AlgaeFertilizerBox

Wastewater from municipalities, farms and industrial companies can be heavily polluted with nitrate and phosphate. To protect our waters from overfertilization, this input must be reduced.

Algae can be used to process nutrients from waste streams. For example, up to 90 % of the phosphate can be removed from wastewater in this way and reused as a bio-based fertilizer.

The AlgaeSolarBoxes innovation lab is developing a container system as a demonstrator for efficient algae production and wastewater treatment. The system is based on a 20 foot container and consists of these elements:

  • Photobioreactor for purification of wastewater by algae
  • Mirror system Microhelix box to supply the photobioreactor with visible solar and LED light
  • Infrared photovoltaic module (IR-PV module) to generate electricity from the infrared portion of sunlight that is not usable for photosynthesis

The Mikrohelixbox is a new, innovative small-mirror heliostat system with which sunlight can be redirected continuously throughout the day to a fixed target on a 1:1 or concentrated basis, depending on the specification. The internal approximately 100 small mirrors are protected in a box, which can be fixed to the ground as well as to facades as a lightweight system. A set of four microhelix boxes is provided for the application.

More information: BioökonomieREVIER Rheinland

Last Modified: 19.10.2023