Water Environment Research Examines Energy ROI From Combining Algal Biofuel Production With Wastewater Treatment

Special WEFTEC edition also includes annual Literature Review

Several investigators have concluded that combining algal biofuel production with wastewater treatment leads to significantly greater energy performance due to the outputs of one process feeding the other. The benefits and limitations of a combined system are examined in the latest issue of Water Environment Research (WER), the popular journal published by the Water Environment Federation (WEF). 

"Our field is changing, and one of these shifts is a focus on the conversion of energy-consuming waste treatment processes into energy-producing, or at least energy-neutral, processes,” said WER Editor-in-Chief Michael Stenstrom. “It is happening in all areas of wastewater and biosolids treatment, and this is just one example of how a new look at old problems can result in sustainable solutions.”

Formerly available to subscribers only, selected WER articles are available free to the public on a monthly basis through an open-access program. Click here to download the open access article, “Energy Return on Investment for Algal Biofuel Production Coupled with Wastewater Treatment” by Colin M. Beal, Ashlynn S. Stillwell, Carey W. King, Stuart M. Cohen, Halil Berberoglu, Rajendra P. Bhattarai, Rhykka L. Connelly, Michael E. Webber and Robert E. Hebner.

This month’s issue also features a special WEFTEC focus and WER’s annual Literature Review CD-Rom. Including contributions from hundreds of authors, the Literature Review provides a snapshot of the year’s research in areas such as water reclamation and reuse, membrane processes, and emerging pollutants.

Published since 1928, WER features peer-reviewed research papers and research notes, as well as state-of-the-art and critical reviews on original, fundamental, and applied research in all scientific and technical areas related to water quality, pollution control, and management. Consistently ranking in the top 100 publications for downloads from IngentaConnect, WER is available in both print and online formats. For more information, visit www.wef.org/wer.

About WEF
Founded in 1928, the Water Environment Federation (WEF) is a not-for-profit technical and educational organization of 36,000 individual members and 75 affiliated Member Associations representing water quality professionals around the world. WEF members, Member Associations, and staff proudly work to achieve our mission to provide bold leadership, champion innovation, connect water professionals, and leverage knowledge to support clean and safe water worldwide. For more information, visit www.wef.org.