Why it Works

Functionally, each wheel offers a suitable environment where bacteria and algae work in a symbiotic fashion to efficiently synthesize living organic mass from the nutrients in a variety of wastewaters. Algae and bacteria function well together because each organism provides a vital source of energy for the other. Bacteria convert the available organic matter into carbon dioxide (CO2), which is readily useable by algae. Algae create oxygen (O2), which the bacteria use during cellular growth. Bacterial conversion of wastewater nutrients is generally represented in the following equation.

(CH2O) O2 → CO2 H2O

It is important to note that the O2 consumed in traditional bacterial treatment represents direct energy input since oxygen must be pumped into the treatment process by mechanical means. O2 added through certain photosynthetic organisms such as algae is generally represented by the following equation where solar energy provides the energy needed to supply oxygen for bacterial conversion.

CO2 2H2O Solar Energy → (CH2O) O2 H2O

As the above equations suggest, there is a mutually beneficial relationship between bacteria and algae. By removal of organic carbon at the front of the process and introduction of CO2 into the system, algal biomass production is maximized by limiting the competition from bacteria.

Algae-based RAC Treatment System at Bio Town USA-Reynolds, IN Photo: Jackson Bishop