Objective: The objective of our P3 Phase I project is to develop, test, and optimize a robust and sustainable process to convert agricultural and domestic organic waste, carbon dioxide, and sunlight into energy (in the form of biodiesel and biomethane) and/or algal-meal for animal/fish feed. Specifically, the project includes investigations of algal cultivation in anaerobic digestion (AD) effluent and comparison of four alternative technologies for algal biomass utilization:
biological conversion to biogas through AD;
preliminary lipid extraction and AD of defatted residues to biogas;
utilization of whole algal biomass for fish farming;
preliminary lipid extraction and usage of defatted algae as algal-meal for fish-farming.
Task I. Optimize Algal Growth and Nutrient Assimilation from AD Effluent
Algal Species Screening for Biomass Generation and Nutrients Reclamation
Scale-Up and Optimize Algal Growth at Semi-continuous Mode
Task II. Evaluate the Bacterial & Chemical Contamination in Algal Culture and Biomass
Monitoring of the Bacterial Contamination
Monitoring of the Heavy Metals Contamination
Task III. Enhance Algal Biomass Conversion using AD.
Thermochemical Pretreatment of Algal Biomass to Enhance AD Process
Enzymatic Pretreatment of Algal Biomass to Enhance AD Process