SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS FOR CYANOBACTERIAREDUCTION FOR MUNICIPAL WATER DISTRICTS

SADIE GOODRUM, JONAH LEE & BROOKE RICHARDS

PROJECT OBJECTIVES & SCOPE

Quantify & Correlate

CO2 Emissions &

Cyanobacteria Increases

Identify Sustainable

Technologies to Offset CO2 Emissions &

Utilize Blooms

BIOFUEL

Develop Process to Manage Blooms

Aeration

BACKGROUND

Left: Bahia Del Mar, St. Petersburg, FL

Top: Satellite image of Lake Erie, MIBelow: Aerial view of blue-green cyanobacteria at a marina

Left: Cyanobacteria content in Water bodies of Southern California

Examples of expansive cyanobacteria growth

HIGHLIGHTS & TAKEAWAY LITERATURE SURVEY

G l o b a lC a r b o n C y c l e

1. A continuous cycle between atmosphere, plants, and soil2. Photosynthesis, Plant respiration, and plant decomposition 3. Increasing amounts carbon in atmosphere = greater carbon in lakes and surface waters4. Natural atmosphere levels =750 Petagrams (Pg) 5. 59 Pg C from marine sources

Rising Levels,

Case Studies

1. Rising levels enhance bacterial blooms2. Certain thresholds of effect pH and carbon limitation 3. Nutrient loading 4. Application of excess nitrogen increased crop numbers but not growth rate of crops5. Enhanced CO2 influences both growth rates and total biomass in Trichodesmium (250 ppm, 750 ppm, 900 ppm)

HIGHLIGHTS & TAKEAWAYS LITERATURE SURVEY

Ve r t e x A e r a t i o n S y s t e m C a s e S t u d y

1. Removing stratification and allowing the entire water body to mix2. Increasing oxygen uptake and distribution throughout the water column3. Speeding up the removal of toxic hydrogen sulfide and methane gasses4. Breakdown of organic material in the bottom of the lake5. Reducing nutrient levels

A l g a e - B a s e d B i o f u e l Te c h n o l o g y C a s e S t u d y

1. Reduce carbon emissions by consuming waste gases through photosynthesis2. Efficient producers of oil

3. Produce 30 times the amount of oil per unit area of land compared to terrestrial oilseed plant varieties4. Growth requirements for algae are simple: water and CO2

SUSTAINABLE MODEL DIAGRAM METHODOLOGY

METHODOLOGY

Research increases in

Co2 emissions and impact on cyanobacteria

TerminatorDecision Process

Research

Legend

Objective: Use correlation with CO2 emissions and cyanobacteria to offset carbon emissions by 25% with an emphasis on biofuel technology

Objective

Analyze Data Complete LCCA for Biofuel

Determine with sponsor if biofuel will

work

YES

Implement Alternative Technology to reduce CO2 emissions and

manage blooms

Yes

Research alternative sustainable

technologies for objective

Redefine objective for

sponsor approval

PROCESS FLOW DIAGRAM

NO

Terminator

NO

Implement Biofuel

SWOT ANALYSIS & KEY CALCULATIONS METHODOLOGY

Dissolved Oxygen Eqn (for Aeration):DOlake = βDOsaturated water - Oxygen Demand

Rate of Oxygen Transfer: ṁoxygen = Kt x D

World Health Organization (WHO) Guideslines

Satellite ImageryEstimated Cyanobacteria concentrations

Life Cycle Cost Analysis (LCCA):Cyanobacteria Blooms to Biofuel Program

IMPLEMENTATION C-TEST & LCCA FOR A 400-HA

BIOFUEL PRODUCTION FACILITY

Result: - 0.156

Result: -

0.056

Investment -$101,858,000

Annual Operating Costs -$8,090,000Periodic Equipment Replacement Costs (Major

Equipment)(Every 20 years) -$67,475,000Periodic Equipment Replacement Costs (Gas

Turbine)(Every 15 years) -$6,480,000Periodic Equipment Replacement Costs

(vehicles)(every 10 years) -$400,000

Annual Revenue $14,890,000

Savings of Algae Removal $1,000,000

Year 1 Total Gain/Revenue/Savings $7,800,000

Year 10 Total Gain/Revenue/Savings $7,400,000

Year 15 Total Gain/Revenue/Savings $1,320,000

Year 20 Total Gain/Revenue/Savings -$60,075,000

Net Present Value (NPV) $22,065,721

Payback Period 13.075 years

Return on Investment (ROI) 7.64%

• Break-even scenario: 49,300 bbl/year at $302 /bbl.

AERATION

IMPLEMENTATION

Right: Levels of Dissolved Oxygen, Phosphate and Nitrogen after Aeration Treatment

Southern California Lakes

Removal Goal, 25%√ No chemical additives√ Oxygen Content = 2

mg/L √ Nutrient Reduction √ Better circulation

BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES & CHECKLIST

IMPLEMENTATION

BMP CYANOBACTERIA

CONTROL PROGRAM

BMP TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT

BMP SECURITY & EMERGENCY RESPONSE

BMP ENERGY

MANAGEMENT OF MOVING

WATER & PUMPING PLANTS

BMP ENVIRONMENT

IMPACT PLANNING & BUSINESS PROCESS

SUSTAINABILITY

PROJECT CHECKLIST

LEVEL 1 Sponsor Service

Quality

LEVEL 2 Implementing the

Project

LEVEL 3 Shared Vision

LEVEL 4 Project

Objectives

LEVEL 5 Specific Review

Guidelines

CONCLUSIONOBJECTIVES Unable to Prove Correlation with Rising CO2 Emissions and

Cyanobacteria GrowthBiofuel Merits Further Research & Development

Aeration Worth Pursuing

PRINCIPLES OF SUSTAINABILITY

Principle of Sustainable Development for Minnesota

Interdependence of Public & Private Partnerships to Achieve Sustainability GoalsGlobal Interdependence, Stewardship, Conservation, Indicators, & Shared Responsibility

OPPORTUNITIES Safeguard ReservoirsLower Operational CostsProvide Healthy & Clean WaterLeaders for Alternative Energy & CO2 Reduction

RECOMMENDATIONS & FUTURE POTENTIALAeration

√ Most Effective √ Reduce bloom growth by more than project target

amount√ Readily available

technology√ Mitigates taste and odor

concerns Biofuel√ Research and Development

√ Qualitative data over time√ Cyanobacteria –

Photosynthestic active organism

√ Recycles carbon byproduct

Principles of Sustainable Development for Minnesota

KEY REFERENCES

NOAA: Earth System Research Laboratory, Global Monitoring Division

San Francisco Estuary Institute (Turner, Randy)

Civil Engineering Reference Manual, Professional Publications Inc. (Lindeburg, Michael)A Realistic Technology and Engineering Assessment of Algae Biofuel Production (Lundquist, T.J.; Woertz, I.C.; Quinn, N.W.T.; Benemann, J.R.)

AKNOWLEDGMENTSTHE AUTHORS ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE

SUPPORT FROM DR. TERRI SLIFKO, DR. PAUL ROCHELLE, PROFESSOR BEN

RADHAKRISHNAN, AND PROFESSOR HENRY SCHEICHLER

QUESTIONS