Development and Optimization of Biofilm Based Algal Cultivation Martin Anthony Gross Iowa State University
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Iowa State University Capstones, Theses and Graduate Theses and Dissertations Dissertations 2015 Development and optimization of biofilm based algal cultivation Martin Anthony Gross Iowa State University Follow this and additional works at: https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/etd Part of the Agriculture Commons, Bioresource and Agricultural Engineering Commons, and the Oil, Gas, and Energy Commons Recommended Citation Gross, Martin Anthony, "Development and optimization of biofilm based algal cultivation" (2015). Graduate Theses and Dissertations. 14850. https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/etd/14850 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Iowa State University Capstones, Theses and Dissertations at Iowa State University Digital Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in Graduate Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Iowa State University Digital Repository. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Development and optimization of biofilm based algal cultivation by Martin Anthony Gross A dissertation submitted to the graduate faculty in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Dual major: Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering/ Food Science and Technology Program of Study Committee: Dr. Zhiyou Wen, Co-Major Professor Dr. Lawrence Johnson, Co-Major Professor Dr. Jacek Koziel Dr. Kurt Rosentrater Dr. Say K Ong Iowa State University Ames, Iowa 2015 Copyright © Martin Anthony Gross, 2015. All rights reserved. ii TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ......................................................................................... viii ABSTRACT………………………………. .............................................................. vi CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION: DISSERTATION FORMATTING ................ 1 CHAPTER 2 BIOFILM-BASED ALGAL CULTIVATION SYSTEMS: A REVIEW .................................................................................. 2 Abstract ......................................................................................................... 2 Introduction ......................................................................................................... 3 Different Configurations of Algal Biofilm Systems ............................................ 4 Evaluation of Algal Growth in Algal Biofilm Systems ....................................... 8 Operational Factors in Algal Biofilm Systems .................................................... 10 Advantages of the Algal Biofilm Systems ........................................................... 12 Perspective and Conclusions................................................................................ 16 References ......................................................................................................... 17 Tables ......................................................................................................... 24 CHAPTER 3 YEARLONG EVALUATION OF PERFORMANCE AND DURABILITY OF A PILOT-SCALE REVOLVING ALGAL BIOFILM (RAB) CULTIVATION SYSTEM ............................... 27 Abstract ......................................................................................................... 27 Introduction ......................................................................................................... 28 Materials and Methods ........................................................................................ 30 Results and Discussion ....................................................................................... 34 Conclusion ......................................................................................................... 41 Acknowledgment ................................................................................................. 42 Reference ......................................................................................................... 42 Tables ......................................................................................................... 46 Figures ......................................................................................................... 49 CHAPTER 4 EVALUATING ALGAL GROWTH PERFORMANCE AND WATER USE EFFICIENCY OF PILOT-SCALE ALGAL BIOFILM (RAB) CULTURE SYSTEMS ......................................... 55 Abstract ......................................................................................................... 55 Introduction ......................................................................................................... 56 Materials and Methods ........................................................................................ 58 Modeling Water Evaporative Loss in Different Algal Culture Systems ............ 61 Results ......................................................................................................... 64 Discussion ......................................................................................................... 69 iii Conclusions ......................................................................................................... 72 Nomenclature ....................................................................................................... 72 Acknowledgement .............................................................................................. 74 References ......................................................................................................... 74 Tables ......................................................................................................... 76 Figures ......................................................................................................... 78 CHAPTER 5 EFFECT OF SURFACE PHYSICO-CHEMICAL PROPERTIES AND SURFACE TEXTURES ON THE INITIAL COLONIZATION AND ATTACHED GROWTH IN ALGAL BIOFILMS ......................................................................... 84 Abstract ......................................................................................................... 84 Background ......................................................................................................... 85 Results ........................................................................................................ 87 Discussion ......................................................................................................... 92 Conclusions ......................................................................................................... 96 Materials and Methods ........................................................................................ 96 Abbreviations, Competing Interests, Acknowledgements .................................. 100 References ........................................................................................................ 101 Tables ......................................................................................................... 104 Figures ......................................................................................................... 107 CHAPTER 6 COMPARATIVE TECHNO-ECONOMIC ANALYSIS AND LIFE-CYCLE ASSESSMENT OF MICROALGAL BIOMASS PRODUCTION IN A REVOLVING ALGAL BIOFILM CULTIVATION SYSTEM AND A RACEWAY POND ................. 114 Introduction ......................................................................................................... 114 Experimental Approach ...................................................................................... 116 Results and Discussion ....................................................................................... 121 Conclusions ......................................................................................................... 125 References Cited .................................................................................................. 126 CHAPTER 7 CONCLUSIONS............................................................................. 127 iv ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I thank my major professors, Dr. Zhiyou Wen and Dr. Lawrence Johnson, for there guidance and support throughout the course of this research. I also thank my other committee members including Dr. Kurt Rosentrater, Dr. Jacek Koziel, and Dr. Say K Ong. In addition, I thank my friends, colleagues, the department faculty and staff for making my time at Iowa State University a wonderful experience. Finally, thanks to my family for their encouragement and to my wife Rachael Gross for her hours of patience, respect and love. v ABSTRACT This dissertation describes research done on biofilm based algal cultivation systems. The system that was developed in this work is the revolving algal biofilm cultivation system (RAB). A raceway-retrofit, and a trough-based pilot-scale RAB system were developed and investigated. Each of the systems significantly outperformed a control raceway pond in side-by-side tests. Furthermore the RAB system was found to require significantly less water than the raceway pond based cultivation system. Lastly a TEA/LCA analysis was conducted to evaluate the economic and life cycle of the RAB cultivation system in comparison to raceway pond. It was found that the RAB system was able to grow algae at a lower cost and was shown to be profitable at a smaller scale than the raceway pond style of algal cultivation. Additionally the RAB system was projected to have lower GHG emissions, and better energy and water use efficiencies in comparison to a raceway pond system. Furthermore, fundamental research was conducted to identify the optimal material for algae to attach on. A total