Use of microalgae to remove pollutants from power plant discharges
A method and system are described for removing pollutants dissolved in the aqueous discharge of a plant, such as a power plant, from a body of water having known hydraulic and physicochemical characteristics, the method comprising (a) modifying the hydraulic system of the body of water including use of physical barriers to define a zone in a portion of the body of water which zone includes the discharge point and where the water has a range of physicochemical characteristics; (b) selecting a large and preferably filamentous, planktonically growing strain of algae adapted to absorb the particular pollutants and genetically dominating algae at the physicochemical characteristics of the zone; (c) establishing a colony of the selected algal strain in the zone; (d) harvesting a portion of the colony; and (e) reinoculating the zone near the discharge point with a fraction of the harvested portion. The fraction used for reinoculation can be adjusted to balance the rate of pollutant removal to the rate of pollutant discharge. 4 figures.
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC09-76SR00001
- Assignee:
- PTO; EDB-94-107771
- Patent Number(s):
- US 5011604; A
- Application Number:
- PPN: US 7-476182
- OSTI ID:
- 7031005
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
200200* -- Fossil-Fueled Power Plants-- Waste Management
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540320 -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
ALGAE
BIODEGRADATION
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DECOMPOSITION
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
LIQUID WASTES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PLANTS
POLLUTANTS
PONDS
POWER PLANTS
SEMIBATCH CULTURE
SETTLING PONDS
SURFACE WATERS
WASTE WATER
WASTES
WATER
WATER TREATMENT