SBIR-STTR Award

The release of nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus into our natural waterbodies is a major issue negatively impacting the United States environmentally and economically. It is estimated that it costs the Gulf Coast fishing industry approximately $82 million per year. This issue is caused by misplaced nutrients. This project uses an algae-based treatment system to remove nutrients from a place they are unwanted (in wastewater) and convert them into a product (fertilizer) that can be placed where they are wanted. The fertilizer produced in this project is considered a slow-release fertilizer capable of reducing nutrient runoff from fields, gardens, and lawns, which are major contributors of nutrients in our natural waterbodies. Algal-based treatment is considered a "green," sustainable treatment platform capable of mitigating greenhouse gas emissions, while removing pollutants from wastewater. Currently, algal treatment systems are not feasible due to the high cost of operation. Our company recently invented the revolving algal biofilm (RAB) system, a game changing technology capable of drastically decreasing the cost of algal treatment. In this study we will evaluate nutrient the removal capacity of our pilot-scale RAB treatment system at industrial wastewater producers. The algae produced during treatment will be converted into a slow-release fertilizer via a pelletization process. This fertilizer will be evaluated for its nutrient release properties to determine its value as a slow-release, organic fertilizer. Lastly, the costs and energy inputs to produce an algal-based fertilizer will be assessed. Cumulatively this project will validate both the RAB system and the pelletization process as a viable option for treating nutrients in the $183 billion wastewater treatment market.

The goal of this project is to continue the success of our Phase I proof-of-concept work by implementing a full-scale, algal-based treatment system to remove nutrients (such as nitrogen and phosphorus) from wastewater in small rural communities and to produce a pelletized, slow-release algal fertilizer as a value-added byproduct. Problem/Opportunity: Nutrient pollution in our nation's waterways is a major issue. These nutrients, which stem mainly from municipalities and agriculture, are causing environmental problems such as fish kills and toxic cyanobacteria blooms. To address this issue, state and federal agencies are enforcing stricter nutrient discharge limits for municipalities. These regulations result in a growing need for improved technologies such as our algal system (especially in rural communities). Furthermore, the current methods for generating fertilizer are not sustainable and are energy-intensive. New biobased fertilizer options are desired, and the algal-based fertilizer developed in this project addresses that need. Project Objectives: This Phase II SBIR is designed to produce and collect the remaining data needed to prove to our customers (rural communities) and their professional advisers that our process is reliable, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly. The major objectives of this project are to (1) build and evaluate a full-scale algal treatment system, (2) determine the best method to process algae into a saleable pelletized fertilizer, (3) evaluate the algae fertilizer in plant-growth studies, and (4) conduct an economic and life-cycle analysis of our proprietary algal treatment to fertilizer process. Following this Phase II project, our process will be ready for commercial deployment.