Algae Clean Waste Water to Produce Numerious Useful Products
Algae are considered to be one of the cleanest agents that is available on earth, in addition to the fact that algae are responsible for consuming most of the CO2 and releasing the most amount of oxygen that keeps us alive, algae are also employed as a bioremediation in cleaning waste water released from diverse industries as well as from sewage treatment plants. This super organism doesn’t just act as a bioremediating agent, it also produces a whole of lot of useful products while cleaning the waste water.
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This article aims to provide details only about the non-fuel products that are released from algae. Provided below is a summary list of non-fuel applications of wastewater grown algae:
- Animal & Fish Feed – Shrimp feed, Shellfish Diet, Marine Fish Larvae Cultivation
- Chemicals & Fertilizer
- Biopolymers & Bioplastics
- Paints, Dyes and Colorants
- Lubricants
- Pollution Control
- CO2 Sequestration
- Uranium/Plutonium Sequestration
- Fertilizer Runoff Reclamation
- Sewage & Wastewater Treatment
Animal Feed – Animal feed and fish feed are produced from the biosolid residues left when lipids and carbohydrates have been extracted from algae. The major merit of algae as animal feed is that low-quality algal protein can be converted by the animals into higher quality protein in the form of meat or meat byproducts without the necessity for extensive pre-processing of the algal product.
Fish Feed – A number of algae species are used as fish feed. The demand for more fish meal will increase as the demand for fish farms being utilized for human consumption grows due to the environmental effects over open ocean fishing. Algae are also used to feed the brine shrimp used to feed other species of farm-raised fish such as salmon.
Soil Conditioner – The California Department of Water Resources is of the opinion that, because algal products have higher nitrogen content than dried activated sludge, they may find a receptive market as a soil conditioner, particularly for lawn, golf greens, etc. Presence of various salts in the algal product combined with its slow rate of decomposition; make algae a desirable lawn conditioner
Biopolymers & Bioplastics – Typically, long chain polymers, present in the algae lipids are used for making bioplastics. Market Size & Growth According to a report from the consulting firm Helmut Kaiser, the market for bioplastics is already significant, having reached over US$1 billion in 2007; it is expected to be worth over US$10 billion by 2020. A number of companies are entering and investing in the market with new applications and innovations in the automotive and electronics industry leading the market boom. Over 500 bioplastics processing companies are operating today, with more than 5000 expected by 2020.
Paints, Dyes & Colorants – The natural pigments produced by algae can be used as an alternative to chemical dyes and coloring agents. Market Size & Growth
Paints & Coatings – Global paint & coating market worth $ 86 billion
Market forecast 2005 -2010 – 5.4 % by volume & 3.6 % by sales
Dyes – The world market for dyes, pigments and dye intermediates is estimated at about US$ 23 billion consisting of dyes and pigment market valued at US$ 16 billion and dye intermediates market of US$ 7 billion. (2008)
Lubricants – Lubricants can be made from the lipids (oil) in algae. Market Size & Growth Total global lubricant market by 2012 will be $120 billion growing from $110 billion in 2009, with a CAGR of about 3%.
Read more from Oilgae’s Algae-Based Waste Water Treatment – The one and only such report in the world Oilgae has published a unique report to assist those keen on understanding the algae-based waste water treatment technology and those wanting to venture into this industry. The Oilgae’s guide to waste water treatment is a comprehensive guide to understanding the algae-based waste water treatment, technolgies, challenges and the players that are involved in this industry. Link –http://www.oilgae.com/ref/report/wastewater_treatment/wastewater_treatment.html
Read Related Blogs:
Fuel Products from Waste Water Algae
Non-Fuel Applications of Waste Water Algae
Commonly Used Algae Strains for Waste Water Treatment
Microalgae and Waste Water Treatment – Why Employ Algae to Clean Up Waste Water?
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February 19th, 2014 at 1:36 pm
Algae has many uses. Extensive research on Spirulina algae was undertaken by Murugappa Chettiar Research Centre,Chennai,India(http://villgro.org/researchblog/index.php/2011/11/household-spirulina-cultivation/). It should be popularised on a massive scale which will provide employment .
Dr.A.Jagadeesh Nellore(AP),India
E-mail: anumakonda.jagadeesh@gmail.com