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Algal biofuels from wastewater treatment high rate algal ponds
Abstract
This paper examines the potential of algae biofuel production in conjunction with wastewater treatment. Current technology for algal wastewater treatment uses facultative ponds, however, these ponds have low productivity (∼10 tonnes/ha.y), are not amenable to cultivating single algal species, require chemical flocculation or other expensive processes for algal harvest, and do not provide consistent nutrient removal. Shallow, paddlewheel-mixed high rate algal ponds (HRAPs) have much higher productivities (∼30 tonnes/ha.y) and promote bioflocculation settling which may provide low-cost algal harvest. Moreover, HRAP algae are carbon-limited and daytime addition of CO(2) has, under suitable climatic conditions, the potential to double production (to ∼60 tonnes/ha.y), improve bioflocculation algal harvest, and enhance wastewater nutrient removal. Algae biofuels (e.g. biogas, ethanol, biodiesel and crude bio-oil), could be produced from the algae harvested from wastewater HRAPs, The wastewater treatment function would cover the capital and operation costs of algal production, with biofuel and recovered nutrient fertilizer being by-products. Greenhouse gas abatement results from both the production of the biofuels and the savings in energy consumption compared to electromechanical treatment processes. However, to achieve these benefits, further research is required, particularly the large-scale demonstration of wastewater treatment HRAP algal production and harvest.
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“and the topography not elevated from the water source, as this will incur a 6% consumption of energy in pumping for every 100 m elevation [32].”
From Key Targets for Improving Algal Biofuel Production (2021) · cites this paper as [32]
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Metadata
- Authors
- Craggs, R. J., Heubeck, S., Lundquist, T. J., & Benemann, J. R.
- Affiliations
- National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NZ)
- California Polytechnic State University (US)
- Benemann and Associates, Walnut Creek, California, USA E-mail: jbenemann@aol.com)
- Corresponding author
- Craggs, R. J.
- Venue
- Water Science and Technology
- Publisher
- IWA Publishing
- Published
- 2011-02-01
- Volume
- 63
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 660-665
- ISSN
- 0273-1223 (ISSN-L)
- 1996-9732
- OpenAlex
- W2107710344
- Cited by
- 267
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 10 · 2025: 13 · 2024: 12 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 13 · 2021: 18 · 2020: 26 · 2019: 21 · 2018: 18 · 2017: 16 · 2016: 20 · 2015: 25 · 2014: 26 · 2013: 24 · 2012: 11
- FWCI
- 8.76
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Water Science & Technology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Energy › Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment › Algal biology and biofuel production
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Waste Management and Disposal › Wastewater Treatment and Reuse
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Environmental Chemistry › Aquatic Ecosystems and Phytoplankton Dynamics
- Keywords
- algal biofuels, high rate algal ponds, wastewater treatment, bioflocculation, algal harvesting, elevated CO2, carbon limitation, nutrient removal, biogas, biodiesel, ethanol, bio-oil, greenhouse gas emissions reduction, energy consumption, algal productivity
- MeSH terms
- Agriculture, Ethanol, Carbon Dioxide, Electricity, Methane, Waste Disposal, Fluid, Biofuels, Eukaryota
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