One of the solutions for the global warming and ocean acidification process is Carbon dioxide Sequestration process. This presentation is one of my proposals for conversion of flue gases to Biodiesel.
3. INTRODUCTION
The sustainable production of alternative sources of fuels is a potent issue than the
business in Wall Street, except the seriousness is overshadowed by other issues like
poverty, female feticide in a developing country like India; CPI(Corruption
Perception Index) 2012 Ranking -94/176.
This paper focuses on production of biodiesel from microalgae which grow on
flue(carbon dioxide) gas and thus a biological method of carbon dioxide
sequestration( biological mitigation).
The production of algal fuel is through a process called as transesterification.
CO2 accounts for less than 1% of total atmospheric gases, its about 391ppm by
volume as of 2011. It rose by 2.0ppm per year during 2000–2009.
The numbers were below 300(ppm) i.e. below 0.03% by volume before
industrialization.
Due to rapid industrialization and increase in traffic the percentage of carbon dioxide
is also increasing in atmosphere.
Due to which green house effect is also increasing making earth warmer.(Global
warming).
Oceans act as a sink for carbon dioxide, so the dissolution of carbon dioxide is
increasing leading to the lowering of pH (Ocean Acidification).
4. MY INSPIRATION
Visakhapatnam ( 170 40’ 3” and 170 45’ N and 830 16’ 15” and 830 21’ 30” E), located on east
coast of India, has been a victim of pollution due to rapid industrialization and urbanization
.A number of industries (oil refineries, fertilizer plant, steel industries, polymer factories, zinc
smelter plant , etc) are located in this city of destiny and the traffic is also increasing day by
day, in turn increasing pollution. CO2 is one of the common effluents from these sources
polluting the environment.
This process of ocean acidification is studied due to CO2 pollution in Visakhapatnam by
collecting sea water samples along the coast in urban area.
The variation of carbonate & bi- carbonate ion strength due to acidification thereby
understanding decalcification. The pH and concentration of carbonate and bi-carbonate ions
are studied in various samples of sea water collected from December 2010, January – August
2011.
5. RESULTS
pH of sea water samples collected on December(2010), January to August(2011).
MONTH SAMPLE pH
DEC NO.1 8.14
JAN NO.2 8.14
FEB NO.3 8.14
MAR NO.4 8.14
APR NO.5 8.13
MAY NO.6 8.13
JUN NO.7 8.13
JUL NO.8 8.13
AUG NO.9 8.13
MONTH SAMPLE pH
JUN NO.10 8.11
JUL NO.11 8.12
AUG NO.12 8.12
(Note: These samples were collected on dry days; sample no 5,6,7,8,9
were collected from a different point i.e.in main city)
(Note: These samples were collected after rain)
8.09
8.1
8.11
8.12
8.13
8.14
8.15
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
pH
samples
Ph
GRAPHICAL REPRESENTAION OF pH
OF VARIOUS SEA WATER SAMPLES.
7. ALGAE : BEST SOURCE
The various sources of biodiesel like: Jatropha plants, maize-food crops are explored
which are first generation bio-diesel sources. There is an ongoing debate which
eludes out the negative impacts of usage of first generation hence, second generation
bio fuel producers are taken into consideration.
The algae are considered to be best source for bio-diesel. This is due to the lipid
content of microalgae and their extra ordinary potential for cultivation as energy
crops.
They provide a natural medium for carbon dioxide sequestration and thus decrease
the carbon dioxide percentage in atmosphere, as it is used as a source of nutrients for
their growth. A few microalgae even have the capability to trap the flue gases directly
from industries as nutrients along with sunlight. The contaminants like CO, NOX,
and SOX can be removed by using biodiesel.
8. The algae which are used to trap flue gases are green algae Monoruphidium
minutum, Chlorococcum littorale ,a marine algae and Chlorella Strains.
Chlorococcum littorale shows tolerance up to 40% CO2 and 420c temperatures.
In terms of carbon savings, the use of microalgae for biodiesel can lower
considerably the CO2 emissions because the CO2 released on combustion should
equal the CO2 fixed during plant or algal photosynthesis and growth.
Crop Crop oil yield (L/acre)
Corn 68.13
Soya bean 181.68
Sunflower 386.07
Rapeseed 480.69
Canola 495.83
Jatropha 788.33
Oil palm 2403.47
Microalgae 19000-57000
Table: showing the yield of biodiesel from micro algae: Comparative study
10. ADVANTAGES
Eco-friendly.
Algal biodiesel contains no sulphur.
Removal of GHG as they use flue gases for production of biodiesel
The left over residue after extracting biodiesel can be used as manure
for plant growth or other feedstock.
This process shows carbon saving.
Biodiesel is used as a substitute for conventional fuel and thus
decreases the fossil fuel dependency.
11. CONCLUSIONS
The production of biodiesel from algae is more economical and eco-
friendly.
The algal source or secondary source has more oil content than that of
first generation bio-diesel sources like food grains.
The algae are versatile and compatible to harsh conditions hence can
be used to trap the flue gases directly from industries which are rich in
CO2.
The Ocean acidification is due to increase in CO2 in atmosphere above
the permissible levels which causes decrease in carbonate ion
concentration (decalcification) , as well as decrease in the pH of the
medium.
The micro algae thus can be used as a natural source for carbon
dioxide sequestration.
Thus, the green cells grown by Carbon dioxide sequestration can be
used to produce bio-diesel by transesterification process.
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13. AKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Department of Engineering chemistry, Andhra University College of
Engineering.
Department of Nuclear physics, Andhra University.
Department of Chemical Engineering, Andhra University.
Department of Marine Chemistry, Andhra University.