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Wastewater Algae Holds Promise as Biofuel
 Athens,
GA -- Wastewater generated by carpet production could
potentially be used to grow yet another crop for biofuel –
algae. Yes, algae. The stuff that clouds swimming pools,
mucks up ponds and clings to boat sides and buoys. More than
2,000 gallons of oil can be made from one acre of algae. One
acre of soybeans produces 48 gallons per year. Only 18
gallons can be made from one acre of corn annually.
Dirty water left over from carpet
production is perfect for growing algae, said K.C. Das,
director of the University of Georgia Biorefining and Carbon
Cycling Program.
In Dalton, Ga., the “Carpet
Capitol of the World,” 85 percent of the wastewater flowing
into Dalton Utilities comes from local carpet factories. In
total, the utilities company treats and releases between 30
million and 40 million gallons of treated wastewater a day,
said Senthil Chinnasamy, a postdoctoral research associate
with the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental
Sciences.
Instead of applying this treated
wastewater to designated areas, it could be used to
cultivate algae in open ponds. With that amount of
wastewater, a million gallons of biodiesel made from algae
could be produced annually, enough to run the Dalton’s
entire fleet of government vehicles for a year.
Wastewater already contains
nitrogen, phosphorus and other minerals, nutrients that
would cost extra money to add. Algae can be grown in
saltwater, too.
Right now, Chinnasamy and his lab
assistants are growing it in large plastic tubes and
oversized plastic bags. He’s got samples of different algae
in closed beakers in a growth chamber. Later this summer,
they’ll place promising species in plastic ponds to see how
well they grow in uncontrolled environments.
The UGA researches are working to
find cost-effective ways to harvest it and express oil from
it. The oil can be turned into biodiesel, the protein added
to livestock feed and the remaining carbohydrates into
ethanol and methane production.
The U.S. Renewable Fuels
Standard, signed into law in January, calls for the
production of 36 billion gallons of biofuel annually by the
year 2022. Currently, the country produces 8 billion gallons
a year.
It would take 750 million acres
of soybeans, or an area twice the size of Alaska, to produce
36 billion gallons of biofuel, Chinnasamy said. The same
amount could be produced on 7 million acres of algae, or an
area half the size of West Virginia.
In addition to its biofuel
possibilities, algae can help reduce carbon dioxide in the
atmosphere. It is considered carbon negative, meaning it
uses more carbon than it produces. A kilogram, or 2.2
pounds, of algae pulls 1.8 kilograms, or 4 pounds, of carbon
dioxide out of the air.
Despite its upsides, algae are
difficult to produce. The ideal growing location, which is
outside in ponds, is hard to regulate. It’s hard to harvest,
too, and must dry. It’s now harvested mainly for its
protein, which can bring manufacturers $6 an ounce.
One big downside now is that it
costs about $5 to make a gallon of fuel from algae.
Chinnasamy and Das hope their work will lower the cost to
$1.50 a gallon, which would lower the cost of biodiesel and
diesel blends and still give producers a profit.
Fuel made from algae could be
available commercially in five years, Das said.
Source:
http://www.uga.edu/
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newsletter is sponsored by:
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H2O Innovation acquires Itasca
Systems
 Quebec
City, Canada -- H2O Innovation continues to develop in
promising markets and announces that on July 3, 2008, an H2O
subsidiary has indirectly acquired 100% of the issued and
outstanding shares of Itasca Systems Inc. (“Itasca”), a
privately owned company with six individual shareholders
dealing at arm’s length with H2O.
Located in Minneapolis, Minnesota
(USA), Itasca specializes in treating industrial process
water, notably for the energy sector. This transaction will
allow H2O to diversify its products and services offering in
order to serve the fast growing industrial market.
Founded in 1995, Itasca is based
in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It designs, builds, and services
membrane filtration systems. Since its founding, Itasca has
installed 150 water treatment systems for many industrial
applications related to the energy sector, notably: power
generation plants, cellulose and non-cellulose ethanol
plants as well as food-process industries, and also for the
municipal sector.
Itasca operates in a promising
market in the United States and is located in one of the two
regions most active in the water treatment sector, the other
being California, where H2O is already present with its
subsidiary, Membrane Systems Inc. (“MSI”). Itasca is the
third acquisition — after WTI and MSI — by H2O in the United
States, which is a particularly dynamic sector for
industrial and municipal water treatment projects.
In addition to technological and
geographical synergies, the acquisition of Itasca will give
H2O a new 37,000 ft2 plant in the United States in a region
generally recognized to offer highly skilled labor at an
attractive cost as well as a production and technology
platform that resembles and complements H2O manufacturing
facilities in Ham-Nord (Québec), Canada.
Typically, water treatment
systems dedicated to industrial sector are usually executed
and delivered a short time schedule. Average time between
contract signing and project completion is 4 to 6 months
compared to 10 to 12 months for the average municipal
contract.
Itasca’s industrial sales
orientation will immediately leverage and diversify H2O
offer for process water applications, where gross margins
are typically higher than municipal water applications and
where H2O expertise in membrane solutions can be a real
competitive advantage. Going forward, Itasca’s industrial
customer base will also benefit from H2O expertise in
wastewater applications using the Company’s proprietary or
customized bio-reactor and submerged membrane bio-reactor
(Bio-Brane TM) solutions.
Source:
http://www.h2oinnovation.com/ |
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Vapor Control Balls for Potable
Water Reservoirs
 ANN
ARBOR, MI -- NSF International, a not-for-profit, public
health and safety organization, announced today that it has
certified vapor control balls, also known as “shade balls,”
produced by Orange Products, Inc. The shade balls met the
requirements of NSF/ANSI Standard 61: Drinking Water System
Components -- Health Effects, which includes requirements
for all products that come in contact with drinking water.
The
vapor control or shade balls are four-inch diameter
high-density polyethylene balls that are intended for vapor
control in potable water tanks and reservoirs with an
average depth of nine feet or more.
“Vapor
control or shade balls are used for blocking sunlight and
reducing heat loss, evaporation and waterfowl fatalities in
open-air bodies of water and chemicals,” said Kenneth
Zaborowski of Orange Products, a manufacturer of plastic
balls since 1946 in Allentown, PA. “The Los Angeles
Department of Water and Power (LADWP) is using these
products to block sunlight in an effort to reduce the
formation of bromate in two of their open-air drinking water
reservoirs.”
Dr.
Pankaj Parekh, LADWP Director of Water Quality Compliance
said, “Water quality is priority #1 for LADWP. Therefore,
proper safety certification of the products we use is a
fundamental operating principle at our department. The NSF’s
certification was a determining factor for us to proceed in
earnest with testing and, ultimately, implement the shade
ball option.”
Certification of drinking water products to NSF/ANSI
Standard 61 is required throughout the U.S. and Canada to
measure if any chemical contaminants will leach into water
at levels that may cause adverse effects to human health.
“These
contaminants include those regulated by the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Health Canada, as
well as any other non-regulated compounds that may be of
concern,” said Dave Purkiss, General Manager, NSF’s Drinking
Water Systems Components Certification Program.
The
NSF certification process begins with an inspection of the
production facility, during which product samples are
collected and sent to NSF laboratories to be tested. Under
NSF/ANSI Standard 61, the vapor control balls are exposed to
three different test waters with varying pH levels for
seventeen days.
Samples of the test waters are then analyzed for a wide
variety of contaminants, including metals and organic
compounds, to ensure no contaminants were introduced at
levels that would be considered a health concern. To ensure
ongoing compliance with the requirements of NSF/ANSI
Standard 61, NSF conducts annual, unannounced inspections of
the manufacturing facilities for certified products and
re-tests products on a regular basis.
For
additional information about vapor control/shade balls or
certification to NSF/ANSI Standard 61, visit NSF’s website
at http://www.nsf.org/
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JWC Introduces Unique New
Screen Panel Design
 Costa
Mesa, CA -- For decades JWC Environmental’s Finescreen
Monster® has utilized stainless steel, perforated plates
bolted directly to the drive-chains. Now, for the first
time, JWC has created a unique ultra-high molecular
weight (UHMW) polyethylene perforated panel — a similar
concept that has been used on the high capture
efficiency Bandscreen Monster® for years.
A significant benefit of this
design is the reduced chance of debris “stapling” (or
hair-pinning) the panels highly abrasion/wear/corrosion
resistant panels. With less debris sticking to the
panels, this design reduces the use of panel cleaning
brushes and maximizes the efficiency of the existing
spray-wash system.
Each UHMW panel fits into the
stainless steel frame allowing for easy removal and
maintenance. While similar in design as the existing
stainless steel panel designs, the UHMW panels can be
removed from the frame without removing the entire panel
assembly from the screen.
One benefit of these easy to
remove panels is the ability to change the entire screen
from one perforation size to another as flow or design
parameters change. For example a screen with 6mm
perforations can easily be changed to one with 3mm
perforations.
According to the United
Kingdom WIR report, perforated plate screens have a
screenings capture ratio double that of bar screens-
ensuring more of the trash is removed at the headworks.
JWC Environmental distributes
its products through a global network of independent
representatives and distributors. In addition, JWC
provides extensive sales and service support through
regional and international product support centers.
Founded in 1973, JWC
Environmental and its worldwide family of employees are
committed to providing customers leading edge products,
services and value. Over the last 35 years, JWC has won
a total of four Innovative Technology Awards from WEF,
more than any other wastewater manufacturer.
For more information contact:
Mr. Alec Mackie
JWC Environmental
290 Paularino Avenue
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Telephone: 800-331-2277
Fax: 949-833-8858
Email: jwce@jwce.com
Web site:
http://www.jwce.com/ |
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Mr. Fitzwater wants help with
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have a real problem with pumping the grease that is skimmed
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centrifugal pumps submerged in the scum that pump it through
a 6 inch pipe about 100 yards up to the top of our digester.
Of course during the winter
months it is worse yet but even in the summer months the
pipes plug. Even after we clear the pipe by blowing air
through them the pumps still don't want to pump. They have
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The SCWWTP was opened in
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| From the Job
Fair: Waste Water
Foreman - Colorado Springs, CO
JOB SUMMARY: Report to
Utilities & Plant Operations Supervisor. Oversee the
operations and maintenance functions of the Wastewater
treatment plant ensuring work assignments are completed
efficiently and IAW PWS, standard operating procedures and
applicable safety regulations. Functional area
responsibilities include proper and efficient operation of
waste water treatment sewage plants.
PRIMARY DUTY: Supervise the
operations and maintenance activities of the Wastewater
Section and all associated mechanical equipment, pressure
reducing valves, wastewater treatment plant and lift
stations. Ensure plant meets all of the discharge permits.
Assign duties to personnel. Check work quality. Keep
Maintenance Operations Manager and Utility Supervisor,
informed of work related problems or unusual situations.
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SECONDARY DUTY: Supervise the
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activities in the performance of primary duties and in the
absence of other supervisors. Participate in job related and
company related training functions.
EXPERIENCE: Minimum of 2
years' experience in operating, maintaining, modifying,
troubleshooting, and read, write, and speak fluent English.
EDUCATION: High school
diploma or equivalent education or job training. Graduate
from accredited university or college desirable. Course work
in wastewater treatment desirable.
REQUIRED CERTIFICATIONS: Must
possess and maintain a valid Colorado Driver's License.
Current Wastewater Treatment "B" license certified by the
Colorado State Health Department. Certification as a
Cross-Connection Specialist is desirable. Collection and
Distribution Class 2 certification is also desirable but not
required.
Please submit all resumes to
our Human Resources Department:
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Human Resources
8110 Industrial Dr., Suite 30
US Air Force Academy, CO 80840-0099
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::
Wastewater Algae Holds Promise
as Biofuel
::
H2O Innovation acquires Itasca
Systems
::
Vapor Control Balls for Potable
Water Reservoirs
::
JWC Introduces Unique New
Screen Panel Design
:: The News Center : More headlines
:: The Water and Wastewater Blog
:: Video Center
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Water and Wastewater Plant
Directory : Featured Plant
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Case Study : City of
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In order to meet the demand of growth within the
city and to achieve stringent effluent limits, the
City of Sanford worked with CPH Engineers to design
the Sanford South Water Resource Center (WRC),
located in the heart of Central Florida. The
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the region. The plant is a 2.0 MGD “Advanced
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This weeks photo
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