Ag Algae is a biological system to reduce odors in anaerobic lagoons. A single-celled green algae culture is used to produce oxygen in these systems. Treatment by aeration has proven to be an effective method of reducing lagoon odors by encouraging oxidative metabolism. The mechanical aeration of lagoons has a high energy requirement. In addition, aerators can be expensive and require maintenance. By using photosynthetic oxygenation of Ag Algae, odor reduction is achieved without the high energy requirement.

       The problem with photosynthetic oxygenation lies in achieving a necessary critical mass for the algae to survive in an anaerobic lagoon. To overcome this, the Ag Algae system involves growing the algae culture in stock tanks located in a greenhouse. In order for the algae culture to flourish in the tanks, both lagoon and fresh water are introduced to the tanks daily. The algae culture is pumped into the lagoon daily. This continuous inoculation of the lagoon with the algae culture in the same location will result in a gradual colonization of the lagoon. A single dose of the algae culture would not be sufficient to colonize the lagoon due to the toxic environment of anaerobic lagoons. Once a lagoon is colonized, an “oxygen rich cap” would control odors.

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