:: The Algal Turf Scrubber ::

ATS produces a low cost harvestable algal biomass at an order of magnitude greater rate than agricultural and forestry products at the same latitude. Currently used commercially to sequester nutrients while producing cattle fodder and organic fertilizer, the ATS algal product can also be converted to paper and construction materials and can be used to sequester carbon. ATS-produced algal biomass can be converted to energy products such as biodiesel, gasohol and methane. Using newer techniques, such as more complex substrate screens, 10-20X as much biofuel can be obtained from ATS, per unit area, as from agricultural products such as corn and soy.


HIGH RATE solar energy capture and water purification ALGAL BIOMASS for energy production BIO-MIMICRY TECHNOLOGY from research on algal ecosystems	Algal Turf Scrubbing is a cutting-edge solar/algal technology that harnesses attached, primarily filamentous algae of many genera and species to capture the energy of sunlight and build algal biomass from CO2. A highly efficient capturer of nutrients from fresh, brackish, and sea water, and a wide variety of waste and industrially-polluted waters, ATS performs point and non-point water cleaning services from aquarium to landscape scales. By combining algal-produced oxygen, at super-saturated levels, with solar or artificial UV, many toxic, organic compounds can be degraded by ATS systems. ATS naturally injects oxygen into source waters counteracting the hypoxic tendencies of degraded water bodies.	Fig 1. Diverse algal turf of green algae, diatoms and a red alga from an ATS test plant cleaning a farm canal in the Florida Everglades.
WATER PARAMETER CONTROL In model ecosystems POINT-SOURCE TREATMENT at commercial levels SCALED-UP to non-point source with global potential	ATS produces a low cost harvestable algal biomass at an order of magnitude greater rate than agricultural and forestry products at the same latitude. Currently used commercially to sequester nutrients while producing cattle fodder and organic fertilizer, the ATS algal product can also be converted to paper and construction materials and can be used to sequester carbon. ATS-produced algal biomass can be converted to energy products such as biodiesel, gasohol and methane. Using newer techniques, such as more complex substrate screens, 10-20X as much biofuel can be obtained from ATS, per unit area, as from agricultural products such as corn and soy.	Fig.2. Model coral reef closed to import for eight years and controlled solely by ATS. This microcosm coral reef had a carbonate production rate and a biodiversity level equal to the best wild coral reefs.

	A technical description of ATS and its use, along with 30 years of research literature, can be found in the graduate ecological text *DYNAMIC AQUARIA:* *Building and Restoring Living Ecosystems* 3rd Edition, 2007, by W.H. Adey and K. Loveland, published by Elsevier/Academic Press *CLICK HERE TO ORDER* *DYNAMIC AQUARIA* See WalterAdey.com		Fig 3. HydroMentia's S-154 pilot plant on a farm creek in central Florida; 2.5 acre system to remove phosphorous and other nutrients.
HOME About ESTECH THE BIG PICTURE CONTACT US LINKS WalterAdey.com