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31th Annual Engineers Week Dinner
February 16, 2010Communities throughout America are wasting their waste and losing valuable potential energy sources!
Announcing the 30th Annual Engineers Week Dinner, February 17, 2009, at the Western Michigan University Fetzer Center. Our topic this year is "Sustainable Energy - Sustainable Communities," featuring Dr. Jay Newman, Optional Energy Partners.
If you have ever toured a sewage treatment plant, you've likely experienced the unique odor created by sewage. The fact is that odor isn't the only problem. Sewage is loaded with organic chemicals, nitrates and phosphates that pollute our groundwater if not properly captured and treated.
The organics in sewage can feed methane-producing bacteria. This process results in methane gas which can be burned as a fuel in electrical generators that can supplement a community's electricity needs. Many wastewater treatment plants already generate methane, but have not used it to generate electricity. The other products from the methane production
are carbon dioxide and a liquid effluent that contains ammoniates and phosphates: the raw materials needed to promote algae growth in lakes and ponds across the U.S.
Using the right technology, we can grow massive quantities of algae. These algae usually have anywhere from 25% to 50% of their biomass as oils called lipids. The lipids might be able to be separated from the solids and made into a fairly high quality biodiesel; the carbohydrates can easily be fermented into ethanol. The remaining solids are made up of complex carbohydrates and proteins. This algae "flour" is a valuable nutrient that can be added to animal feed.
Our speaker
Dr. Jay B. Newman received his BA from Augustana College (Rock Island, IL) in 1972 majoring in Biology and minoring in Chemistry. He received an M.S. Ed. degree from Northern Illinois University where his primary field of study was environmental assessment with a focus on algae. His doctorate is from Vanderbilt University and focused on Educational Administration.
Jay spent 34 years as a public school educator teaching biology and chemistry and serving as an administrator for the last 20 years of his career. Throughout this time one of his main interests was good, science-based environmental education.