Algae Harvesting – HFT™

Hydronucleation Flotation Technology

BlueCycle’s HFT™ system physically and efficiently removes algae, nitrogen, phosphorus, organic carbon, and cyanotoxins from waterbodies.
Co-developed by BlueCycle and refined through years of field deployment, HFT™ provides measurable water-quality improvement, reducing bloom risk and nutrient cycling.

Targeting the Nutrients Already There

HFT™ focuses on what’s already in the water. By physically extracting algae from the water column, it breaks the cycle of recurring blooms, reduces internal nutrient loading, and accelerates ecological recovery.

Proven in the Field

BlueCycle brings extensive real-world experience in full-scale HFT™ operation, optimization, and adaptive management - supporting municipalities, water districts, and state agencies during both emergency response and long-term restoration programs.

Physical Nutrient Removal Through Algae Extraction

By removing algae cells intact, HFT™ captures the nitrogen, phosphorus, and organic carbon contained within the algae, permanently removing those nutrients from the system rather than allowing them to recycle back into the water column.

This distinction matters. Conventional approaches like chemical treatment or algaecides suppress algae temporarily but leave nutrients in place, setting the stage for the next bloom event. HFT removes the source of the problem, not just the symptom.

The harvested biomass becomes feedstock for downstream resource recovery, closing the loop between water restoration and renewable value.

A close-up view of clean, clear water flowing forcefully from a blue discharge pipe into a white V-shaped metal channel on bare ground, with grass visible in the background.

What We Return Matters

HFT™ doesn’t just remove what’s harmful, it returns water that actively supports recovery. Clear, highly oxygenated effluent restores light penetration, revives aquatic habitat, and gives ecosystems the conditions they need to heal.

Healthier water means healthier shorelines, restored recreational access, and communities that can rely on their waterways again 

Carbon Reduction & Biomass recovery

Extracting intact biomass removes more than algae — it removes the carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus stored within it, permanently reducing the nutrient load in the system. 

That harvested biomass doesn’t go to waste. Its carbon-rich composition makes it an ideal feedstock for HTL™ conversion into renewable biocrude oil, or as a nutrient-dense input for biofertilizers. What enters HFT™ as a water quality problem, leaves as a resource with real value. 

A side-by-side before and after comparison of a residential marina canal, showing thick green and blue algal bloom coverage on the left, and the same waterway restored to clear, calm water on the right.

Accelerating Nature

By performing the heavy lift of nutrient and biomass removal, HFT™ gives natural processes the space to do what they do best. Oxygen dynamics stabilize, ecological succession resumes, and microbial communities begin rebuilding healthier, more resilient water conditions. Instead of fighting nature, we reset the system so it can recover.

Restoring Nature’s Balance

BlueCycle Technologies was founded on a simple belief:
Nature already has the answers.​
We unite leading researchers, proven technologies, and forward-thinking communities to put those answers to work on impacted waterways, transforming environmental liabilities into long-term legacy.

Your challenge is where we start

From harmful algal blooms to biosolids challenges, our team is ready to help you find the right path forward. Connect with BlueCycle today. ​​