Algae4Cycle - Modular on-site plant for alga-based processing of industrial process water

Nutrient-containing process effluents from various industries result in both financial burdens on businesses (due to high disposal fees) and economic burdens on the environment, e.g. by high nitrate pollution of waters. The project Algae4Cycle, funded by the BMBF, aims at algae-based purification of process wastewater by means of a mobile and modular hybrid reactor system. The process modules include media preparation, stirred tank reactors for fermentative utilization of organic components and tubular reactors for a light-driven increase of the biomass value. The operation of the mobile system to be developed is remotely controlled by an innovative cloud-based information structure. Thus, the flexible systems can be operated decentralized at the place of emergence of nutrient-containing process wastewater. The strong degree of automation reflects the transition of the process industry to flexible and modular plant concepts in terms of digitization or Industry 4.0. Thus, such a plant offers several advantages: [1] the reduction of nutrient content of process effluents, [2] the production of algal biomass and metabolites yielding high-value bioproducts like algae oils or carotenoids.

The aim of the exploratory phase of the project is to develop a collection of extremophilic microalgae that are active under selective conditions (e.g., temperature, pH) and have high flexibility in metabolic activity (utilization of various C sources) as well as an industrially interesting range of products. In addition, networks and contacts to companies are established and their nutrient-rich process streams are identified and characterized.

Project funding:

Federal Ministry of Education and Research
Project number: 031B0699

Project Head:

© Mann

Project researcher

Name

Felix Krujatz Dr.-Ing.

Plant biotechnology

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Project Duration:

01.10.2018 - 30.09.2019