University of Brussels Vre Universiteit Brussel, MOSI,

Pleinlaan 2, B - 1050 Brussels, Belgium

bUMR 6553 CNRS - Universit de Rennes 1, Station Biologique,
F - 35380 Paimpont, France
cDepartment of Geosciences, Florida Atlantic University, Boca
Raton, FL 33431, USA & Coastal Planning & Engineering, Inc.,
2481 NW Boca Raton Boulevard, Boca Raton, FL 33431, USA

aFree

Roger H. Charliera, Philippe Morandb,

Charles W. Finklc, and Alexandre Thysa

GREEN TIDES ON THE BRITTANY COASTS

VRIJE UNIVERSITEIT BRUSSEL

E. Conclusion

3. Methanization and pressing

2. Composting and stabilization of algae

1. Biomass use

D. Gathering and using the seaweeds

C. Southeastern Floridas algal problem

B. Green tides in Brittany

A. Introduction

PLAN

- European Commission programs concerning algae problems

(COST, BRIDGE)

INTRODUCTION

- or, at least partial, utilization in agriculture, industry

and even energy production

- Concern about eutrophication and bioconversion of seaweeds:

- proposals to alleviate the accumulation of stranded
algae and their disposal

- European Commission programs concerning algae problems

(COST, BRIDGE)

INTRODUCTION

dinoflagellates (microscopic protists) - red algae

- green: due to excessive growth and stranding of seaweeds

- brown: phaeocytis engenders a foamy gelatinous mass

(reported in the Northeastern United States)

- red:

- black: oil spils

The many color tides:

INTRODUCTION

- from the consequences to the treatments.

- the different levels of eutrophication,

in relation with coastal eutrophication:

Mass growths of seaweed all over the world,

INTRODUCTION

 Green tides

- Most sensitive algal species regress in quantity or disappear

to the advantage of tolerant species.
When the environmental conditions change (light, temperature,
hydrodynamics, nutrients and pollutants supplies),
the proliferating species change.

- Abnormal proliferations of macroalgae in areas close to

industrial, urban or agricultural zones

- Nutrients supplies increase, due to anthropogenic

activities development

INTRODUCTION

- Pilayella (brown algae): Massachussets (USA), Brittany &

archipelago of southern Fyn
- Codium: Florida;
(Caulerpa: could become a problem)

- Gracilaria and Porphyra (red algae): Florida (USA)

- Chaetomorpha and Enteromorpha: Peel Inlet (W.Aus)

-Cladophora: archipelago of southern Fyn (Dk)

-Ulva: Brittany (F), Venice Lagoon (I)

Among the proliferating algae:

INTRODUCTION

4) finally, a point where macroalgae can no more grow.

3) when hypertrophication begins, an alternance between free-floating

seaweed proliferations and phytoplankton blooms;

2) an occurrence of microalgae or macroalgae blooms;

1) an improvement in productivity;

Schramm (1996) considers that there are four phases in the process of
marine eutrophication following the nutrient increase :

The different levels of eutrophication

INTRODUCTION

- Baltic Sea, for which many articles deal mostly with impact
of deep accumulations of algae. Deep algal accumulations in
the Baltic Sea seems to be decaying, and their impact on
benthos is in this way intensified; these algae come from
higher levels where they grow.

- Brittany coasts,

- Coral reefs, as offshore the Florida coasts,

Examples of ecosystems, at one of the three last stages of

eutrophication

INTRODUCTION

- At first, the development of opportunist and tolerant seaweeds

acts as a purifying system.

Consequences and Treatment

INTRODUCTION

- Then, when the seaweed is stranded or the environmental conditions

become unfavourable, the plants die and decompose.

- At first, the development of opportunist and tolerant seaweeds

acts as a purifying system.

Consequences and Treatment

INTRODUCTION

- The degradation of the chemical equilibrium induces the break-down of

the biological balance in the ecosystem and can become troublesome.

- Then, when the seaweed is stranded or the environmental conditions

become unfavourable, the plants die and decompose.

- At first, the development of opportunist and tolerant seaweeds

acts as a purifying system.

Consequences and Treatment

INTRODUCTION

- Nuisance for residents and tourists

weed is often collected and dumped inland, generating new pollution.

- The degradation of the chemical equilibrium induces the break-down of

the biological balance in the ecosystem and can become troublesome.

- Then, when the seaweed is stranded or the environmental conditions

become unfavourable, the plants die and decompose.

- At first, the development of opportunist and tolerant seaweeds

acts as a purifying system.

Consequences and Treatment

INTRODUCTION

Ulva collected on a beach of Hillion, in St Brieuc Bay (Brittany, France) - photo: Jacques Maz

Ulva dump above the St Brieuc Bay

- Consequently, different treatments have been developed, including

composting and methanisation

- Nuisance for residents and tourists

weed is often collected and dumped inland, generating new pollution.

- The degradation of the chemical equilibrium induces the break-down of

the biological balance in the ecosystem and can become troublesome.

- Then, when the seaweed is stranded or the environmental conditions

become unfavourable, the plants die and decompose.

- At first, the development of opportunist and tolerant seaweeds

acts as a purifying system.

Consequences and Treatment

INTRODUCTION

Green tides in Brittany

dArmor and Finistre.

for the whole Brittany, but mainly in the departments of Ctes

60 000 m3 harvested per annum on average over the 7 last years

activities of collecting and elimination of these algae, with about

The important strandings force the littoral communities to

Green tides in Brittany

Green tides in Brittany

Green tides in Brittany

Green tide in
Lannion Bay
(Brittany,
France) before
harvesting started

Green Tide in Douarnenez Bay (photo Michel Merceron)

100

200

300

400

Quantity of Ulva harvested (m3)

1992

daily quantity (m3)

1991

Average daily quantity (m3)

1990

Number of days of harvesting

1989

2000

4000

6000

8000

10000

12000

14000

600

500

16000

700

Quantity of Ulva harvested at Hillion (1989-1992)

May

June

July

August

September

1992

3000

1000

2000

1991

1990

1989

4000

5000

6000

7000

Quantity of Ulva harvested (m3)

Quantity of Ulva harvested at Hillion (1989-1992)

currents.

- Coasts with favorable conditions : shallow bays, low residual

alga growth period.

- Streams with sufficient nitrogen-loaded water flows during the

of 6 kg/ha generally noted in the neighbouring regions.

- Nitrogen significant flows per ha : 37 kg/ha in Brittany, instead

Causes of the green tides in Brittany

Green tides in Brittany

Rophemel (Fr.), at 50 m from the pump station supplying

water for the city of Rennes

Southeastern Floridas algal problem

Southeastern Floridas algal problem

- Tourism is affected by the declining quality of the beaches.

- As a consequence of decaying corals and macroalgae presence,

nearshore water quality deteriorates.

- Eutrophication and general degradation characterize the

third largest coral reef system in the world

Southeastern Floridas algal problem

Codium isthmocladum

Southeastern Floridas algal problem

Caulerpa verticillata

Caulerpa brachypus

Southeastern Floridas algal problem

Photos taken from

Jacoby et al.

Caulerpa racemosa

- agricultural run-offs

- urbanization:
- septic tanks upland (N-laden effluents)
- discharge of polluted freshwater

Causal agents:

Southeastern Floridas algal problem

Gathering and using the seaweeds

Efforts to use garnered algae:

- used as fertilizer
- mixed with waste to be composted
- dehydrated and mixed in poultry feed

Gathering and using the seaweeds

In St Brieuc, shore pollution was transformed in land pollution

Now, used as raw fertilizer in some sites close to the sea

or, for a small part, brought to an area of household
waste treatment.

Efforts to use garnered algae:

- used as fertilizer
- mixed with waste to be composted
- dehydrated and mixed in poultry feed

Gathering and using the seaweeds

In separating the pre-treatment step, the area can be reduced by a

factor of three.
decreases the cost of treatment by composting

Work performed at Hillion was a successful attempt at composting

with a minimum of ligneous-cellulosic substrate.
stabilization of the seaweed and use can be delayed.

Study: mean for decreasing their mass and volume before transport.

The CAT de 4 Vaulx-Jardin mixed algae with ligneous material

and animal feces to make a high quality compost.

Gathering and using the seaweeds: Composting and stabilization

Gathering and using the seaweeds: Composting and stabilization

100

100

% of work load

50

% of ligno-cellulosic
substrate (dry matter)

% of area occupied

50

25

28

14

86

Wood-seaweed PB-U

% of seaweed (dry matter)

Mixture

29

29

17

83

PB-U

22

21

17

83

PS-U

21

21

17

83

S-U

21

21

20

80

M-U

Reduction of necessary area and work load to treat Ulva from "green tides"
compared to older methods of composting. PB: Poplar Bark; U: Ulva; PS: Poplar
Sawdust; M: Municipal ligno-cellulosic refuse (Thuja). .

Gathering and using the seaweeds: Composting and stabilization

Transport to fields further from the coast becomes possible

Product can then be used as a substrate for later composting or

as an organic enhancing and fertilizing agent.

Gathering and using the seaweeds: Composting and stabilization

In Brittany trials for building a plant did not succeed:

- at Hillion for political reasons
- at St Cast (near St Malo and Dinard) because of the rejection
by the local population

Transport to fields further from the coast becomes possible

Product can then be used as a substrate for later composting or

as an organic enhancing and fertilizing agent.

Gathering and using the seaweeds: Composting and stabilization

Solution: Ulva is ground & pre-treated by degradation or

centrifugation

(methanization is hampered by the high viscosity of algae)

Biogas production requires 40 to 60 days of fermentation

44 to 75% of the substrate's energy is recuperated
Shorter retention times lead to lower recuperation

In Brittany research on the possible use of Ulva as a

methanisation substrate.

Gathering and using the seaweeds: Methanization and pressing

4
5

1: Acidogenic reactor. 2: Predigested muds. 3: Screw press. 4: Pressed muds.

5: Storing tank of hydrolysis juices. 6: Methanogenic reactor. 7: Biogas boiler.
8: Gasometer. The two steps may be separated in different places.

Methanogenesis

Acidogenesis

Synoptic scheme of Ulva sp. treatment by separation of

acidogenic and methanogenic phases

0.29
0.34

81

10
5.2

6.2
52
40
45

7.3
11
2
21

79
95
53

* o for introduced, r for removed

1.5
Methane productivity (L L-1 dig. d-1)
___________________________________________________________________________________

Methane content in biogas (%)

Methane yields (m3 kg-1)*
YCH4/CODo
YCH4/CODr

pH
CODt (g L-1, g L-1, and %)
CODs (g L-1, g L-1, and %)
VS (g L-1, g L-1, and %)

Retention time (d)

Loading rate (g COD L-1 dig. d-1)

Characteristics
Experimental conditions
Influent Effluent Purification rate
___________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

Characteristics of the anaerobic digestion of an Ulva sp. filtrate.

The screw press proved best to recover a large quantity of

sufficiently loaded pressing juice after only a short hydrolysis time.

Gathering and using the seaweeds: Methanization and pressing

- The quality of the Ulva juice also makes it suitable as substrate

for industrial processes, alternative or co-substrate of
methanisation in pre-existing reactors

- Resulting cake can be used as an organic enriching or fertilizing

agent in agriculture

This process saves time and reduces the digestion volume!

Gathering and using the seaweeds: Methanization and pressing

Conclusion

Ulva harvest and treatment are an absolute necessity

(= to urban pollution of a city of more than 12,000 inhabitants)

Example:
The 11,000 t of Ulva stranded in Lannion Bay contains
some 20 t N and 2 t P.

The environmental impact of algae proliferation:

- organic load
- nitrogen, phosphorus and hydrogen sulphide pollution

Conclusion

The re-use of nutrients by opportunistic algae is a

permanent feature!
Ex.: Peel Inlet Bay (Aus.), Lunkebugten Bay (Dk),
Venice Lagoon (It.)

Conclusion

 government agencies to cover the extra cost,

but algae could possibly be used for energy production.

Investment to treat 25,000 m3 of algae ~ 0.6 million

Conclusion

 Most interesting solution, economically, for a treatment on a

relatively small scale!

Other solution is composting,

but without trouble for and from inhabitants

government agencies to cover the extra cost,

but algae could possibly be used for energy production.

Investment to treat 25,000 m3 of algae ~ 0.6 million

Conclusion

Today the price for the latter is more likely 10 - 15 euro-cents.

7 euro-cents from propane and 3 from wood.

10 years ago studies determined that a therm would cost

between 10 and 18 euro-cent
(cfr. 5 euro-cents for a therm produced from gas-or-oil).

Used as a fuel in Brittany

Could seaweed play a role in power production?

Conclusion

Otherwise, the problem will become more

and more significant.

It is obvious that the real solution is to avoid

by every means, the nutrients to be brought
to the sea, and this, on a world-wide scale.

Conclusion