A secondary benefit of the Algal Turf Scrubber® is the recovery of carbon dioxide (CO2).
Researchers across the globe are racing to investigate the application of algae-based treatment systems for recovery of CO2 and production of algal biomass and biofuels. Currently, researchers have focused primarily on phytoplankton-based algae systems. However, the Algal Turf Scrubber® may offer a better solution.
A critical measurement of an algae system’s ability to recover CO2 is its algal production rate. Algal production rates in Algal Turf Scrubber® system have exceeded those levels achieved at the Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory Outdoor Test Facility (OTF) in Roswell, New Mexico by 50 to 230 percent. These production levels have been achieved not in laboratory scale systems, but in outdoor water treatment facilities 10 times larger than the OTF.
Additionally, Algal Turf Scrubber® systems address one of the primary challenges of phytoplankton-based systems by offering proven, low energy, and cost-effective biomass recovery.
While global implementation of the Algal Turf Scrubber® for surface water treatment projects will help mitigate the effects of excess carbon in the atmosphere––a major contributor to global warming––direct recovery of CO2 emissions from power generating facilities may offer a new and exciting application of the Algal Turf Scrubber® technology.