The Institute for Environmental Biotechnology, Rhode University (EBRU) is a self-funded research entity which targets research in Environmental Biotechnology at the interface between the fundamental and applied sciences. Its main area of focus has been innovation and development of environmental bioprocesses related to water treatment. Its basic research activities are supported by a strong emphasis on technology transfer from laboratory studies to full-scale industrial process applications, and a number of bioprocess plants have been constructed in various parts of South Africa.
Founded some 10 years ago EBRU has concentrated its effort in the area of remediation with emphasis on waste-water treatment, land rehabilitation, and more recently in biofuels and in particular algae-to-energy.
EBRU has a legacy in research and development of Integrated Algae Ponds Systems (IAPS) for the treatment of domestic waste, animal waste, and a range of industrial effluents. As part of the treatment process high rate algae ponds were optimized for the production of a biomass to be valorised into fertilisers, high-value organics, bio-oils for biodiesel, and as a biomass for fermentation and/or gasification.
Other projects at the institute include the elaboration of microbial fuel cells, treatment of acid mine drainage and sulphate reduction bioprocesses, and the biosolubilisation of waste coal.
Speaker Profile
Professor Keith Cowan is Director of the Institute for Environmental Biotechnology, Rhodes University (EBRU) in Grahamstown, South Africa. He is also an independent consultant and provides scientific management consulting services to chemical and agrichemical companies, national research funding agencies, other universities, and individual scientists. His group focuses mainly on developing bioprocess technologies for the valorization and/or beneficiation of waste streams, bio-remediation and rehabilitation, and algae-to-energy systems. The production of high-value natural products and agrichemicals for organic farming are also major areas of interest.
Professor Cowan received his B.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees from Rhodes University, South Africa. He did post-doctoral research at the Department of Biochemistry, Weizmann Institute, Israel and Long Ashton Research Station, Bristol, UK. In 1994 he was appointed professor in the School of AgriScience and Agribusiness, University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. He was a guest professor at the Swedish University of Agricultural Science, Uppsala, Sweden in 2001 and 2002. In 2003 he accepted the position as senior scientist at Nutra-Park in Madison, WI where he headed basic research on the commercialization of phospholipid-based technologies for use in agriculture.
He has a deep understanding of plant natural product biosynthesis and in particular isoprenoids and was instrumental in developing a commercial facility for the production of β-carotene, pioneering in vitro carotenogenic enzyme systems for commercial evaluation of bleaching herbicides, and the development of technologies to elucidate the role of isoprenoids in coordinating plant growth. He also pioneered the use of phospholipids as regulators of plant growth and as vehicles for transmitting agrichemicals. Currently, he is developing “bio-refineries” by design as bioprocess adjuncts to waste water treatment plants for the production of industrial and agricultural fine chemicals and energy.
He has published more 80 scientific papers in peer-reviewed journals, two encyclopaedic articles, and co-authored several patents.
Overview of Presentation
The development of a waste-water based algae-energy-system is described to highlight this low cost, energy inexpensive technology as an alternative to conventional systems for the treatment of waste water with the recovery of biogas. Based on the integrated algae pond technology pioneered in California by Oswald in the 1950s, EBRU has developed a waste-water treatment system that is stand-alone and can be coupled to conventional waste-water treatment facilities for the digestion of effluent and/or residual sludge with biogas as a bi-product. The reward for biogas production, harvesting, and utilization is metered against the reduction in per annum costs associated with the municipal utilization of fossil fuel energy.
Optimization of the algae system is by use of co-feedstocks to maintain the requisite C:N ration, and by controlling the influent rate and system hydraulics. The resultant algae biomass is harvested and valorised to provide standardized products and specific-attribute raw materials for differentiated markets and/or processed further by digestion to enhance biogas production and the energy potential of the integrated system.
Algae World Asia 2009 Bangkok Speaker
Day 2 – Wednesday, September 30
11:35 Waste-Water Based Algae-Energy-System
ALGAE WORLD ASIA 2009 is a conference dedicated towards providing objective insights on the commercialization of Algae Biofuels, as well the latest advances and constraints in Algae cultivation, harvesting & processing. To find more about Algae World Asia in Bangkok from September 29 to 30, 2009, please visit http://www.futureenergyevents.com/algae