Preliminary laboratory experimentation on the potential of mass-scale cultivation of a high-potein blue-green alga, spirulina geitleri, utilizing cattle feedlot manure
Major detriments to beef production in Hawaii are the cost of feed and the problems associated with the treatment and disposal of the manure in a environmentally safe manner. In an effort to alleviate these problems, laboratory studies were conducted on the feasibility of culturing the high protein (> 50%) blue-green alga Spirulina in elutriated (washed) manure and in the supernatant resulting from anaerobically digesting animal manure. This scheme lends itself to a proposed environmentally acceptable integrated manure handling system with the major outputs being a high-protein feed ingredient (Spirulina); methane gas for heating and power production; and a stabilized sludge (from the anaerobic digester), that can be used as a soil conditioner. The laboratory results proved that unialgal cultures of Spirulina geitleri were capable of attaining dense concentrations in medium prepared from elutriated manure or the supernatant from anaerobically digested cattle manure; however, a high concentration (> 1.0 g/l) of sodium bicarbonate was necessary for successful establishment of growing cultures. In addition, supplemental nitrogen was required to maximize the utilization of the dissolved nutrients in the digester supernatant. Several potential sources of waste carbon dioxide and nitrogen are available for integration into the scheme. Finally, Spirulina geitleri responded favorably to the substitution of manure-enriched modified FCRG medium with a 20% seawater mixture, thus opening up the possibility of utilizing this organism in future OTEC-aquacultural projects. 3 figures, 6 tables.
- OSTI ID:
- 5818306
- Resource Relation:
- Related Information: Technical Report No. 8
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
MANURES
ANAEROBIC DIGESTION
METHANE
BIOSYNTHESIS
ALGAE
CARBON DIOXIDE
HAWAII
MEAT
NITROGEN
PRODUCTION
AGRICULTURAL WASTES
ALKANES
BIOCONVERSION
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
CRYOGENIC FLUIDS
DIGESTION
ELEMENTS
FLUIDS
FOOD
HYDROCARBONS
MANAGEMENT
NONMETALS
NORTH AMERICA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PLANTS
PROCESSING
SOLID WASTES
SYNTHESIS
USA
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTE PROCESSING
WASTES
WESTERN REGION
090122* - Hydrocarbon Fuels- Preparation from Wastes or Biomass- (1976-1989)
140504 - Solar Energy Conversion- Biomass Production & Conversion- (-1989)