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Algal turf
scrubbing is a low cost solar/algal technology that utilizes
attached,
primarily filamentous algae of many genera
and species to capture the energy of
sunlight and build algal biomass. A highly
efficient capturer of carbon and nutrients
from fresh, brackish or sea water (and a
wide variety of aquaculture waste as well
as industrially-polluted waters),ATS can
perform point and non-point water
cleaning services from very small to
land-scape scales. ATS produces
oxygen
and a harvestable algal biomass at a rate
typically one to two orders of magnitude
greater than agricultural and forestry
products at the samelatitude. Currently used
as a cattle fodder and soil amendment, the
ATS algal product can also be
converted to paper, construction materials and
energy and can be used to
sequester carbon, nutrients and heavy
metals.
A technical discussion of ATS can
be found in the graduate ecological text Dynamic Aquaria: Building Living
Ecosystems, 2nd Edition, 1998, by W.H. Adey and K. Loveland,
published by Academic Press. ATS is
used commercially by HydroMentia, Inc. of Ocala, Florida.
The Algal Turf Scrubber technology was developed by
Dr. Walter Adey of the Smithsonian Institution to maintain single digit
ppb. nutrient levels in coral reef microcosms and aquaria. He patented this process for several
applications, including hobby and public aquaria, municipal, industrial and
agricultural wastewaters and aquaculture.
The rights for aquarium use are held by Ecological Systems
Technology, L.P. of Gloucester, Virginia.
The rights for wastewater and aquaculture are licensed to
HydroMentia, Inc.
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