Food-Energy-Water Nexus towards Global Sustainability

Wei LiaoAnaerobic Digestion Research and Education Center (ADREC)

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Michigan State University

January 14th, 2016

Food

NEXUS

Water

Energy

Global Sustainability

Food

Energy

Water

Facts of Food, Energy, and Water

More than ONE THIRD of the energy consumed in the U.S. are used in

animal agriculture.

Nearly HALF of the water used in the U.S. is for raising animals for

food.

70% of the grain grown in the U.S. is fed to animals.

The world’s cattle consume a quantity of food EQUAL to the caloric

needs of 8.7 BILLION people.

Animals produce approximately 130 TIMES as much excrement as the

entire human population.

Animal farms pollute our waterways more than all other industrial

sources COMBINED.

SeparationTechnologies

Solar technologies

Energy

Value-added products

Organic Wastes

Other Residues

Clean water

Our Strategy

Synergistically integrating biological processes with solar and separation technologies will create a technical strategy of food-energy-water nexus that will make major contribution to global sustainability.

N/P fertilizersBiologicalprocesses

Research Efforts

1. Advanced solar-bio-nano-based system for water and energy generation

A. 40 ft container; B. 500 L anaerobic digesters; C. Control room; D. Fresnel solar thermal collectors (12 one m2 lenses); E. 100 L EC reactor; F. 20 L/min nano-filtration unit; G. 500 L potable water tank; H. 1 hp centrifuge; I. Control panel; J. 15 hp boiler; K. 5 kw steam micro-turbine

A

D

B

C

E

H

F

I

G

JK Inside the container Outside the container

A B D

K

E

I

Research Efforts

Methane composition in the biogas from the pilot system is 65%, which is much higher than that from the lab unit (55-60%).

The H2S content is much lower (40 ppm) in the biogas from the pilot system. The final clean water contains 3 mg/L COD, 1.5 mg/L TN, 0.34 mg/L TP, and 1 NTU.

Biogas productionWater reclamation performance

a. The AD effluent, b. after the EC treatment, c. after the nano-filtration

1. Advanced solar-bio-nano-based system for water and energy generation

Research Efforts

Solar powered bioreactor

2. Solar-bio-based power and wastewater treatment system in Central America *

Surface wetlandEngines Sand filter

*: The facility is located at UCR Fabio Experimental Station in Alajuela, Costa Rica

Organic waste

Reclaimed water

Anaerobic digester Sandfilter Wetland

Research Efforts

InoculationPHYCO2 algae photbioreactor

MSU Power plant Seed culture Project team

Algal growth

3. MSU power plant pilot algae cultivation system

My Colleagues

Dr. Susie Liu, Biosystems & Agricultural Engineering, Michigan State University;Dr. Terry Marsh, Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Michigan State University;Dr. Jan Stevenson, Zoology, Michigan State University;Dr. Abraham Engeda, Mechanical Engineering, Michigan State University;Dr. Ilsoon Lee, Chemical Engineering, Michigan State University;Dr. Dana Kirk, Biosystems & Agricultural Engineering, Michigan State University;Dr. Ajit Srivastava, Biosystems & Agricultural Engineering, Michigan State University;Dr. Dawn Reinhold, Biosystems & Agricultural Engineering, Michigan State University;Dr. Sears Barbara, Plant Biology, Michigan State University;Mr. Nathan Verhanovitz, Power Plant, Michigan State University;Mr. Robert Ellerhorst, Power Plant, Michigan State University;Dr. Steven Safferman, Biosystems & Agricultural Engineering, Michigan State University;Dr. Yinjie Tang, Chemical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis;Dr. Walter Mulbry, Environmental Management and Byproduct Utilization Laboratory, USDA-ARS, Beltsville, MD;WHA team, University of Costa Rica;PHYCO2 Team

Acknowledgment

Financial Supports

The U.S. Department of Defense;The U.S. Department of Transportation;The U.S. Department of Agriculture;The U.S. Department of State;The U.S. National Science Foundation;Foundations;Private companies;Michigan State Public Service Commission;Michigan State Animal Agriculture Initiative; Michigan State University Extension;Michigan State AgBioResearch;Michigan State University Vice President Office for Research and Graduate Study

Acknowledgement

The MSU Anaerobic Digestion Research and Education Center

Homepage: http://www.egr.msu.edu/bae/adrec/

Main building High-bay area Wet labs Hot room

CSTR system (2000 m3, 0.5 MW)

Plug flow system (1000 m3)

Algal race-way system(1,600 m2 pond)

Solar panels