Industrial Phycology - Polishing Effluents, Recycling Nutrients, Low Carbon Business Breakfast, Bath Innovation Centre, 18th November 2014

[email protected]

Winner

‘Most Commercial Potential ‘

Industrial Phycology“Polishing effluents,

recycling nutrients”

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Winner

‘MIT eteam‘

Industrial PhycologyBackground

• Award winning company founded by friends who met during their PhDs at Cranfield University (‘06).

• Company founding aim to:

“Offer sustainable water recycling and nutrient recovery that out performs rival technology at a lower OPEX per unit volume

treated”

• World class team experienced in wastewater technology and commercialisation of algal technology

• Strategic partners include :

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• 280 billion m3 of treated wastewater (WWT) effluent produced globally p.a.

• Effluents contain compounds that pose potential risk to aquatic environments: • Degradation & damage through algae blooms

• Contamination of water table e.g. blue baby syndrome

• Significant issue for global water industry

• These materials are also valuable resources e.g. phosphorus

Industrial Phycology The Wastewater Challenge

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Industrial Phycology The Wastewater Challenge

Pressure (e.g. EU UWWTD)

Reduce & recover nutrients before

discharge

Improve energy efficiency

Very limited options to meet these requirements

Iron / Polymer compounds

Flash vacuum distillation

Reed BedsReverse osmosis

PO4

NH4

NO3

These processes are flawed ; energy intensive, large footprint, high maintenance, toxic wastes

A realistic process is required…

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• Biomass can be monetized by use for:

Energy production Fertilisers Animal feed

(Biogas) (recycle) (some algae ~70% protein)

Industrial PhycologyA Solution For All Conditions

CO2

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Industrial PhycologyCurrent Algal Technology

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Industrial PhycologyOur Patented Industrial Algal Process

• Designed to allow the use of microalgae at industrial scales

• Cross disciplinary integration of existing technology for WWT and industrial biotechnology

• Combining internal and external expert knowledge of algae and cutting edge technology and methods

Advantages of the I-Phyc system

• Maximum throughput• Minimise energy usage• Process novel WW• Maximum volume : surface ratio• Automation

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• Save £1m per 100k pop.• No Chemicals• Save 65 million tons CO2

• Recovery of valuable nutrients• Remove multiple targets

• 2013 delivered first demo with £100k support from :

• Built and tested a small pilot system in the field

• Carried out in winter (< 8°C) in semi-exposed conditions

• Successfully demonstrated that complex methods and processes could be integrated into treatment system

• Results showed that multiple nutrient targets could be treated and retained in biomass as:• Phosphorus (PO4), Nitrogen (NH4 and NO3), Organic carbon (COD)

Industrial PhycologyIt Works

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Industrial PhycologyForging Ahead

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• Structured approach is delivering

• Won 5 awards Including:

• Despite offers to relocate to other regions (including USA) I-Phyc wishes to develop in South West UK.

• Funding of 3 work streams to date:

• £700,000 ‘Department of Energy and Climate Change’ project – Construction of commercial scale demonstrator.

• £420,000 ‘South West Local Enterprise Partnership’ project – Optimising biotechnology, carbon sequestration, development, integration of new technology, raise technology to commercial readiness.

• Support from strategic partners : Wessex Water, GENeco, Stirling Dynamics, Cranfield University & University of the West of England.

• In talks with UK and EU water utility's, heavy industry over equity exchange for funding and support to target further company development

Industrial PhycologyForging Ahead

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• Completion of current work program to build UK’s largest photobioreactor.• Culminating in field trial of new system

• New round of work to integrate new technology / biological processes we identify – process innovation• Initial planning of new process techniques and technology• Continue to work with & expand our network of strategic partners

• Expand team – Initially with commercial staff and then expert engineers and scientists.

• Expand commercial activity & work with international partners to maximise I-Phyc.• 2 funded field trials and one funded project under discussion

Industrial PhycologyWhat’s Next ?

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Industrial PhycologyThank you for your time

Dr Daniel [email protected]

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Winner

‘Most Commercial Potential ‘

Winner

‘MIT eteam‘