Water Reuse

A major environmental benefit to package plants utilizing RAC-based technology is that they provide treated water that can be reclaimed and reused. Reclaimed water reuse is becoming a popular environmentally friendly practice. Treatment using rotating photosynthetic algal contactor wheels results in water that can be reused in a wide variety of applications. The most common applications for reuse water are surface and subsurface irrigation.

Algae Biomass

Maximizing biomass production using a variety of nutrient-rich wastewater sources gives algae-based RAC technology treatment a major advantage over bacteria-based treatment processes. Oxygen produced by algae through photosynthesis replaces the need for costly mechanical oxidation of the wastewater. Also the symbiotic relationship between algae and bacteria provide a balanced environment where wastewater nutrients are most efficiently converted into biomass in less time and less cost. The high- value biomass generated can also be used in a variety of renewable energy applications and other beneficial uses such as fertilizers, nutritional and pharmaceutical products, feed additives, and more.

Algae Biofuel

Algae can be utilized for the production of many types of biofuels including biodiesel, ethanol, biobutanol, gasoline, jet fuel, and others. Unlike conventional terrestrial plants such as soybeans, corn, sugar cane, and others, algae can be produced 365 days per year, can be grown in any climate, is not restricted by soil type, and does not compete with food crops. Simple cost-effective greenhouse enclosures have proven adequate in controlling the growing climate for productive light and temperature ranges.

Cost

Tertiary package treatment plants based on RAC technology are comparative in initial cost to plants using conventional technologies. However, treatment plants based on RAC technology cost 25 percent to 50 percent less to operate and maintain because they are designed to be low maintenance, energy efficient, and nearly chemical independent. A high percentage of the cost to build a treatment plant utilizing RAC technology can be recovered through the savings in operation and maintenance costs.

Summary

As long as wastewater exists, effective treatment solutions are required. Given the ever increasing numbers and types of toxic chemicals being introduced into water systems every day, the need to effectively treat wastewater in an environmentally safe manner is greater than ever before. Algae-based treatment methods use natural processes to help eliminate greenhouse gas emissions by reducing and capturing CO2, and will also effectively remove nitrogen and phosphorous during the treatment process. Algae-based treatment methods, such as those provided through RAC technology provide package plants and onsite wastewater system designers some of the most environmentally friendly, green, solutions to wastewater treatment available today.