Red Algae in eutrophied Baltic sea
3 views
Skip to first unread message
Jacky Foo
Jul 19, 2008, 1:49:25 AM7/19/08
to iobb-ib...@googlegroups.com
2008/7/19 Rajib Biswas <raj...@gmail.com>:
>The study I have been doing is anaerobic digestion of
> Algae (Basically Red Algae) from the eutrophied Baltic sea to
>produce biogas. As the substrate is available in the sea almost
>all over the year, so it is great to see how it could efficiently
>use for biogas production what could minimize the toxic
>environmental effect in other perspective.
>The study I have been doing is anaerobic digestion of
> Algae (Basically Red Algae) from the eutrophied Baltic sea to
>produce biogas. As the substrate is available in the sea almost
>all over the year, so it is great to see how it could efficiently
>use for biogas production what could minimize the toxic
>environmental effect in other perspective.
Dear Rajib Biswas
Is the red algae a macro-algae or micro-algae ?
How do you harvest it ?
What is the toxic environmental effect from this red algae ?
+++
Jacky E.L. Foo
Program Officer, www.globetree.org
Environment & Sustainable Development
++
Address: Swedish School Association, P. O. Box 21 324, 00505 Nairobi
http://www.svskol.com/
R Biswas, SE
Jul 19, 2008, 5:16:41 AM7/19/08
to IOBB Integrated Biosystems Forum
Hello Jacky!
Nice to hear from you again! However, the algae I am working with is
macro red algae from Baltic Sea and collected from SE Sweden.
However, a large amount of filamentous red algae of the genera
Polysiphonia, Rhodomela, and Ceramium regularly washed up on the
beaches on the central Baltic sea. During the summer it covers shallow
bottom close to the shore. Wind and current moves of the masses
towards the shore and huge masses of red algae accumulated on the
beaches up to 5 tons of algae per meter beach recorded.
During the aerobic decomposition of these algal bodies, large
quantities of red colored effluents leak into the water what is toxic
for human health and marine environment. Several organohalogens
compounds are produced by red algae where many of them are similar to
toxic commercial products, for instance, acute effects on the central
nervous system and chronic endocrine effects.
As the effluent is toxic and it spreads near environment through
different carriers what might have an huge environmental effect. But
interestingly, my hypothesis is if the algal biomass go through the AD
process, the toxicity will not the there and the slurry from the
digester would be a perfect source of nutrients from the agricultural
land and de-watering process would be ecologically sustainable. I
didn't study on the slurry and its rest material yet as i will have to
run the reactors 10 more days. But from the last analysis, it seems to
be every exciting treatment to minimize the effects.
But the question is, to what extent it could be operated? to digest
the total amount of algae you need to have a huge number of digesters.
Nevertheless, if we could pass even 1kg of toxic algae through the
anaerobic digestion process, we will have least environmental effect,
at least not from the one kg!!
What is your opinion??
Best regards,
Rajib Biswas
On Jul 19, 7:49 am, "Jacky Foo" <jacky....@gmail.com> wrote:
> 2008/7/19 Rajib Biswas <raji...@gmail.com>:
Nice to hear from you again! However, the algae I am working with is
macro red algae from Baltic Sea and collected from SE Sweden.
However, a large amount of filamentous red algae of the genera
Polysiphonia, Rhodomela, and Ceramium regularly washed up on the
beaches on the central Baltic sea. During the summer it covers shallow
bottom close to the shore. Wind and current moves of the masses
towards the shore and huge masses of red algae accumulated on the
beaches up to 5 tons of algae per meter beach recorded.
During the aerobic decomposition of these algal bodies, large
quantities of red colored effluents leak into the water what is toxic
for human health and marine environment. Several organohalogens
compounds are produced by red algae where many of them are similar to
toxic commercial products, for instance, acute effects on the central
nervous system and chronic endocrine effects.
As the effluent is toxic and it spreads near environment through
different carriers what might have an huge environmental effect. But
interestingly, my hypothesis is if the algal biomass go through the AD
process, the toxicity will not the there and the slurry from the
digester would be a perfect source of nutrients from the agricultural
land and de-watering process would be ecologically sustainable. I
didn't study on the slurry and its rest material yet as i will have to
run the reactors 10 more days. But from the last analysis, it seems to
be every exciting treatment to minimize the effects.
But the question is, to what extent it could be operated? to digest
the total amount of algae you need to have a huge number of digesters.
Nevertheless, if we could pass even 1kg of toxic algae through the
anaerobic digestion process, we will have least environmental effect,
at least not from the one kg!!
What is your opinion??
Best regards,
Rajib Biswas
On Jul 19, 7:49 am, "Jacky Foo" <jacky....@gmail.com> wrote:
> 2008/7/19 Rajib Biswas <raji...@gmail.com>:
chan...@astra.iisc.ernet.in
Jul 19, 2008, 5:42:15 AM7/19/08
to iobb-ib...@googlegroups.com
Dear Rajiv,
Do you have any idea what the composition or structure of the red pigment
is? Are you quite sure that the red toxic compound is an organohalogen?
Do you have any idea what the composition or structure of the red pigment
is? Are you quite sure that the red toxic compound is an organohalogen?
If this is the case I guess you could have easily noticed its presence
/absence in the digester effluent. Could you please oomment
c
hanakya
> --
> This message has been scanned for viruses and
> dangerous content by MailScanner, and is
> believed to be clean.
>
>
--
This message has been scanned for viruses and
dangerous content by MailScanner, and is
believed to be clean.
Horst Doelle
Jul 19, 2008, 5:43:41 AM7/19/08
to iobb-ib...@googlegroups.com
Dear Rajib,
How big is big ? I have seen large anaerobic digesters in
China, which work excellent. I have to admit, however, that I do not know
whether algae digest the same way than sludge from cows etc.
Regards Horst
Horst Doelle, DSc, DSc[hc]
Rajib Biswas
Jul 19, 2008, 7:28:17 AM7/19/08
to iobb-ib...@googlegroups.com
Hello,
I comment based on the related articles and previous research conducted whether the compound is organohalogen. Please read the article Malm, T., Råberg, S., Fell, T., Carlson, P., 2004. Effects by beaches cleaning on littoral water quality, microbial food web and macro faunal biodiversity. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science 60, 339–347, if possible where you will get information about the toxicity of red algae here in the beaches.
However, I have a complete composition of the red algae compounds what i have been working with.
And yes, i will go through the analysis of the rest slurry after the digestion experiment what is going to run two more weeks only.
Best regards,
Rajib Biswas
I comment based on the related articles and previous research conducted whether the compound is organohalogen. Please read the article Malm, T., Råberg, S., Fell, T., Carlson, P., 2004. Effects by beaches cleaning on littoral water quality, microbial food web and macro faunal biodiversity. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science 60, 339–347, if possible where you will get information about the toxicity of red algae here in the beaches.
However, I have a complete composition of the red algae compounds what i have been working with.
And yes, i will go through the analysis of the rest slurry after the digestion experiment what is going to run two more weeks only.
Best regards,
Rajib Biswas
Rajib Biswas
Jul 19, 2008, 7:34:34 AM7/19/08
to iobb-ib...@googlegroups.com
Dear Horst!
Yes, thats interesting thing to think about, how big is big! But my study shows its not the exactly same way how ~manure could be digested. I was thinking the required size and numbers for the total accumulated algae on the beach to be digested. Then it's a matter to think, what is the load would be to a specific size of digester, i mean '?' g VS/L/Day if it is a daily basis feeding.
Best regards,
Rajib Biswas
Yes, thats interesting thing to think about, how big is big! But my study shows its not the exactly same way how ~manure could be digested. I was thinking the required size and numbers for the total accumulated algae on the beach to be digested. Then it's a matter to think, what is the load would be to a specific size of digester, i mean '?' g VS/L/Day if it is a daily basis feeding.
Best regards,
Rajib Biswas
CA...@aol.com
Jul 19, 2008, 7:34:30 AM7/19/08
to iobb-ib...@googlegroups.com
In a message dated 7/19/2008 4:17:15 A.M. Central Daylight Time,
raj...@gmail.com writes:
But the question is, to what extent it could be operated? to digest
the total amount of algae you need to have a huge number of digesters.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
We designed a series of digesters to be used on a large project in Kenya on
the shores of Lake Victoria. The floating biomass of water weeds, Hydrilla and
Hyacinth mostly, would be harvested mechanically throughout the lake and
transported to various sites on shore. We were to digest the biomass at the rate
of 400 tons per day minimum per digester.
I would have to dig up my notes from the project to be sure of the revenue
figures but the project was expected to net millions of dollars from electricity
sales annually, while the digestate would have been provided to the pubic as a
fertilizer for free. The rate we planned to charge for the power was 2/3
the local grid price.
Unfortunately the Kenyan officials decided they had better uses for our
money and repeatedly seized our equipment for new "taxes" they had
imposed. After three such seizures the project was broke and did not go
forward. The positive outcome was that we had harvested considerable biomass
from the lake by that time and demonstrated the effectiveness of the harvester
system.
Neal Van Milligen
Bioten Power and Energy Group
Get fantasy football with free live scoring. Sign up for FanHouse Fantasy Football today.
R Biswas, SE
Jul 19, 2008, 7:35:23 PM7/19/08
to IOBB Integrated Biosystems Forum
400 tons per day per digester is impressive. I believe the size of the
digester would be applicable in Baltic sea region as well.
How could i get more information about the project was planned for
Kenya?
Please keep writing!
Best regards,
Rajib Biswas
On Jul 19, 1:34 pm, C...@aol.com wrote:
> In a message dated 7/19/2008 4:17:15 A.M. Central Daylight Time,
>
> _c...@aol.com_ (mailto:c...@aol.com)
>
> **************Get fantasy football with free live scoring. Sign up for
> FanHouse Fantasy Football today.
> (http://www.fanhouse.com/fantasyaffair?ncid=aolspr00050000000020)
digester would be applicable in Baltic sea region as well.
How could i get more information about the project was planned for
Kenya?
Please keep writing!
Best regards,
Rajib Biswas
On Jul 19, 1:34 pm, C...@aol.com wrote:
> In a message dated 7/19/2008 4:17:15 A.M. Central Daylight Time,
>
> raji...@gmail.com writes:
>
> But the question is, to what extent it could be operated? to digest
> the total amount of algae you need to have a huge number of digesters.
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> -----------------------------------------
> We designed a series of digesters to be used on a large project in Kenya on
> the shores of Lake Victoria. The floating biomass of water weeds, Hydrilla and
> Hyacinth mostly, would be harvested mechanically throughout the lake and
> transported to various sites on shore. We were to digest the biomass at the rate
> of 400 tons per day minimum per digester.
>
> I would have to dig up my notes from the project to be sure of the revenue
> figures but the project was expected to net millions of dollars from
> electricity sales annually, while the digestate would have been provided to the pubic
> as a fertilizer for free. The rate we planned to charge for the power was 2/3
> the local grid price.
>
> Unfortunately the Kenyan officials decided they had better uses for our
> money and repeatedly seized our equipment for new "taxes" they had imposed.
> After three such seizures the project was broke and did not go forward. The
> positive outcome was that we had harvested considerable biomass from the lake by
> that time and demonstrated the effectiveness of the harvester system.
>
> Neal Van Milligen
> Bioten Power and Energy Group
> _www.biotenpower.com_(http://www.biotenpower.com)
>
> But the question is, to what extent it could be operated? to digest
> the total amount of algae you need to have a huge number of digesters.
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> -----------------------------------------
> We designed a series of digesters to be used on a large project in Kenya on
> the shores of Lake Victoria. The floating biomass of water weeds, Hydrilla and
> Hyacinth mostly, would be harvested mechanically throughout the lake and
> transported to various sites on shore. We were to digest the biomass at the rate
> of 400 tons per day minimum per digester.
>
> I would have to dig up my notes from the project to be sure of the revenue
> figures but the project was expected to net millions of dollars from
> electricity sales annually, while the digestate would have been provided to the pubic
> as a fertilizer for free. The rate we planned to charge for the power was 2/3
> the local grid price.
>
> Unfortunately the Kenyan officials decided they had better uses for our
> money and repeatedly seized our equipment for new "taxes" they had imposed.
> After three such seizures the project was broke and did not go forward. The
> positive outcome was that we had harvested considerable biomass from the lake by
> that time and demonstrated the effectiveness of the harvester system.
>
> Neal Van Milligen
> Bioten Power and Energy Group
> _c...@aol.com_ (mailto:c...@aol.com)
>
> **************Get fantasy football with free live scoring. Sign up for
> FanHouse Fantasy Football today.
> (http://www.fanhouse.com/fantasyaffair?ncid=aolspr00050000000020)
LINDA WILL KLAUSMEIER POWELL
Jul 19, 2008, 6:08:31 PM7/19/08
to iobb-ib...@googlegroups.com
Peter,
This really burns my ass. Such a great project ruined by graft! I think I'll write back just out of moral support.
Will
From: CA...@aol.com
Date: Sat, 19 Jul 2008 07:34:30 -0400
This really burns my ass. Such a great project ruined by graft! I think I'll write back just out of moral support.
Will
From: CA...@aol.com
Date: Sat, 19 Jul 2008 07:34:30 -0400
Subject: [IOBB-IBS-FORUM] Re: Red Algae in eutrophied Baltic sea
LINDA WILL KLAUSMEIER POWELL
Jul 19, 2008, 9:49:23 PM7/19/08
to iobb-ib...@googlegroups.com, Peter* Chabarek
Gentlemen all,
I am associated with the Lane County Algae Study Group. We are in the early stages of exploring how algae culture can clean up wastewaters, utilize CO2 and produce biomass for conversion into energy products such as biogas and biodiesel.
I am finding this correspondence extremely interesting. My heart moves with the account of the Kenya experience where bribes killed an extremely worthwhile project that would have produced valuable information for many people. The Baltic Sea situation presents a potentially large resource and if anaerobic digestion can eliminate the toxicity of the algae biomass then that would be a most valuable bioconversion. If these efforts can succeed through group action, then by all means we should try to make the effort to assist each other. I have lived in Thailand and worked extensively overseas and know that many fundamental innovations are happening in developing countries, not in the industrialized world.
I suggest that we maintain communication. My colleague, Peter Chabarek, is the leader of our group and we meet on a monthly basis with other members. We strongly support your efforts and wish you the very best in your endeavors.
Best Regards,
Will Klausmeier, Ph.D.
willi...@msn.com
541-345-4021
> Date: Sat, 19 Jul 2008 16:35:23 -0700
I am associated with the Lane County Algae Study Group. We are in the early stages of exploring how algae culture can clean up wastewaters, utilize CO2 and produce biomass for conversion into energy products such as biogas and biodiesel.
I am finding this correspondence extremely interesting. My heart moves with the account of the Kenya experience where bribes killed an extremely worthwhile project that would have produced valuable information for many people. The Baltic Sea situation presents a potentially large resource and if anaerobic digestion can eliminate the toxicity of the algae biomass then that would be a most valuable bioconversion. If these efforts can succeed through group action, then by all means we should try to make the effort to assist each other. I have lived in Thailand and worked extensively overseas and know that many fundamental innovations are happening in developing countries, not in the industrialized world.
I suggest that we maintain communication. My colleague, Peter Chabarek, is the leader of our group and we meet on a monthly basis with other members. We strongly support your efforts and wish you the very best in your endeavors.
Best Regards,
Will Klausmeier, Ph.D.
willi...@msn.com
541-345-4021
> Date: Sat, 19 Jul 2008 16:35:23 -0700
> Subject: [IOBB-IBS-FORUM] Re: Red Algae in eutrophied Baltic sea
>
>
> 400 tons per day per digester is impressive. I believe the size of the
> digester would be applicable in Baltic sea region as well.
>
> How could i get more information about the project was planned for
> Kenya?
>
> Please keep writing!
>
> Best regards,
> Rajib Biswas
>
> On Jul 19, 1:34 pm, C...@aol.com wrote:
> > In a message dated 7/19/2008 4:17:15 A.M. Central Daylight Time,
> >
> >
> > raji...@gmail.com writes:
> >
> > But the question is, to what extent it could be operated? to digest
> > the total amount of algae you need to have a huge number of digesters.
> >
> > ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> > -----------------------------------------
> > We designed a series of digesters to be used on a large project in Kenya on
> > the shores of Lake Victoria. The floating biomass of water weeds, Hydrilla and
> > Hyacinth mostly, would be harvested mechanically throughout the lake and
> > transported to various sites on shore. We were to digest the biomass at the rate
> > of 400 tons per day minimum per digester.
> >
> > I would have to dig up my notes from the project to be sure of the revenue
> > figures but the project was expected to net millions of dollars from
> > electricity sales annually, while the digestate would have been provided to the pubic
> > as a fertilizer for free. The rate we planned to charge for the power was 2/3
> > the local grid price.
> >
> > Unfortunately the Kenyan officials decided they had better uses for our
> > money and repeatedly seized our equipment for new 'taxes' they had imposed.
> > After three such seizures the project was broke and did not go forward. The
> > positive outcome was that we had harvested considerable biomass from the lake by
> > that time and demonstrated the effectiveness of the harvester system.
> >
> > Neal Van Milligen
> > Bioten Power and Energy Group
> >
> > But the question is, to what extent it could be operated? to digest
> > the total amount of algae you need to have a huge number of digesters.
> >
> > ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> > -----------------------------------------
> > We designed a series of digesters to be used on a large project in Kenya on
> > the shores of Lake Victoria. The floating biomass of water weeds, Hydrilla and
> > Hyacinth mostly, would be harvested mechanically throughout the lake and
> > transported to various sites on shore. We were to digest the biomass at the rate
> > of 400 tons per day minimum per digester.
> >
> > I would have to dig up my notes from the project to be sure of the revenue
> > figures but the project was expected to net millions of dollars from
> > electricity sales annually, while the digestate would have been provided to the pubic
> > as a fertilizer for free. The rate we planned to charge for the power was 2/3
> > the local grid price.
> >
> > Unfortunately the Kenyan officials decided they had better uses for our
> > money and repeatedly seized our equipment for new 'taxes' they had imposed.
> > After three such seizures the project was broke and did not go forward. The
> > positive outcome was that we had harvested considerable biomass from the lake by
> > that time and demonstrated the effectiveness of the harvester system.
> >
> > Neal Van Milligen
> > Bioten Power and Energy Group
> > **************Get fantasy football with free live scoring. Sign up for
> > FanHouse Fantasy Football today.
> > (http://www.fanhouse.com/fantasyaffair?ncid=aolspr00050000000020)
>
> > FanHouse Fantasy Football today.
> > (http://www.fanhouse.com/fantasyaffair?ncid=aolspr00050000000020)
>
CA...@aol.com
Jul 19, 2008, 7:51:10 PM7/19/08
to iobb-ib...@googlegroups.com
I apologize for any miscommunication on my part. I meant that each digester
station would be spaced along the shore somewhat removed from its neighbor to
reduce the transportation issues with the harvested biomass from the lake
surface. This meant that each digester station had to be able to handle 400 tons
of biomass per day but in multiple digester units, of course.
(One interesting lesson from harvesting this biomass from Lake Victoria was
that each of our floating harvesters had to have a snake man on board to flip
the harvested snakes back into the water or we would not have been able to keep
an operator very long. But reducing the biomass on the lake not only
opened up waterways for boat traffic but also significantly reduced the local
mosquito population.)
We helped in the development of the fixed film anaerobic digester some
years ago and intended that technology to be a part of the solution in
Kenya. The other engineering work is more or less proprietary but we can
duplicate it if a company is interested.
Regards,
Neal Van Milligen
Bioten Power and Energy Group
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In a message dated 7/19/2008 6:35:48 P.M. Central Daylight Time,
raj...@gmail.com writes:
400 tons per day per digester is impressive. I believe the size of the
digester would be applicable in Baltic sea region as well.
How could i get more information about the project was planned for
Kenya?
Please keep writing!
Best regards,
Rajib Biswas
Jacky Foo
Jul 20, 2008, 3:40:12 AM7/20/08
to iobb-ib...@googlegroups.com
2008/7/19 R Biswas, SE <raj...@gmail.com>:
>....genera Polysiphonia, Rhodomela, and Ceramium regularly washed up
>on the beaches on the central Baltic sea. ........(cut)....
> During the aerobic decomposition of these algal bodies, large
> quantities of red colored effluents leak into the water what is toxic
> for human health and marine environment. Several organohalogens
> compounds are produced by red algae where many of them are similar to
> toxic commercial products, for instance, acute effects on the central
> nervous system and chronic endocrine effects.
>....genera Polysiphonia, Rhodomela, and Ceramium regularly washed up
>on the beaches on the central Baltic sea. ........(cut)....
> During the aerobic decomposition of these algal bodies, large
> quantities of red colored effluents leak into the water what is toxic
> for human health and marine environment. Several organohalogens
> compounds are produced by red algae where many of them are similar to
> toxic commercial products, for instance, acute effects on the central
> nervous system and chronic endocrine effects.
Do Swedish authorities provide any alarm warnings to bathers on such
beaches when levels in the water for these leached organohalogens get
too high ?
> ......my hypothesis is if the algal biomass go through the AD
> process, the toxicity will not the there .......
> .........if we could pass even 1kg of toxic algae through the
> anaerobic digestion process, we will have least environmental effect,
> at least not from the one kg!!
>
> What is your opinion??
interesting .......
Could these or are these the same type of algae that some people make
liquid fertiliser concentrates (packed in commercial plastic bottles)
for in-door plants ?
regards
jacky
Jacky Foo
Jul 20, 2008, 1:17:04 PM7/20/08
to iobb-ib...@googlegroups.com
2008/7/19 <CA...@aol.com>:
> We designed a series of digesters to be used on a large project
> in Kenya
>......floating biomass of water weeds
>.....would be harvested mechanically throughout the lake
>...... Unfortunately the Kenyan officials decided they had better
>uses for our money and repeatedly seized our equipment for
>new "taxes" they had imposed. After three such seizures the
>project was broke and did not go forward.
> We designed a series of digesters to be used on a large project
> in Kenya
>.....would be harvested mechanically throughout the lake
>...... Unfortunately the Kenyan officials decided they had better
>uses for our money and repeatedly seized our equipment for
>new "taxes" they had imposed. After three such seizures the
>project was broke and did not go forward.
Hi Neal Van Milligen
interesting story you have there. !!
I am in Kenya now.
Q: who were the "Kenyan officials" ?
Q: what was the scale of your project money ? and what amount went to "taxes"
Q: who was your Kenyan Project Partner ?
Q. what is this "taxes", pls elaborate
looks like the preparation for the entry of the equipment into Kenya
was not properly done !!
I like to know more ......
regards
jacky
Peter Chabarek
Jul 20, 2008, 10:47:54 PM7/20/08
to iobb-ib...@googlegroups.com
Oh, it's tragic. What a simple, great project, taken down by the ever present corruption in African countries (even worse there than some other places).
Reply all
Reply to author
Forward
0 new messages