Check out this great video put out by Utah State University about their research treating wastewater with algae.

The first part of the video looks at their work using algae biofilms to treat wastewater. From what I can tell, this is a unique approach where the algae is grown on ropes that are wrapped around a circular wheel that rotates to dip the algae into the wastewater then take it out to expose it to CO2 and sunlight. The algae can then be collected off the rope and used for various algal based products.

The second part goes into the research on how to harvest algae after it has been grown in wastewater. They are using a dissolved air flotation unit (DAF) that essentially helps to bring the algae to the top of the water where it can easily scraped off. Ultimately, the research with this is trying to develop a more natural and efficient way to get algae out of wastewater.

The next part goes into all the various bioproducts that algae can be used to produce. From liquid fuels that can be used in our current transportation infrastructure to various industrial solvents to bioplastics, algae can produce them all. Additionally, they are looking at how algae can actually help bioremediate wastewater from oil refineries.

The last part of the video goes into how the students of Utah State University have been impacted by this research, and how their research can impact the city, state, country and world.

Essentially, there is wastewater all over the world and algae can be the solution to treating it while producing fuel, bioproducts, and new jobs.

Tags: Utah State University, wastewater