Use of microalgae to remove pollutants from power plant discharges
Abstract
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.
- Inventors:
- Issue Date:
- OSTI Identifier:
- 7031005
- Patent Number(s):
- 5011604
- Application Number:
- PPN: US 7-476182
- Assignee:
- PTO; EDB-94-107771
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC09-76SR00001
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Resource Relation:
- Patent File Date: 7 Feb 1990
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 20 FOSSIL-FUELED POWER PLANTS; 54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; ALGAE; SEMIBATCH CULTURE; POLLUTANTS; BIODEGRADATION; POWER PLANTS; SETTLING PONDS; WATER TREATMENT; WASTE WATER; CHEMICAL REACTIONS; DECOMPOSITION; HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS; LIQUID WASTES; OXYGEN COMPOUNDS; PLANTS; PONDS; SURFACE WATERS; WASTES; WATER; 200200* - Fossil-Fueled Power Plants- Waste Management; 540320 - Environment, Aquatic- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)
Citation Formats
Wilde, E W, Benemann, J R, Weissman, J C, and Tillett, D M. Use of microalgae to remove pollutants from power plant discharges. United States: N. p., 1991.
Web.
Wilde, E W, Benemann, J R, Weissman, J C, & Tillett, D M. Use of microalgae to remove pollutants from power plant discharges. United States.
Wilde, E W, Benemann, J R, Weissman, J C, and Tillett, D M. Tue .
"Use of microalgae to remove pollutants from power plant discharges". United States.
@article{osti_7031005,
title = {Use of microalgae to remove pollutants from power plant discharges},
author = {Wilde, E W and Benemann, J R and Weissman, J C and Tillett, D M},
abstractNote = {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.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Apr 30 00:00:00 EDT 1991},
month = {Tue Apr 30 00:00:00 EDT 1991}
}