This document discusses using algal biomass from wastewater for biofuel production. It outlines that algae have several advantages for biofuel production, including rapid growth, ability to use non-arable land and wastewater, and ability to uptake nutrients. It then describes different methods for cultivating algae, harvesting algal biomass, and extracting oils from algae that can be converted to biofuels like ethanol, methane, hydrogen, and gasoline. It concludes that algae have potential to play an important role in future bioeconomies by producing biomass and biofuels while integrated with wastewater management.

1. Algal biomass from waste water
for biofuel production
By
Revathi.L M.Tech
kandhan sankaranarayanan M.tech., D.acu., MD(acu).
Biotechnologist and wellness advisor

2. Introduction
• Biobased fuels are considered as sustainable
alternatives to fossil fuels.
• The importance of algae has increased with the search
for renewable energy sources.
• Algae can thrive and produce valuable products such
as lipids (oils), carbohydrates, proteins, and various
feedstocks that can be converted into other biofuels
and useful materials.

3. Potential advantages of
Algae-based biofuel production
• Biofuels and byproducts can be synthesized from a
large variety of algae.
• Algae have a rapid growth rate.
• Land areas unsuitable for agriculture can be used.
• Algae can be cultivated in brackish coastal water and
seawater.
• Algae can take up high concentrations of nitrogen,
silicon, phosphate, and sulfate nutrients from
municipal, agricultural or industrial waste streams.

4. Algae for biofuel production

5. Algal cultivation in open ponds
Round ponds Raceway ponds

6. Algal cultivation in closed ponds

7. Algae bioreactors
Advantages:
• Prevent or minimize contamination,
• Prevent water evaporation,
• Control over existing conditions
• Lower carbon dioxide losses
due to out gassing,
• Permit higher cell concentrations
Disadvantages:
• Cost
• Size and scope

8. Algae harvesting
• Centrifugation
• Chemical flocculation
• Ultrasound based methods
• Froth flotation

9. Oil extraction
o Mechanical disruption
-Cell homogenizers
-Bead mills
-Ultrasounds
-Autoclaving
o Non-mechanical methods
-Freezing
-Application of organic solvent
-Osmotic shock
-Acid, base, and enzyme reactions

10. Cntd..
o Organic Co-solvent Mixtures
o Heterotrophic production

12. Ethanol from algae
• Ethanol from algae is possible by converting the
starch (the storage component) and Cellulose (the cell
wall component).
• Ethanol can also be produced from de-oiled algae.
• In comparison with other products from algae,
alcohol is a low-priced product.

13. Methane from algae
• Closed algal bioreactors offer a promising alternative
route for biomass feedstock production for bio-
methane.
• Methane is produced by:
-Anaerobic digestion
-Pyrolysis/Gasification

14. Hydrogen from algae
• Hydrogen gas is seen as a future energy carrier by
virtue of the fact that it is renewable, does not evolve
the "greenhouse gas" CO2 in combustion, liberates
large amounts of energy per unit weight in
combustion.
• Biological hydrogen production by photosynthetic
microorganisms for example, requires the use of a
simple solar reactor such as a transparent closed box,
with low energy requirements.

15. Algae Gasoline Proving Popular-
30 day trial program in California
• First time algae gasoline were ever sold to the public.
• The pilot test was conducted at Propel's clean fuel
stations in San Jose, Oakland, Berkeley, and
Redwood City.

16. Cntd…
Survey:
• 92% of customers - more likely to buy algae based
fuel for it's environmental benefits.
• 70% - would buy the fuel more frequently if it were
derived from algae,
• 40% said they would pay extra.

17. Cntd…
• According to Life Cycle Associates, an independent
greenhouse gas measurement firm, they determined
that algal biodiesel provides 85-93% reduction in
greenhouse gas emissions compared with
conventional diesel.

18. Conclusion
• Algae are expected to play an important role in
tomorrow’s bioeconomy.
• It has the potential of producing biomass for biofuel
and other biocompounds
integrated with waste
water management.

19. References
• Sustainable algal biomass products by cultivation in
waste water flows Mona Arnold (Ed.). Espoo 2013.
VTT Technology 147. 84 p.
• Michael Hannon, Javier Gimpel. Biofuels from algae:
challenges and potential. Biofuels. Sep 2010; 1(5):
763–784.
• Oilgae.com
• making-biodiesel-books.com