Clean Algae Co.

Using Algae to treat waste water.

What is Algae?
Algae is a nonflowering plant that live in an aquatic environment.
Although they are simple plants, they are extremely diverse and can
be found almost anywhere in the world. Algae can be found in a variety
of pigments, ranging from green to red and are also extremely diverse
in size, ranging from microscopic to hundreds of feet long. The majority
of algae are autotrophic, utilizing photosynthesis to produce their
energy. However, some algae are heterotrophic, using sugar or starch
in the absence of sunlight. Aside from algaes countless uses, such as
alginate - found in ice cream and toothpastes or as a salty snack,
algae form the bases for the aquatic food chain.

Algae used in wastewater treatment

Every year 440 billion liters of wastewater are treated in Metro

Vancouver alone. Luckily in this area our wastewater is treated with
aerobic bacteria before it is released back into the environment.
However, in some cities this is not the case. Traditionally, many
harmful chemicals are used to treat wastewater to eliminate solids,
filter the waste, and oxidize it. Consequently, these chemicals can then
be released back into the water cycle potentially harming plants and
animals. However, this problem can easily be avoided by using algae
to treat wastewater. Since algae only requires sunlight, water, carbon
dioxide, and a few simple minerals they can grow in almost any
condition. When the wastewater is pumped is pumped into the algae
filled tubes it is not only being cleaned, but it is also serving as a
breeding ground in which the algae can grow. The algae absorb the
nitrates and phosphates from the wastewater to clean it. Later the
algae will be cultivated and used to make numerous products such as
pigments, proteins, and biofuel.

What is it used for?

Algae bioremediation in wastewater treatments can be used in a
wide variety of domains. Firstly, it is ideal for agricultural facilities that
want to treat their own wastewater. After the wastewater, has been
treated via algae bioremediation it can be used to fulfil numerous
different tasks such as irrigation. In addition, this procedure can also be
used in municipal WWTPs (Wastewater Treatment Plants) to treat
sewage. However, no matter where it is used algae is by far the
greenest way to make sure our wastewater is clean enough to be
released back into the ecosystem.

What are the benefits?

Using algae to treat wastewater comes with countless benefits.
Perhaps the baggiest of which is the fact that algae wastewater
treatment is an emission-free technique. Which not only will earn
carbon emission credits, but will also set a positive example for the
global community. This process also requires less energy than
conventional wastewater treatment plan procedures, making it even
more sustainable. Additionally, this process produced renewable
energy, as well as mineral fertilisers. Finally, using algae to treat
wastewater insures that no harsh chemicals will be realised into the
environment. This insures that all plants and animals can continue to
grow in a clean ecosystem.

Bibliography

Abdel-Raouf, N., Al-Homaidan, A., & Ibraheem, I. (2012). Microalgae

and wastewater treatment. Retrieved November 19, 2016, from
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4052567/
Algae based waste water treatment (PDF Download Available). (n.d.).
Retrieved
November
19,
2016,
from
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/270342370_Algae_based_wa
ste_water_treatment
How Wastewater is Treated - Metro Vancouver. (n.d.). Retrieved
November
19,
2016,
from
http://www.metrovancouver.org/services/liquidwaste/treatment/treatment-plants/how-wastewatertreated/Pages/default.aspx
Wastewater treatment. (n.d.). Retrieved November 19, 2016, from
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wastewater_treatment
Wastewater Treatment. (n.d.). Retrieved November 19, 2016, from
http://www.algaeenterprises.com/wastewater-treatment