Potential utilisation of Water Hyacinth biomass following phytoremediation of wastewater
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Leeds
Department Name: Chemical and Process Engineering
Abstract
Freshwater is in an important resource for the global community; although there are extensive water supplies available, the majority of this is saline and therefore expensive to exploit. Industrial wastewater constitutes a significant portion of freshwater; for example, mining and refinery process waters. This water contains a range of resources in often significant proportions. The release of these resources into the natural environment can be seen as contamination as well as a significant waste of resources. Algae has been shown to have high affinity for certain elements, through biosorption, and in some cases reduce them (e.g. Au3+ to Au). This could potentially offset the cost of growing algae and its subsequent use as a feedstock for bioenergy.
This project would initially study the mechanisms of contaminant/resource immobilisation by freshwater algae, optimising the conditions for immobilisation through changes in biological and chemical conditions (e.g. salinity). This would involve the growth of algae in bioreactors; then analysing the functional groups on the surface of the algae, after condition optimisation, and the effects this has on the surface sorption of the resources targeted. Each resource will be tested in varying concentrations to determine the total potential surface sorption (with some potential for absorption).
In tandem, resource immobilisation within natural systems will be conducted; determining effective species and waste water streams for the immobilisation of resources/contaminants. This will give a greater depth to the study by looking at real scenarios and therefore the theoretical potential for the implementation. The two studies will be used to develop a cost effective and efficient resource immobilisation within a set waste water stream. This will then be compared to current recovery/remediation techniques through a Cost-Benefit-Analysis (in collaboration) and determine the overall feasibility of using algae; taking into account the use of algal biomass as feedstock of bioenergy after remediation.
Objectives:
Identify and cultivate several species of algae with optimal properties for resource immobilisation
Optimise conditions for resource immobilisation within a laboratory environment, through the use of algae as a bio-sorbent/bio-accumulator
Identify relevant waste water systems with significant levels of resources and procure samples
Demonstrate resource immobilisation of natural samples within a laboratory environment, through the use of algae as a bio-sorbent/bio-accumulator
Develop cost effective and efficient methods resource immobilisation of natural samples within a laboratory environment
Compare with current best practice of remediation and resource recovery/production
This project would initially study the mechanisms of contaminant/resource immobilisation by freshwater algae, optimising the conditions for immobilisation through changes in biological and chemical conditions (e.g. salinity). This would involve the growth of algae in bioreactors; then analysing the functional groups on the surface of the algae, after condition optimisation, and the effects this has on the surface sorption of the resources targeted. Each resource will be tested in varying concentrations to determine the total potential surface sorption (with some potential for absorption).
In tandem, resource immobilisation within natural systems will be conducted; determining effective species and waste water streams for the immobilisation of resources/contaminants. This will give a greater depth to the study by looking at real scenarios and therefore the theoretical potential for the implementation. The two studies will be used to develop a cost effective and efficient resource immobilisation within a set waste water stream. This will then be compared to current recovery/remediation techniques through a Cost-Benefit-Analysis (in collaboration) and determine the overall feasibility of using algae; taking into account the use of algal biomass as feedstock of bioenergy after remediation.
Objectives:
Identify and cultivate several species of algae with optimal properties for resource immobilisation
Optimise conditions for resource immobilisation within a laboratory environment, through the use of algae as a bio-sorbent/bio-accumulator
Identify relevant waste water systems with significant levels of resources and procure samples
Demonstrate resource immobilisation of natural samples within a laboratory environment, through the use of algae as a bio-sorbent/bio-accumulator
Develop cost effective and efficient methods resource immobilisation of natural samples within a laboratory environment
Compare with current best practice of remediation and resource recovery/production
Planned Impact
Impacts and benefits to the Non-Academic Users of the Centre include:
- Access to high quality, interdisciplinary R&D support to increase competitiveness
- Cutting edge research with high value for money;
- Access to knowledge and expertise;
- Recruitment from a pool of talented early-career students for future employment, and input into shaping the skill development of those students (engineers and scientists with training in the wider context of sustainability, economics, policy and commercial awareness).
- Technology transfer research;
- Access to a breadth or research facilities and expertise and interdisciplinary teams;
- Consultancy,
- Networking and participating in focussed forums with other technolgogy users and policy makers - sharing experiences;
- Training or secondments of their staff for enhanced knowledge transfer;
- Partnerships in innovation in the sector;
- Access to assessments of technolgoies and innovation with the best chance of a positive impact to society;
Impacts and benefits to Academic users in the fields of [1] Feedstocks, pre-processing and safety; [2] Conversion; [3] Utilisation, emissions and impact; [4] Sustainability and Whole systems, include:
- Access to and collaboration in world-leading, transformative research, which advances knowledge concerning innovative bioenergy technologies, sustainability and social acceptability, and policy mechanisms for acheiving these;
- Development of new collaborations and leaverage of further funding to support their activities;
- Access to knowledge and expertise and networking and dissemination events;
- Research exchange opportunities for mutual benefit and cross-fertilisation of ideas and innovation
- Access to high quality, interdisciplinary R&D support to increase competitiveness
- Cutting edge research with high value for money;
- Access to knowledge and expertise;
- Recruitment from a pool of talented early-career students for future employment, and input into shaping the skill development of those students (engineers and scientists with training in the wider context of sustainability, economics, policy and commercial awareness).
- Technology transfer research;
- Access to a breadth or research facilities and expertise and interdisciplinary teams;
- Consultancy,
- Networking and participating in focussed forums with other technolgogy users and policy makers - sharing experiences;
- Training or secondments of their staff for enhanced knowledge transfer;
- Partnerships in innovation in the sector;
- Access to assessments of technolgoies and innovation with the best chance of a positive impact to society;
Impacts and benefits to Academic users in the fields of [1] Feedstocks, pre-processing and safety; [2] Conversion; [3] Utilisation, emissions and impact; [4] Sustainability and Whole systems, include:
- Access to and collaboration in world-leading, transformative research, which advances knowledge concerning innovative bioenergy technologies, sustainability and social acceptability, and policy mechanisms for acheiving these;
- Development of new collaborations and leaverage of further funding to support their activities;
- Access to knowledge and expertise and networking and dissemination events;
- Research exchange opportunities for mutual benefit and cross-fertilisation of ideas and innovation
Organisations
People |
ORCID iD |
| Douglas Bray (Student) |
| Description | Samples of Water Hyacinth were collected from India and Uganda in water that had differing types of pollution (clean, nutrient-rich and industrial). These samples were split into 3 main parts (leaves, roots and petioles) and analysed by CHNS (to determine Carbon, Hydrogen, Nitrogen and Sulphur percentage), Thermogravimetric Analysis (to determine Ash, Fixed Carbon, Moisture and Volatile Matter percentage) and Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometery (to determine elemental compsition). This worked showed that plants growing in nutrient rich environments had higher nitrogen content than plants growing in industrially polluted water. They also had less ash content though the heavy metal concentration did not vary significantly. The leaves also had higher nitrogen and lower ash content that the roots. This work suggests that leaves will be useful for protein extraction whereas the roots are more useful for energy and fertiliser production. |
| Exploitation Route | Water Hyacinth is an invasive species and must be removed by NGOs in tropical countries. By determining a method to utilise this biomass it will give Water Hyacinth biomass a value and give incentive to remove the plants. |
| Sectors | Agriculture, Food and Drink,Energy,Environment |