MIPS Project Challenge:
During one MIPS project, HY-TEK Bio produced a clear, odorless nutrient stock from chicken manure using the company’s auto-flow extraction system. However, there was a significant loss of inorganic nutrients (ammonium and phosphate), suggesting that the last step of nutrient purification with activated carbon may remove a large portion of nutrient. UMCES researchers performed laboratory tests to find out the best way to treat manure nutrient with activated carbon. By following a published method, the company can now achieve a clear, odorless nutrient stock from chicken manure without a significant loss of inorganic nitrogen and phosphorus. Researchers will work closely with HY-TEK Bio to implement this treatment method into the final purification step of the nutrient extraction process.

Researchers also discovered that simply adding HTB1 algal biomass into anaerobic digesters did not increase the biogas yield. It appears that the live cells of HTB1 cannot be easily digested by microorganisms, likely due to HTB1’s thick cell wall. However, researchers discovered that the addition of a waste product from the production of sugar increased the production of biogas dramatically. The optimal ratio of this sugar waste vs. chicken manure for the maximum production of biogas in digesters is not known. In Phase 2, HY-TEK Bio plans to maximize biogas production by testing ratios of sugar waste vs. chicken manure.

Project Scope:
In previous MIPS projects, Chen’s laboratory at UMCES isolated a new strain of algae from the Chesapeake Bay’s Back River tributary that grows fast, contains a 35-45 percent lipid content and survives in environments with as much as 80 percent CO2. The newly isolated strain was named HTB-1 for “HY-TEK Bio Strain No. 1”. Researchers worked with HY-TEK Bio to develop a method that can extract inorganic nutrient from fresh chicken manure. This process extracts the inorganic nitrogen and phosphorus from the chicken manure, which can be used to support the fast growth of the HTB1 algal strain. This enhanced growth increases the potential for the HTB1 algae to consume more CO2 and NOx per liter of culture in less time. Remaining chicken manure solid waste can be used to produce biogas via anaerobic digestion.

Researchers will continue to work with HY-TEK Bio to optimize the protocol to remove the tannic color associated in chicken manure nutrient. This last stage of process should yield chicken manure nutrient stocks that are clear, odorless, and contain high nutrient concentrations. UMCES researchers will also try to increase the yield of biogas by co-digesting chicken manure residue and other organic wastes (i.e., wastes from sugar production). The goal is to fully recycle chicken manure waste to reduce the risk of nutrient pollution resulting from chicken manure use and disposal. We hope to deliver an innovative nutrient extraction system that can produce a clear, odorless liquid nutrient from chicken manure. The chicken manure-based nutrient or fertilizer produced in our system will be commercially inexpensive and can be used to grow algae and other plants.