Nov 30 2010
The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) of New York City has announced a biofuel pilot project. The project uses an innovative metal sloped device of 350 feet size called the Algal Turf Scrubber. The device is being used to test producing oil from wastewater. The device is placed across the street opposite to the Rockaway Wastewater Treatment plant.
The treated wastewater is piped into the Algal Turf Scrubber across the street from the plant. As the wastewater contains phosphorous and nitrogen it helps algae growth in 10 – 14 days. The grown algae is harvested and sent to the University of Arkansas. At the university, the algae will be converted into butanol that can be used instead of gasoline.
The project, which is being run since September 2010, has produced one gallon of fuel so far. However, the goal of DEP is to process 10% of the wastewater collected everyday and produce fuel of about 14,000 gallons for every 10 days.
The DEP’s director of environmental planning, John McLaughlin, said that if energy can be extracted from wastewater, the city will become more sustainable. DEP is also working on a process to convert sludge from wastewater into biofuel.
Source: http://www.nyc.gov/