Process Optimization and Real-Time Control of Synergistic Microalgae Cultivation and Wastewater Treatment

Summary

This project, funded by the U.S. Department of Energy (Award DE-EE0009270) from October 2020 to December 2024, focused on optimizing the EcoRecover Advanced Biological Nutrient Recovery (ABNR) process for synergistic microalgae cultivation and wastewater treatment. The main challenge was to achieve reliable effluent quality and biomass productivity despite environmental fluctuations. The approach involved developing a mechanistic process simulator (QSDsan) and a low-cost, real-time microbial monitoring system (ARTiMiS, costing <$300). The ABNR system at the Village of Roberts, Wisconsin (0.15 MGD), successfully met its target effluent phosphorus concentrations of ≤ 0.04 mg-P·L-1 for 87 consecutive days between January and March 2024, with an average of 0.005 mg-P·L-1. The project also demonstrated significant reductions in operational costs, including a 7x decrease in return flow rate and 3x and 37x reductions in CO2 and NH3 chemical additions, respectively. Biomass yield averaged 84 ± 14 g-AFDW·g-P-1. These advancements aim to accelerate the commercialization of high-productivity algal treatment technologies for biofuel feedstocks and nutrient recovery.

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