Evaluating the Feasibility and Effectiveness of Duckweed Phytoremediation in Lake Sevan
Prepared By: Eric Bormann Phillip Durgin Alex Gladu Hovhannes Torosyan
1 Significance of Lake Sevan
Lake Sevan is a Considered the Home to The Sevan Basin major resource “Jewel of architectural relics is biologically for industry and Armenia”, Lake and beautiful diverse, with agriculture, Sevan has landscapes, Sevan 1,600 species of providing a prominent role in attracts both flora and 426 source of fish, the nation’s holidaymakers and species of fauna. hydropower, and history, art, and archaeologists Ten are endemic. recreation. poetry. alike.
2 Dangers of Eutrophication
Satellite Imagery of Lake Sevan Showing one of the first toxic cyanobacterial
blooms in the lake. 3 Characteristics of Duckweed
Used in several Has an incredibly fast Uptakes large amounts countries for growth rate. of pollutants. wastewater treatment.
Capable of surviving a Has multiple wide range of post-harvest conditions. applications. 4 Project Goal Design a duckweed-based water treatment system that will benefit the communities in the Lake Sevan Basin environmentally and economically Project Plan
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Water Quality Index Ranking A holistic analytical tool to summarize water quality data, Water Quality converting nine analytes to one Data Analysis standardized rating
Examining nutrient Optimal Conditions for Growth concentration data Determining average yearly values to gather for parameters important for duckweed growth: pH, P, N, Fe, K, S, information about Na, Mg, Ca water conditions in Lake Sevan’s P and N Concentrations tributaries Determining average yearly P and N concentration in the years 2010 to 2019 Objective 1: Pollution Data Analysis 7 Phosphate and Nitrate Concentration Ranking (Weight: 0.5)
River Gavaraget Martuni Masrik Shoghvak Tsakkar Vardenis Argichi Sotk Karchaghbyur Dzknaget
Ranking Ranking 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Potential Farm Optimal Conditions for Duckweed Growth (Weight: 0.35) Locations River Gavaraget Masrik Sotk Martuni Shoghvak Tsakkar Argichi Vardenis Dzknaget Karchaghbyur
Using Water Quality Ranking 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Analysis to rank Water Quality Index Ranking (Weight: 0.15) rivers feeding into Lake Sevan River Gavaraget Sotk Masrik Shoghvak Tsakkar Martuni Vardenis Argichi Dzknaget Karchaghbyur
Ranking 1 2 3 3 3 6 7 8 9 9
Overall Ranking
River Gavaraget Masrik Martuni Shoghvak Tsakkar Sotk Vardenis Argichi Karchaghbyur Dzknaget Objective 1: Pollution Data Analysis
Ranking 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Geographic Analysis
Identify topographical challenges while creating a list of municipalities for interviews Objective 1: Pollution Data Analysis 10
Field Interviews
Assess local attitudes towards duckweed farming and determine the general interest level
11 Objective 2: Local Attitude Assessment
Municipality Interviews
Communication with the governmental bodies Advising with Province Government ○ Call and discussion with the head of Environment Protection department
Calls and visits to Municipalities ○ 3 in Gavar region ○ 3 in Martuni region ○ 3 in Vardenis region 12 Objective 2: Local Attitude Assessment
Private Field Interviews
Communication with the private business representatives Visits to private business owners ○ 3 in Gavar region ○ 1 in Martuni region ○ 2 in Vardenis region
Advising with NGOs ○ Call and discussion with the representative of Sevan Lake oriented NGO - Blejan 13 Objective 2: Local Attitude Assessment Gavaraget Masrik Martuni
Dry Biomass Dry Biomass Dry Biomass Month Month Month (kg/m²) (kg/m²) (kg/m²)
March 6.1 March 4.4 March 4.0
April 14.6 April 11.9 April 7.8 Biomass May 76.5 May 51.3 May 27.1 Algorithm June 182.3 June 108.5 June 228.5 July 254.9 July 205.9 July 120.6 Estimate biomass August 263.8 August 176.5 August 187.8 harvested with river September 198.0 September 116.9 September 133.6
water conditions October 97.2 October 98.4 October 45.3
TOTAL (kg/m²) 1,093.4 TOTAL (kg) 773.8 TOTAL (kg) 754.8
Combined Dry 2,622.0 Total (kg/m²) Objective 3: Opportunity Analysis Combined Dry 537.0 Total (lbs/ft²)
Benefits Drawbacks
Fish Feed Varying Application Increased conclusions on growth rates how much to feed Determine fish feasibility of producing fish feed Potential Minimal with duckweed inhibition of production growth and biomass costs survival rate Objective 3: Opportunity Analysis
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Benefits Drawbacks
Growth inhibition Minimal Livestock Feed in chicks production costs Application
Determine Uses no arable Lack of feasibility of land research producing feed for livestock with duckweed biomass Increases livestock growth Processing rates Required Objective 3: Opportunity Analysis
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Benefits Drawbacks
Fertilizer Reduced NH3 and Inhibition of Application NO3- leaching germination
Determine feasibility of
producing fertilizer Substantial Increased P and amount of with duckweed N levels in soil duckweed
biomass required
Objective 3: Opportunity Analysis
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Bioethanol Application
Determine feasibility of producing bioethanol with duckweed biomass Objective 3: Opportunity Analysis
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Lemna minor
Duckweed Species Selection
Recommend species Lemna gibba Grown in a polyculture of duckweed for farm development
Lemna trisulca Objective 4: Pilot Farm Design
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Farm Design Options
Resource-based design choices based on available resources Objective 4: Pilot Farm Design
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Sample Pilot Farm Design
Design a small-scale pilot farm Objective 4: Pilot Farm Design
21 Thank You! A special thank you to our sponsors at the AUA Acopian Center for the Environment and our project advisors: Garabet Kazanjian Alen Amirkhanian Aaron Sakulich Norayr Ben Ohanian
22 Questions?
Prepared By: Eric Bormann Phillip Durgin Alex Gladu Hovhannes Torosyan 23