Biosystems engineering assistant professor David Blersch is researching the potential of using controlled algae cultivation for improving the quality of natural waters. Blersch is using various reactor designs to cultivate naturally-occurring algae at high growth rates to absorb pollutants from impaired waterways. Regular harvest of the algae removes the pollutants from the water and produces a biomass that he is investigating for its value as a biofuels feedstock or a fertilizer amendment.

“The algae are everywhere in our waterways, and they cause problems when out of control,” says Blersch. “We are using a controlled algae bloom as a tool to remove the source of the problem, and are looking at the economics of using the byproduct.”