Just delivered to the western part of the Bloemfontein campus of the University of the Free State (UFS) are the components for an algae plant. A structure that Prof Paul Oberholster, dean of the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, and Dr Glen Taylor, senior director of the Directorate Research Development, want to commercialise.
They believe the plant, once assembled and operational by the end of 2024, will have the potential for research that will ultimately position the UFS as a leader on the African continent.
Instead of using algae raceways – the oldest system for the mass cultivation of algae – the plan involves installing 20 photobioreactors (PBRs) to cultivate the algae, operating off the grid. Additionally, a centrifuge will be implemented to separate the algae from the water.
Oberholster has been conducting research on water and algae for more than 20 years. He not only studied this at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), but also worked on creating certain algae consortiums worth millions of rands.
When Taylor showed him a photograph of the algae facility in Upington, he realised the potential of this plant. The duo then began negotiating with the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA) to donate the plant to the UFS. Plans are underway to relocate it to the western part of the UFS Bloemfontein campus.
In recent years, Oberholster has been involved in several algae plants in South Africa and Africa, applying the phytoremediation process – a biological clean-up technology – as a low-cost green treatment alternative. He used a consortium of algae (including Chlorella strains) in municipal wastewater treatment pond systems to improve the treatment capacity of domestic wastewater.
According to him, more than 50 countries in Africa (60%) use wastewater treatment pond systems, where algae technology can be employed to treat domestic wastewater, allowing its reuse and helping to alleviate water stress in Africa. This alternative is also much cheaper than traditional wastewater plants, which can consume up to R230 million of a municipality’s budget.
With a price tag of R300 000, it is a much more attractive option. The UFS, in collaboration with the CSIR, is at the forefront of this research. Taylor indicates that the university is exploring the possibility of a memorandum of understanding with the CSIR for further research in this field.
Oberholster’s plans for the algae plant on the west campus, however, do not focus on water purification, but rather on the nutraceutical products of the algae, with a strong emphasis on carotenoids (a group of pigments acting as antioxidants, protecting cells from damage caused by free radicals; with health benefits for humans, such as supporting vision, immune function, and overall health).
“The nutraceuticals produced by algae include omega-3 fatty acids, which improve both brain and heart health; carotenoids; sulphated polysaccharides, which have anticoagulant properties (preventing blood from clotting), anti-tumour and antiviral activities; fucoxanthin, which has antioxidant and anti-obesity effects; and sterols, which show anti-diabetic properties.”
Other high-value products derived from algae include cosmetics such as anti-cellulite and anti-aging skin treatments, antibacterial creams, sun protection, hair care, toothpaste, and shaving creams.
Another great application of algae is biofuels, which can include biodiesel, bio-oil (an alternative to liquid biofuel with similarities to petroleum oil), ethanol, biogas, and bio-oil and syngas. A mixture of the latter can be combusted to produce heat or electricity.
Non-fuel products produced from algae can be used for animal feed, human consumption, and fertiliser. Besides the higher value nutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetic products obtained from algae, Oberholster plans on using the non-fuel byproduct – a lower valued product of the microalgae – mostly for animal feed and fertiliser.
Algae products on the market represents a multi-million-dollar industry. For instance, the global algae biomass market was worth US$5 to 7 billion approximately 15 years ago. Products such as nutraceuticals, pigments, fertilisers, animal feed, food industries, cosmetics, and chemicals have readily accessible markets with greater margins.
Taylor believes that creating spin-off companies to tap into some of these industries could contribute to the third-stream income of the UFS.
In five years, Taylor would like to see the development of several products with market value, the exploration of additional applications for technology, the training of postgraduate students, the enhancement of the UFS’ research, and becoming a leader on the continent, because there is no such facility elsewhere in Africa.
“Our technology using outdoor photobioreactors is the first in the world; this has never been done before,” says Oberholster.
“It is millions of rands worth of science being invested in this first-world, cutting-edge technology,” adds Taylor.
“How we transform research into value – that is important.”
Oberholster continues: “We need to do work at the UFS that is special, that is unique, the best in a certain field. We have the expertise.
“It is not only about algae. We have departments that can buy into this concept and start doing research. Besides Environmental Management, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Pharmacology, Indigenous Knowledge, Engineering, Plant Sciences, FARMOVS, and Instrumentation and Microscopy can get involved in this multi-disciplinary initiative.”
“The algae initiative aligns not only with the faculty’s thematical areas of food, water, climate change, and infrastructure and innovation, but also with the university’s Vision 130, aiming to extend the institution’s influence and impact as a research-orientated university to a global level.
“Furthermore, the initiative establishes a value chain for algae that addresses several United Nations (UN) sustainable development goals (SDGs), including poverty alleviation, zero hunger, health improvement, clean water and sanitation, climate action, and economic growth.”
“The journey ahead promises incredible achievements,” says Oberholster.
“With this initiative, the sky is the limit.”
