The meat and poultry industry is the largest segment of U.S. agriculture. In 2017, 52 billion pounds of meat and 48 billion pounds of poultry were produced in the U.S. As a result, large amounts of wastewater containing high levels of nitrogen and phosphorus are produced and must be treated prior to being reintroduced into our water system.
Yulie Meneses, water for food processing specialist at the Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute and research assistant professor in the Department of Food Science and Technology at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, and her colleagues developed a way to use specialized groups of microalgae to more efficiently reduce these wastewater pollutants. The process relies on microalgae to do the work, rather than high-cost, energy-intensive mechanical aeration, as is done in traditional wastewater treatment.
Microalgae cannot typically survive the highly-polluted wastewater found in meat processing. In the past, there has been some success in diluting the wastewater prior to introducing the microalgae, but this treatment isn’t realistic at a large scale. However, Meneses and her team found that by first acclimating the microalgae to an environment similar to wastewater, it could better adapt when introduced to the real conditions. After adding the acclimated microalgae to the food processing wastewater, the same level of water quality was reached significantly faster than when microalgae were not added. The process was reduced from five days to three days and without the use of expensive mechanical aeration.
In addition to cleaning the wastewater, the acclimated microalgae process has the added bonus of converting wastewater pollutants into compounds like proteins and lipids, resulting in a usable byproduct.
Read the full article.
Related News Articles
Water for Food Global Conference to be held April 28-May 2, 2025 in Lincoln, Neb.
May 08, 2024
Now in its 11th year, the conference brings together thought leaders working to solve one of the world’s most pressing issues — feeding a growing planet while preserving our precious natural resources.
Water Climate and Health Program welcomes Lookadoo to the team
February 01, 2022
The Water, Climate and Health (WCH) program has formally added Rachel Lookadoo, JD to its team.
Durham Museum hosts DWFI, other local organizations to localize hunger and water issues
January 24, 2022
Howard G. Buffett's "40 CHANCES: Finding Hope in a Hungry World" exhibition brings into focus the powerful forces that fuel hunger and poverty.
Related News Articles
Water for Food Global Conference to be held April 28-May 2, 2025 in Lincoln, Neb.
May 08, 2024
Now in its 11th year, the conference brings together thought leaders working to solve one of the world’s most pressing issues — feeding a growing planet while preserving our precious natural resources.
Water Climate and Health Program welcomes Lookadoo to the team
February 01, 2022
The Water, Climate and Health (WCH) program has formally added Rachel Lookadoo, JD to its team.
Durham Museum hosts DWFI, other local organizations to localize hunger and water issues
January 24, 2022
Howard G. Buffett's "40 CHANCES: Finding Hope in a Hungry World" exhibition brings into focus the powerful forces that fuel hunger and poverty.
COOKIE USAGE:
The University of Nebraska System uses cookies to give you the best online experience. By clicking "I Agree" and/or continuing to use this website without adjusting your browser settings, you accept the use of cookies.