Don’t Run-Off – De-oiled, Solvent-free Algae as a Sustainable Biofertilizer
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Don’t Run-Off – De-oiled, Solvent-free Algae as a Sustainable Biofertilizer R. Connelly, R. Pearsall, M. Montoya, B. Morrison, K. Kaden, K. Murphy, L. Eisenberg, M. Werst, R. Hebner University of Texas at Austin, Center for Electromechanics, Austin, TX OpenAlgae LLC, Austin, TX THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN Today, the Haber–Bosch synthetic fertilizer process consumes more than one percent of the energy on Earth and is responsible for feeding roughly one-third of the world’s population. Over time, however, aggressive fertilizer practices have become unsustainable and have led to a number of environmental problems and ironically, diminished crop yields. The use of algae as a sustainable biofertilizer is particularly appealing for many reasons. Large scale growth of algae is accelerating and the University of Texas/OpenAlgae has developed cost- effective technologies to recover algal oils for independent sale, then use the de-oiled, solvent-free biomass as a clean and sustainable biofertilizer. UT conducted a pilot study to evaluate the effects of processed de-oiled algae on the promotion of plant growth and yield. The results showed that the heights and yield of the biomass- conditioned plants were consistent with, or improved, over plants conditioned with a commercial fertilizer applied at the same concentration. These data indicate that de-oiled algal biomass processed using OpenAlgae technologies can be used as an organic alternative to commercial fertilizers. Significance of the Study Hypotheses Using OpenAlgae clean processing technologies, de-oiled, solvent- free algal biomass can serve as a sustainable biofertilizer. Plants conditioned with algal biofertilizer (AB) will produce yields comparable to plants conditioned with a commercially available chemical fertilizer. Methods Freshwater algae , including Chlorella sp. and Scenedesmus sp. were processed using the OpenAlgae Mobile Algae Processing (MAP) unit (Figure 1), then dried to a powder. The dried algae were analyzed for N:P:K and other for nutrient content by Texas A & M AgriLife Services. The analyzed dried algae (9:5:5) was applied as a biofertilizer (12.5 kg/acre) to potted vegetables and herbs. The heights and yields of the algal biomass-conditioned plants were monitored and compared to plants conditioned with a commercial fertilizer applied at the same concentration. The algae were concentrated via a pH-driven flocculation process, then lysed via exposure to an electric field of ~9 kV/cm to liberate algal lipids. The lipids were recovered with the OpenAlgae membrane technology without direct contact with solvents. The de-oiled processed biomass was then dried to a powder consistency and analyzed for nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), and protein content. Results Methods Conclusions Lysing Concentration Oil Recovery Source open or closed Harvesting pH floccualtion Lysing electric field Oil Separations membrane Clean Biomass dried The OpenAlgae Mobile Algae Processing (MAP) unit Tomatoes Basil Lettuce Commercial Fertilizer Processed Algal Biomass Experimental Approach The soil used in this study was a commercial topsoil with no added nutrients. In this triplicate greenhouse trial, the effect of AB on tomato, basil, and leaf lettuce growth and yield compared to controls supplemented with the same amount of commercial fertilizer. Plant height and yields (fruits or leaf production) were recorded over the course of 8 weeks. At the conclusion of the study, the bare root plants were weighed. Processed Algal Biofertilizer (AB) Greenhouse Study Commercial Fertilizer Processed Algal Biomass Commercial Fertilizer Processed Algal Biomass The nutritional content of processed algae is similar to chemical fertilizers. The N:P:K ratio was determined to be (9:5:5), and also contained trace elements necessary for plant growth. The heights and yields promoted by algae were comparable to, or exceeded, those produced by the commercial chemical fertilizer. De-oiled, solvent-free algal biomass can be utilized as a biofertilizer. Weight in Grams Yield 0 10 20 40 50 60 Height 30 Algae Commercial Fertilizer Height in Inches 0 10 20 40 50 60 30 * There was no significant difference between algae- and commercial fertilizer- treated plants. Processed Algae Biomass Nutritional Analysis Comparison of AB and CF on Tomato Yield and Height Number of Fruits 0 10 20 40 50 30 Algae Commercial Fertilizer Height in Inches 0 10 20 40 50 30 Comparison of AB and CF on Basil Yield and Height Yield Height There was no significant difference between algae- and commercial fertilizer- treated plants on plant height, but algae caused significantly more yield (*p < 0.05). There was no significant difference between algae- and commercial fertilizer- treated plants Weight in Grams Yield 0 10 20 250 300 Height Algae Commercial Fertilizer Height in Inches 0 10 20 250 300 Comparison of AB and CF on Lettuce Yield and Height 30 30 350 350 Nutrient Content of Processed Algal Biomass N (nitrogen) P (phosphorus) K (potassium) Ca (calcium) Mg (magnesium) Na (sodium) % 8.8 5.1 5.1 0.2 0.2 0.1 N:P:K ratio (9:5:5)
description
R. Connelly, R. Pearsall, M. Montoya, B. Morrison, K. Kaden, K. Murphy, L. Eisenberg, M. Werst, R. Hebner University of Texas at Austin , Center for Electromechanics, Austin, TX OpenAlgae LLC, Austin, TX. Oil Recovery. Concentration. Lysing. Source open or closed. Harvesting - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Transcript of Don’t Run-Off – De-oiled, Solvent-free Algae as a Sustainable Biofertilizer
Don’t Run-Off – De-oiled, Solvent-free Algae as a Sustainable BiofertilizerR. Connelly, R. Pearsall, M. Montoya, B. Morrison, K. Kaden, K. Murphy, L. Eisenberg, M. Werst, R. Hebner
University of Texas at Austin, Center for Electromechanics, Austin, TXOpenAlgae LLC, Austin, TX
THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN
Today, the Haber–Bosch synthetic fertilizer process consumes more than one percent of the energy on Earth and is responsible for feeding roughly one-third of the world’s population. Over time, however, aggressive fertilizer practices have become unsustainable and have led to a number of environmental problems and ironically, diminished crop yields.
The use of algae as a sustainable biofertilizer is particularly appealing for many reasons. Large scale growth of algae is accelerating and the University of Texas/OpenAlgae has developed cost-effective technologies to recover algal oils for independent sale, then use the de-oiled, solvent-free biomass as a clean and sustainable biofertilizer. UT conducted a pilot study to evaluate the effects of processed de-oiled algae on the promotion of plant growth and yield. The results showed that the heights and yield of the biomass-conditioned plants were consistent with, or improved, over plants conditioned with a commercial fertilizer applied at the same concentration. These data indicate that de-oiled algal biomass processed using OpenAlgae technologies can be used as an organic alternative to commercial fertilizers.
Significance of the Study
Hypotheses
Using OpenAlgae clean processing technologies, de-oiled, solvent-free algal biomass can serve as a sustainable biofertilizer.
Plants conditioned with algal biofertilizer (AB) will produce yields comparable to plants conditioned with a commercially available chemical fertilizer.
Methods
Freshwater algae , including Chlorella sp. and Scenedesmus sp. were processed using the OpenAlgae Mobile Algae Processing (MAP) unit (Figure 1), then dried to a powder.
The dried algae were analyzed for N:P:K and other for nutrient content by Texas A & M AgriLife Services.
The analyzed dried algae (9:5:5) was applied as a biofertilizer (12.5 kg/acre) to potted vegetables and herbs. The heights and yields of the algal biomass-conditioned plants were monitored and compared to plants conditioned with a commercial fertilizer applied at the same concentration.
The algae were concentrated via a pH-driven flocculation process, then lysed via exposure to an electric field of ~9 kV/cm to liberate algal lipids. The lipids were recovered with the OpenAlgae membrane technology without direct contact with solvents. The de-oiled processed biomass was then dried to a powder consistency and analyzed for nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), and protein content.
ResultsMethods
Conclusions
LysingConcentrationOil Recovery
Sourceopen or closed
HarvestingpH floccualtion
Lysingelectric field
Oil Separationsmembrane
Clean Biomassdried
The OpenAlgae Mobile Algae Processing (MAP) unit
Tomatoes Basil Lettuce
CommercialFertilizer
ProcessedAlgal
Biomass
Experimental Approach
The soil used in this study was a commercial topsoil with no added nutrients. In this triplicate greenhouse trial, the effect of AB on tomato, basil, and leaf lettuce growth and yield compared to controls supplemented with the same amount of commercial fertilizer. Plant height and yields (fruits or leaf production) were recorded over the course of 8 weeks. At the conclusion of the study, the bare root plants were weighed.
Processed Algal Biofertilizer (AB) Greenhouse Study
CommercialFertilizer
ProcessedAlgal
Biomass
CommercialFertilizer
ProcessedAlgal
Biomass
The nutritional content of processed algae is similar to chemical fertilizers. The N:P:K ratio was determined to be (9:5:5), and also contained trace elements necessary for plant growth.
The heights and yields promoted by algae were comparable to, or exceeded, those produced by the commercial chemical fertilizer.
De-oiled, solvent-free algal biomass can be utilized as a biofertilizer.
Wei
ght i
n Gr
ams
Yield0
10
20
40
50
60
Height
30
AlgaeCommercial Fertilizer
Heig
ht in
Inch
es
0
10
20
40
50
60
30
*
There was no significant difference between algae- and commercial fertilizer- treated plants.
Processed Algae Biomass Nutritional Analysis
Comparison of AB and CF on Tomato Yield and Height
Num
ber o
f Fru
its
0
10
20
40
50
30
AlgaeCommercial Fertilizer
Heig
ht in
Inch
es
0
10
20
40
50
30
Comparison of AB and CF on Basil Yield and Height
Yield Height
There was no significant difference between algae- and commercial fertilizer- treated plants on plant height, but algae caused significantly more yield (*p < 0.05).
There was no significant difference between algae- and commercial fertilizer- treated plants
Wei
ght i
n Gr
ams
Yield0
10
20
250
300
Height
AlgaeCommercial Fertilizer
Heig
ht in
Inch
es
0
10
20
250
300
Comparison of AB and CF on Lettuce Yield and Height
3030
350350
Nutrient Content of Processed Algal Biomass
N (nitrogen)P (phosphorus)K (potassium)Ca (calcium)Mg (magnesium)Na (sodium)
%8.85.15.10.20.20.1
N:P:K ratio (9:5:5)
