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Anaerobic Co-Digestion Of Microalgae With Food Waste And Wastewater Sludge, Ruth E. Spierling
Anaerobic Co-Digestion Of Microalgae With Food Waste And Wastewater Sludge, Ruth E. Spierling
Master's Theses
This research sought to optimize anaerobic co-digestion of microalgae biomass harvested from a wastewater treatment pond facility with locally-available wastes. The goal was to produce high methane yields and stable digestion without the need for supplemental alkalinity addition. A key research question was if algae digestion could be improved via the synergistic effects of co-digestion. Cell disruption to increase digestibility was not pursued due to its relatively high mechanical complexity and high energy use. For the wastewater treatment ponds studied, the most practical co-substrates identified were municipal wastewater sludge and food waste (sorted organic municipal waste). Although wastewater sludge does …
Seawater/Wastewater Production Of Microalgae-Based Biofuels In Closed Loop Tubular Photobioreactors, Joshua Bradley Lowrey
Seawater/Wastewater Production Of Microalgae-Based Biofuels In Closed Loop Tubular Photobioreactors, Joshua Bradley Lowrey
Master's Theses
The push for alternatives to petroleum fuels has forced researchers to look for highly productive, renewable, non-food resources. The advantages of using microalgae instead of traditional oil crops for biofuel production include high oil yields, rapid reproductive rates, and versatile growing requirements. In order to reduce the cost of producing microalgae based biofuels, wastewater has been used as a nutrient source instead of specialized plant nutrients. The purpose of this study was to compare the relative effectiveness of different combinations of microalgae strain and dairy wastewater for increasing biomass. The methods for monitoring growth included optical density, cell counting, biomass …