At the Botanical Institute of Kiel University, the working group “Physiology and Biotechnology of Plant Cells” led by Prof. Dr. Rüdiger Schulz has been working on projects involving microalgae, macroalgae, and cyanobacteria for many years, ranging from pure basic research to biotechnological, bioeconomic, and commercial applications.
The working group will contribute to the AQUATOR project as one of the example systems. The project focuses on the possibilities of using microalgae and cyanobacteria in the form of naturally occurring phytoplankton to remove nutrients from eutrophic, i.e., very nutrient-rich inland waters, from drainage ponds to inland lakes, by removing biomass from the water. The harvesting technique used plays a particularly important role here, as the harvesting (concentration) of microalgae and cyanobacteria has so far been one of the limiting factors for the large-scale application of microalgae, especially in water purification. Five different harvesting methods are being used, tested for their technological effectiveness, and evaluated for their economic viability. Questions regarding the possibility of financial compensation for such ecosystem services are also being addressed.
https://www.biotechnologie.uni-kiel.de