Project-ID: SC15-017
Project start: 01. November 2016
Runtime: 24 months / finished
Funding amount: € 199.900,00

Brief summary

In the last years the research on algae cultivation as well as algae production for food and feed additives, cosmetics, pigments and 3rd generation biofuels increased in Europe, and especially in Lower Austria, where five companies have been active in this field. As algae production – similar to aquaculture – has a high water demand, sustainable handling of water resources is indispensable. In the scientific community little information is available on recycling of algae process water. In specific, a lack of information exists on the determination of soluble components in algae process water and their effect on algae growth. For this reason, the main aim of this project, which will be conducted in cooperation of Bioenergy2020+, BOKU IFA-Tulln and Ecoduna, is to save fresh water and reduce waste water production by recycling process water. Therefore and to evaluate the use of process water different algae strains (Chlorella vulgaris, C. sorokiniana, Arthrospira platensis, A. maxima and Nannochloropsis limnetica) will be cultivated on mineral media as well as on recycled process water in different scales at the research institutions (0.05 L – 2 L Erlenmeyer flasks, 4 L bubble columns, 250 L tubular photobioreactor, 2.4 m³ sleeve bag photobioreactors) as well as in the algae production plant of Ecoduna (13.5 m³, vertical tubular photobioreactor). A general aim is to characterise the gained process water on nutrient composition, the presence of active compounds (bioactive substances, soluble algal / microbial products) and to determine their effect on algae cultivation as well as to determine microbial contaminants. For these purposes, among others, ion chromatography, extractions followed by HPLC- or GC-MS analysis and biotests will be used. Additionally, treatment technologies (filtration, flotation, centrifugation, …) of process water for removing active compounds, affecting algae cultivation negatively, will be evaluated. At the end of the project, the mass balances and the material flow as well as the financial benefits of process water recycling in an algae cultivation plant will be calculated. Finally, the results and outcomes of the project will be integrated into the algae production process of Ecoduna. In addition, they will be presented to scientific audience and published. Within this project young researchers and their education will be supported and networks and co-operations between research, education and application will be strengthened. Overall, the results gained within this project will ensure an effective and sustainable handling of water at algae cultivation, helping Lower Austria to keep its lead in the fields of clean water resources, good water treatment as well as algae research and production.

Keywords:
analytical chemistry, microbiology, ecology, economy