1. Heading
ALGAL TURF SCRUBBER®
SYSTEMS FOR
POLLUTION
CONTROL

2. HOW THE ALGAL TURF SCRUBBER® SYSTEM WORKS
ATS™ SURGER AND DISTRIBUTION The ATS™ consists of a suitably processes.
sloped substrate, typically plastic Carbon dioxide, nitrogen,
geomembrane, overlain with an phosphorus and other elements
attachment grid, upon which necessary for metabolic growth are
pollutant-laden waters are discharged rapidly removed from the water
and an algal turf is cultured. column through biological uptake.
Wave surge motion is Removal of these compounds results
incorporated into the headwaters of in water quality changes within the
the ATS™ to enhance the exchange ATS™, including elevation of pH
of metabolites between algal cells concentrations.
and the water medium. Pulsed flow Employing a patented
is provided via a self-siphoning precipitation process, ATS™ systems
surger. offer the benefit of low-cost
ATS™ surger and distribution systems provides The algal turf consists of dense chemical precipitation of pollutants.
flow at linear hydraulic loading rates of 10 mats of small anatomically simple Through control of operating
to20 gal lf -1 min-1
algae less than several centimeters in parameters such as flow rates, micro
height. and macro nutrients concentrations
As water travels down the and biomass recovery rates,
ATS™, pollutants are recovered pollutants such as phosphorus are
through both biological and physical precipitated onto the algal cell walls,
SIMPLE CONSTRUCTION then recovered along with harvested
biomass, thereby further enhancing
BIOMASS PROCESSING AREA
phosphorus treatment capacity and
reducing system treatment costs.
BIOMASS RECOVERY
EFFLUENT FLUME
STATION Physical removal also occurs on
the ATS™ through particulate
trapping or filtration within the web
of algal filaments.
ATS™ SURGERS (TYP)
Critical to performance of the
ATS™ system, cultured algal
biomass is routinely harvested.
INFLUENT FLUME
Routine recovery serves to optimize
EFFLUENT pollutant recovery, avoid succession
RETURN
LINE to macroalgae and macrophytes and
PUMP STATION
eliminate long-term liabilities
associated with on-site storage of
SOURCE WATER
pollutants typical of conventional
treatment wetland systems.

3. BENEFITS OF THE ALGAL TURF SCRUBBER® SYSTEM
LOW TREATMENT COSTS HydroMentia’s Algal Turf nitrogen and phosphorus, ATS™
Scrubber® (ATS™) technology was systems offer treatment for a wide
developed by Dr. Walter Adey, variety of toxic compounds including
Director of Marine Laboratories at metals and chlorinated compounds.
the Smithsonian Institution. Dr. Adey HydroMentia’s proprietary
REDUCED LAND REQUIREMENTS developed the ATS™ while biomass management techniques
researching low nutrient ecological allow cost-effective and efficient
systems at the Smithsonian. recovery and management of the
Optimized for nutrient uptake and algal biomass. Recovered biomass
pollutant precipitation, the ATS™ can be readily processed into high
PROVEN PERFORMANCE
can reduce nitrogen and phosphorus quality compost, organic fertilizer or
concentrations and loads while livestock feed, and in the future
requiring 90% to 99% less land than biofuel.
comparable treatment wetland Through recovery and
systems. management of the biomass, the
REDUCED LONG-TERM LIABILTIIES Due to its small footprint and ATS™ eliminates potential long-
simple and cost-effective term liabilities commonly associated
construction, the ATS™ offers a with systems that store captured
lower-cost alternative for nutrient pollutants.
pollution control than either With over two decades of
treatment wetlands or chemical research and commercial application,
MARKETABLE END PRODUCTS
treatment. the ATS™ offers proven and
In addition to recovery of excess sustainable treatment performance.
A 2.5 acre ATS™ can provide nutrient control
for over 10 million gallons per day.

4. ALGAL TURF SCRUBBER® PHOSPHORUS CONTROL
FLEXIBLE DESIGN
1000.00 The Algal Turf Scrubber® can be
S154 Second Stage (WHS Pretreatment, ATS-300', Ci=330-50 ppb)
EAA-Everglades (ATS-50', Ci=80-30 ppb)
designed and constructed to meet a
S154 Single Stage (ATS-300', HLR=100 cm/d, Ci=300-80 ppb) wide range of phosphorus control
S154 Single Stage (ATS-300', HLR=200 cm/d, Ci=300-80 ppb) objectives.
P Areal Removal Rate (g m yr )
100.00
-1
S154 Single Stage (ATS-300', HLR=450 cm/d, Ci=300-80 ppb)
ATS™ units have been applied to
-2
surface water runoff, agricultural and
municipal effluents with total
10.00
phosphorus concentrations ranging
from 80 to 8000 parts per billion
(ppb).
1.00
Whether your treatment objective
is reducing total phosphorus loads or
achieving a specific outflow
0.10 phosphorus concentration, the ATS™
1.0 10.0 100.0 1000.0
system can be optimized to meet
-2 -1
P Loading Rate (g m yr )
your needs.
Capable of consistently and
reliably reducing phosphorus
concentrations to below the most
stringent TMDL objectives, the
ATS™ is the ideal surface water
1.00
S154 Second Stage (WHS Pretreatment, ATS-300', Ci=330-50 ppb) treatment technology.
EAA-Everglades (ATS-50', Ci=80-30 ppb)
S154 Single Stage (ATS-300', HLR=100 cm/d, Ci=300-80 ppb)
S154 Single Stage (ATS-300', HLR=200 cm/d, Ci=300-80 ppb) DESIGN ADVANCEMENTS
S154 Single Stage (ATS-300', HLR=450 cm/d, Ci=300-80 ppb)
Recent advancements have
TP Out (mg l )
-1
resulted in significant increases in
0.10
areal removal rates even at relatively
low inflow phosphorus
concentrations. Capable of
recovering phosphorus at rates
greater than 1,000 lbs/acre-ATS™/
yr, these advancements allow for
0.01
significant reductions in the
0.1 1.0 10.0 100.0 1000.0
-2 -1 treatment facility footprint. The net
P Areal Removal Rate (g m yr )
results are both lower capital and
operating costs for the ATS™.

5. ALGAL TURF SCRUBBER® NITROGEN CONTROL
25,000 LOAD VERSUS CONCENTRATION
S154 ATS Single Stage Floway - South
2,500
(HLR = 100 cm/day or 365 m/yr) As with phosphorus, the Algal
20,000 S154 ATS Single Stage Floway - North Turf Scrubber® can be designed and
N Areal Removal Rate (lbs acre yr )
(HLR = 200 cm/day or 730 m/yr)
-1
N Areal Removal Rate (g m yr )
-1
2,000 constructed to meet a wide range of
-1
S154 ATS Single Stage Floway - Central
(HLR = 450 cm/day or 1642 m/yr))
-2
nitrogen control objectives.
15,000
ATS™ units have been applied to
1,500
surface water runoff, agricultural and
10,000 municipal effluents with total
1,000
nitrogen concentrations ranging from
1 to 18 parts per million (ppm).
5,000 Whether your treatment objective
500
is to reduce your AWT effluent to
allow discharges to local source
0 0
0 500 1,000 1,500 2,000 2,500 3,000 3,500 4,000 4,500 5,000 waters or load reduction to meet the
-2 -1
N Loading Rate (g m yr ) new TMDL requirements, the ATS™
Total Nitrogen Inflow Concentrations Range from 1.1 to 2.7 mg/l
system can be optimized to meet
your needs.
LOW-LEVEL TREATMENT
25,000
ATS™ systems are capable of
S154 ATS Single Stage Floway - South 2,500 providing consistent, cost-effective
(HLR = 100 cm/day or 365 m/yr)
20,000 S154 ATS Single Stage Floway - Central
(HLR = 450 cm/day or 1642 m/yr))
nitrogen reduction, even with the
N Areal Removal Rate (lbs acre yr )
-1
N Areal Removal Rate (g m yr )
lower nitrogen concentrations often
-1
S154 ATS Single Stage Floway - North 2,000
-1
(HLR = 200 cm/day or 730 m/yr)
-2
present in surface water runoff.
15,000
Designed to operate at high
1,500
Linear Hydraulic Loading Rates
(LHLR), high nitrogen areal removal
10,000
1,000 rates can be achieved for a wide
range of point and nonpoint source
5,000 applications, including lake
500
restoration projects.
The result is that the ATS™
0 0
offers the lowest cost treatment
0 500 1,000 1,500 2,000 2,500 3,000 3,500
TNIN (ppb) technology for nitrogen control.
Total Nitrogen Inflow Concentrations Range from 1.1 to 2.7 mg/l

6. TREATMENT FACILITY LAND REQUIREMENTS
POLLUTANT AREAL REMOVAL RATES
900
Biological treatment systems including
820.7
treatment wetlands and Managed Aquatic
Plant Systems (MAPS) have been
800
repeatedly shown to offer the lowest cost
alternatives for nonpoint source pollution
control. However, with these systems, land
700 requirements become a critical selection
factor, both in terms of overall costs and
land availability. For many of today’s
600 applications, sufficient land simply is not
P Removal Rate (lbs/acre-yr)
available for construction of a treatment
wetland system.
It is here that ATS™ system benefits
500
provide a distinct advantage over treatment
419.3 wetland systems. Operated at significantly
higher hydraulic loading rates, ATS™
400 systems offer equivalent treatment
performance while requiring a fraction of
the land area.
300
COST-EFFECTIVE POLLUTANT RECOVERY
223.0
Recent advancement have demonstrated
the versatility of the ATS™ system.
200
152.7 Operational data have shown that increases
in hydraulic loading rates of over 400%,
have resulted in minimal loss in percent
100 removal of priority pollutants.
Dependent on project specific
4.9 6.0 10.7
objectives, HydroMentia’s engineers can
0 design an ATS™ system to optimize
Constructed Wetlands - Everglades STAs
HMI - Single Stage ATS™ - HLR 92 cm/day
HMI - Single-Stage ATS™ - HLR 157 cm/day
HMI - Single-Stage ATS™ - HLR 368 cm/day
Constructed Wetlands - Orlando Easterly
Natural Wetlands - WCA-2A
HMI - Two-Stage WHS™-ATS™
pollu tan t re moval w hi le achieving
designated outflow pollutant
concentrations.
Comparative phosphorus areal removal rates
for ATS™ and treatment wetland systems

7. COMPARATIVE TREATMENT COSTS
LOW COST POLLUTANT CONTROL
Pollutant control strategies for point
and nonpoint source pollution include a
wide variety of approaches including on-
site best management practices, chemical
treatment, filtration and biological
treatment. Selection of the best approach is $62.00
often determined based on treatment costs.
Treatment costs are reduced through $70.00
numerous benefits of the Algal Turf
Scrubber®, including:
• Small footprint $60.00
• Reduced design costs
• Fast construction
• Simplified operation
$50.00
•
5 0 -y r P re s e n t W o rth C o s t ($ /lb P -R e m o v e d )
Marketable by-products
Assessing phosphorus and nitrogen
$28.68
control options using a 50-yr present worth
$40.00
cost shows the clear cost savings that can
be achieved when using the ATS™ system.
With both lower initial capital costs and
$30.00
long-term present worth costs, the ATS™
technology saves money, both short and
long-term.
$20.00
BY-PRODUCT VALUES
Not included in referenced costs are $10.00
the potential revenues generated by the
sale of the high quality organic fertilizer/
compost product produced from the ATS™ $0.00
operation. Bulk sales of high-quality Treatment Wetland Algal Turf Scrubber®
organic fertilizers can exceed $50/ton. A
[1] HydroMentia. April 2005. Single Stage Algal Turf Scrubber Present Worth Cost & By-Product Market
typical ATS™ operation produces 50 to Analysis. (TPIN=200 ppb, TPOUT=146ppb, 27.0% Removal, 56,000 AF/yr, Pumping Costs Included)
[2] USACE, SFWMD, HDR. October 2003. Lake Okeechobee Watershed Project Draft PIR, Water Quality
100 tons of organic fertilizer per ton of Treatment Ranking (TPIN=261 ppb, TPOUT=100 ppb, 61.6% Removal, 97,500 AF/yr)
phosphorus recovered. In the future,
biofuel production may offer even greater
revenue generation potential.

8. BIOMASS MANAGEMENT AND PROCESSING
EFFICIENT BIOMASS RECOVERY
MAPSoil Typical Analysis To reduce operating costs,
HydroMentia developed a proprietary
Nitrogen (N) 2.0 technique for recovering algal biomass in
Phosphorus (P2O5) 1.0
which process water conveys severed
Potassium (K2O) 0.5
Sulfur (S) 0.2% biomass to a central harvesting station.
Calcium (Ca) 1.5% A four-wheel all terrain vehicle or
Magnesium (Mg) 0.25% tractor with attached implement is used to
Moisture 40%
sever algal biomass from the growing
matrix. The severed material is then
conveyed via process water to a receiving
flume, where it is recovered by an
automatic rake at a centralized harvesting
station.
These design efficiencies allow a
End products made from the harvested algae include compost (above), single operator to recover biomass from
livestock feed and biofuel (below).
approximately one acre of ATS™ in less
than one hour. With algal biomass
recovery scheduled once every 7 to 14
days, minimal labor is required to maintain
the ATS™ at optimal performance.
COST- EFFECTIVE PROCESSING
Recovered material is conveyed to a
bunker or transport trailer, where it is
available for further processing.
High in nutrient content, algal biomass
can be processed into a high-grade organic
fertilizer/compost, livestock feed or
biofuel.
Organic fertilizer produced within
ATS™ systems are suitable for a broad
range of fertilizer markets. As a livestock
feed, processed algae is typically 20 to
30% crude protein, offering a protein-rich
high quality feed ingredient for the
massive U.S. agricultural market
Currently in development are systems
for processing the conversion of algal
biomass to energy products, including
biodiesel and ethanol.

9. ALGAL TURF SCRUBBER® APPLICATIONS
BROAD RANGE OF APPLICATIONS LAKE RESTORATION
Serving as an “artificial kidney,”
ATS™ offers cost savings for a ATS™ units can be designed to
broad range of water treatment recover incoming pollutant loads to
applications. meet TMDL mandates while reducing
nutrient pollutants stored within lake
STORMWATER RUNOFF sediments.
30 MGD Aquaculture Facility located in The net result is a reduction of
Nonpoint source applications that Okeechobee, Florida
in-lake nutrient concentrations,
involve nutrient pollutants are improved water clarity, and enhanced
especially well-suited for the ATS™ nutrient discharges. As the lowest- littoral zone communities and
with the system’s capacity to treat co s t a l te r n a t i v e s for n u tr i e n t fisheries.
large volumes of water contaminated recovery, ATS™ systems are well
with relatively low concentrations of suited for agricultural applications. GEOGRAPHIC OPPORTUNITIES
pollutants. ATS™ systems can be
designed to meet the most stringent Short start-up periods allow the
INDUSTRIAL APPLICATIONS
of TMDL objectives. ATS™ to operate on a seasonal basis
Due to the rapid rate of algae for reduced operational costs, or for
WASTE WATER TREATMENT production and recovery within the application in northern climates.
ATS™ unit, trace metals present in
ATS™ offers an exciting source waters may be incorporated ATS™ APPLICATIONS
opportunity for advanced treatment into recovered biomass. Many of
of domestic wastewaters. Since these trace metals serve as necessary Stormwater Treatment
water is a limited re s o u r c e and valuable micronutrients for algal
• Phosphorus
throughout the country, secondary or growth. Recovered from the • Nitrogen
tertiary treated wastewater can be treatment system and processed as an Tertiary Treatment
polished with an ATS™ unit, making organic fertilizer/compost, these
• Nutrients
the water clean enough to be trace elements become a beneficial
discharged to local surface waters.
Agricultural
resource.
This eliminates the need for disposal Applied to industrial wastes, a
• CAFO
PHYTOREMEDIATION OF METALS
via deep well injection and spray
• Runoff
high-production, high-pH scrubber
irrigation. Industrial
unit can effectively recover, through
algal uptake and precipitation, a wide • Nutrients
AGRICULTURAL • Metals
variety of organic and inorganic
ATS™ serves as an agricultural compounds. Lake Restoration
solution to an agricultural problem—

10. ALGAL TURF SCRUBBER®
SYSTEMS FOR
POLLUTION
CONTROL
HYDROMENTIA, INC.
Post Office Box 367
Ocala, Florida 34478
352.237.6762 telephone
352.237.0944 facsimile
www.hydromentia.com
U.S. Patent Nos. 4,333,263 ; 4,966,096 ; 5,097,795 ; 5,715,774 ; 5,778,823 ; 5,851,398 ; 6,572,770