Mucilage to Become a Renewable Energy Source

Energy to be generated from wastewater treatment plant sludge causing mucilage in the Sea of Marmara. With high-technology projects developed by Middle East Technical University and Yıldız Technical University with TUBITAK support, organic waste flowing into the Sea of Marmara will be converted into a renewable energy source, aiming to generate significant economic returns. Scientists from Middle East Technical University (ODTÜ) and Yıldız Technical University have moved to develop high-technology that will produce synthetic gas, hydrogen, heat and electricity from wastewater treatment plant sludge, one of the causes of mucilage blooms in the Sea of Marmara. In a project that will also be the first of its kind globally, a pilot unit will be built that will bring innovative and high value-added solutions to wastewater problems. Prof. Dr. İskender Gökalp said: "The project will exemplify producing solutions to significant environmental problems that align with sustainable and circular economy approaches."

Organic waste to become renewable energy source

In the project conducted with TUBITAK support, organic waste will be used as a renewable energy source to generate significant economic returns in a way that will also be the first of its kind globally. A new initiative has been added to the work carried out within the scope of the mucilage mobilization efforts in the Sea of Marmara. The project to be implemented by Prof. Dr. İskender Gökalp, a faculty member at the ODTÜ Department of Mechanical Engineering who graduated from Istanbul Technical University (İTÜ) Department of Aeronautical Engineering and conducted academic research in France for many years before returning to Turkey 2 years ago to support research in "energy, combustion, engines, hydrogen and environmental technologies," and Prof. Dr. Didem Özçimen, Faculty Member of the Department of Bioengineering at Yıldız Technical University's Faculty of Chemistry and Metallurgy, will produce innovative and high value-added solutions that will also be the first of their kind globally on the subject. Prof. Dr. İskender Gökalp made statements regarding the projects they initiated with TUBITAK support. Noting that mucilage is among the issues characterizing today's world such as air pollution, global warming, and traffic problems that require complex and holistic solutions, Gökalp stated, "Solving these problems requires joint, long-term efforts among various sectors and stakeholders." Pointing out that the Sea of Marmara is under serious pollution pressure from high population, industrialization and agricultural activities, along with pollutants originating from the Black Sea transported through the Istanbul Strait, Gökalp explained that domestic and industrial wastewater, as well as nutrient levels such as nitrogen and phosphorus, and meteorological and marine factors together form the basic triggering factors for phytoplankton blooms that cause mucilage formation. Pointing out that the pollution loads of discharged wastewater must be reduced to address the source of the mucilage problem and find a permanent solution, Gökalp emphasized the importance of cleaning domestic and industrial wastewater and producing solutions to recovery applications through a holistic approach.

Holistic approach to mucilage problem

Gökalp reported that they have begun a TUBITAK-supported project to develop this holistic approach together with Prof. Dr. Didem Özçimen, saying, "In the project, we aim to establish a holistic approach to the mucilage problem and demonstrate its feasibility by designing the necessary subsystems." Noting that ODTÜ Technokent company İGDEAS A.Ş. and Pro-sis Energy Technologies Engineering company based in Ankara will also contribute to the pilot unit to be designed under the project, Gökalp continued as follows: "With the approach to be developed in the project, the highly wet sludge from wastewater treatment plants, which is difficult to dispose of, will be both disposed of and the energy content of this organic material will be converted into biochar that can produce synthetic gas, hydrogen, heat and electricity through hydrothermal carbonization method that does not require full drying. It also appears possible to produce synthetic gas and hydrogen by gasifying Turkey's lignite together with hydrochar. Considering the amount of wastewater treatment plant sludge produced daily in Turkey and everywhere in the world, it is possible to perceive this organic waste as a renewable resource. Therefore, we can say this project is one that includes innovations and high value-added technologies globally." İskender Gökalp emphasized that substances such as nitrogen and phosphorus in wastewater treatment plant sludge are transferred to the hydrothermal carbonization process water, noting that in another project they previously conducted, they demonstrated that microalgae could be produced with high efficiency in this process water environment.

Nutrient load of wastewater causing mucilage to be reduced

Noting that the pollutant load triggering mucilage growth originates from wastewater treatment plants that discharge wastewater without sufficiently reducing nutrient levels such as nitrogen and phosphorus, Gökalp stated: "In the study, the nutrients contained in the process water, a byproduct of hydrothermal carbonization of sludge from treatment plants, will be used in microalgae production, significantly reducing production costs and reducing the nutrient load of wastewater that causes mucilage blooms to discharge levels. An effort to provide a sustainable and holistic solution at the source of the mucilage issue, disposal of wastewater treatment plant sludge, and hydrochar and microalgae production will enable the creation of new value chains and the linking of various sectors, exemplifying producing solutions to significant environmental problems that align with sustainable and circular economy approaches."

"Goal is for Turkey to gain share from the technology market"

İskender Gökalp said they aim for Turkey to capture a significant share of the global technology market through the innovative solutions they plan to develop. Pointing out the importance of the public sector's role in strategy-setting, Gökalp said, "Universities continuously updating their curricula and R&D capacities to train young people who will contribute to new topics and problems, producing knowledge and technology, increasing the private sector's entrepreneurial initiatives are very important for the periods ahead, both for Turkey and globally." he assessed.

ANKARA (AA) - SELMA KASAP

 

What is mucilage?

Mucilage, also known as sea mucus, occurs as a result of many biological and chemical factors. Initially appearing in a specific region and spreading over time, mucilage covers the water surface over time. Phytoplankton, known as marine microscopic plants, zooplankton, animal organisms that feed on them, bacteria that decompose them and decayed particles combine to form a slimy, sticky structure that creates mucilage formation.