Anju Dahiya & John H. Todd

  5. John Todd Ecological Design, Woods Hole, MA, 02543, USA

    John H. Todd

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  1. Anju Dahiya
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  2. John H. Todd
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  3. Anthony McInnis
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Correspondence to Anju Dahiya .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Gulf Specimen Marine Laboratory, Clark Drive 222, Panacea, 32346, Florida, USA

    Richard Gordon

  2. University of Jerusalem, Mevo Hadas 20, Efrat, 90435, Israel

    Joseph Seckbach

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Dahiya, A., Todd, J.H., McInnis, A. (2012). Wastewater Treatment Integrated with Algae Production for Biofuel. In: Gordon, R., Seckbach, J. (eds) The Science of Algal Fuels. Cellular Origin, Life in Extreme Habitats and Astrobiology, vol 25. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-5110-1_24

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