Advanced biochemical processes for geothermal brines current developments

Conference · Mon Mar 10 04:00:00 EST 1997

OSTI ID:475666

Premuzic, E T; Lin, M S; Bohenek, M

A research program at Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) which deals with the development and application of processes for the treatment of geothermal brines and sludges has led to the identification and design of cost-efficient and environmentally friendly treatment methodology. Initially the primary goal of the processing was to convert geothermal wastes into disposable materials whose chemical composition would satisfy environmental regulations. An expansion of the R&D effort allowed to identify a combination of biochemical and chemical processes which became a basis for the development of a technology for the treatment of geothermal brines and sludges. The new technology satisfies environmental regulatory requirements and concurrently converts the geothermal brines and sludges into commercially promising products. Because the chemical composition of geothermal wastes depends on the type of the resource and therefore differs, the emerging technology has to be also flexible so that it can be readily modified to suit the needs of a particular type of resource. Recent conceptional designs for the processing of hypersaline and low salinity brines and sludges will be discussed.

• Research Organization: Brookhaven National Lab., Upton, NY (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-76CH00016
• OSTI ID: 475666
• Report Number(s): BNL--64182; CONF-970376--4; ON: DE97006105
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
BIOCHEMISTRY
BNL
BRINES
GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
GEOTHERMAL FLUIDS
Geothermal Legacy
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
SLUDGES
WASTE PROCESSING