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Biodiesel production from micro-algae
Microalgae are a diverse group of photosynthetic organisms that can be used to produce biodiesel. They contain lipids and oils that can be extracted and processed into biodiesel. Microalgae have several advantages over terrestrial crops for biodiesel production as they have a higher oil yield per acre, can be grown on non-arable land or wastewater, and are more sustainable as they are carbon neutral. The production of biodiesel from microalgae involves cultivating the algae, harvesting it, extracting the oil, and processing the oil through transesterification to produce the biodiesel. As the technology advances, algae-derived biodiesel production is increasing with over 100 companies now
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Biodiesel production from micro-algae
- 1. Dr. Amer Alzobaay BaghdadUniversity
- 2. What is Microalgae? • Algae – Eukaryotic – Most live in water – Freshwater and Marine – Photosynthetic • Capture light energy • Convert inorganic to organic matter – Use lipids and oils to help float in water – Range from small, single-celled species to complex multicellular species, such as the giant kelps
- 3. Types • Red Algae –Macro • Green Algae – Chlorophyll a and b – Freshwater • Brown Algae – Kelp – Marine • Diatoms – Single celled – Silica cell wall • Blue Green Algae – Fix N2 from air – Freshwater • Dinoflagellates – Toxic; suck out O2 – Organic matter
- 4. Background • Location – Mosthabitats • How many – Over 36,000 species • How does it feed? – Photosynthesis – All have chlorophyll • Uses – food, fertilizer, footstock, pharmaceutical, pollution control, water treatment, dyes, agar, Fuels
- 5. Importance • Algae iseasy to grow • Can produce a high yield of oil • Oil can be processed into biodiesel • Help to solve dependence on fossil fuels • Can be better for the Earth
- 6. Integrated with Wastewater Treatmentand CO2 capture
- 7. Grown under conditionswhich are unsuitable for conventional crop production (marine water, wastewater, open ponds) Adaptability to a range of environment
- 8. Historically, The firstcars group in the USA operated on the ethanol fuel (bioethanol). Then the inventor Dr. Rudolf diesel at 1900 used the first diesel engine and operated it by peanut oil. Biodiesel History
- 9. Biodiesel History • From1978 to 1996 the U.S. Department of Energy funded a program to develop renewable transportation fuels from algae • The main focus of the program was known as the Aquatic Species Program (or ASP) • Production of biodiesel from high lipid- content algae grown in ponds • Utilized waste CO2 from coal fired power plants
- 10. Why make ita fuel? • Algae can be used to make biodiesel • Produces large amounts oil – When compared to terrestrial crops grown for the same purpose – Algae contain anywhere between 2% and 40% of lipids/oils by weight – Once harvested, this oil can be converted into fuels for transportation, aviation or heating • High growth rate and easy to grow – Warm Seasons • Amphora sp. • Tetraselmis suecica – Cold Seasons • Monoraphidium minutum – Use of diatoms and green algae
- 11. Oil Yields ofVarious Microalgae
- 12. Production… • Oil yield Crop OilYield (L/ha/year) Biodiesel Productivity (Kg/ha/year ) Crop Oil Yield (L/ha/year) Biodiesel Productivity (Kg/ha/year ) Rapeseed 1190 962 Sunflower 952 946 Oil Palm 5950 4747 Jatropha 1892 656 Corn 172 152 Microalgae a 58700 51927 Soybean 446 562 Microalgae b 136900 121104 a Algae contain 30% oil (/wt) in biomass. b Algae contain 70% oil (/wt) in biomass. Source:
- 13. Higher oil yield 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000 SoybeansSunflower Canola Jathropha Palm Oil Microalgae Oil yields (barrels/ha-yr)
- 15. How to obtainfuel from algae? • Picking up the best algae • Growing the algae • Harvesting • Generating the fuel product
- 16. • Culture andIsolation • Is isolation a good?
- 17. Large-Scale Production • Ponds –Less expensive setup – Large biomass production – Evaporation – Contamination – Land area
- 18.
- 20. Closed systems Also referredas Photobioreactors Tubular PBR Flat plate PBR
- 21. Closed systems • Photobioreactors –More controlled – Limited contamination – High biomass concentration – Less land area – Expensive setup
- 35. Biodiesel from algae Cultivationof Microalgae species Harvesting of Microalgae Extraction of Oil from Microalgae Transesterification Biodiesel
- 36. Pressing oil fromthe algae • Dry the algae and press the oil from it. • Can retrieve up to 70% of the oil. • While drying must prevent the algae from becoming contaminated. • Cheapest and simplest method
- 37. Chemical Oil Extraction •Use hexane solvents to remove the oil. • Hexane is a neurotoxin. • Must be careful when using. • Removes oil out of almost all things.
- 38. Super Critical OilExtraction • Most efficient method. • Uses carbon dioxide at critical pressure and temperature (CO2 is almost a liquid). • Carbon dioxide. • Rapid diffusion of the oil. • Very expensive process.
- 39. Three ways toproduce biodiesel • Base catalyzed transesterification with alcohol. • Acid catalyzed esterification with methanol. • Enzymes methods • Convert the oil to fatty acids. Then acid catalyze to alkyl esters.
- 40. Base Catalyzed withAlcohol • Most common process • Most economical • Low pressure (20psi) • Low temperature (65oC) • No intermediate steps • High conversion rate (98%)
- 41. Triacylglycerides (TAGs) • It’sa lipid • Found in the membrane and in the cytoplasm • High energy
- 42.
- 46. Benefits of AlgaeFarming • Year-round production • Fast biomass production • Less land area • Does not compete with food crops • Higher fuel output • Can use brackish water • Carbon neutral
- 47. • Algae derivedbiodiesel could replace fossil fuel based diesel fuel • 530 million m3 of biodiesel annually for the United States • Oil content of algae can exceed 80% of dry mass • Oil prices are high • Should cost about $0.50/L to be competitive with petroleum diesel, cost about $0.35/L • Current unrest in the Middle East Benefits of Algae Farming
- 48. National Biodiesel Board48 US Biodiesel Production 0 100,000,000 200,000,000 300,000,000 400,000,000 500,000,000 600,000,000 700,000,000 Gallons 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 700 Million Gallons
- 49. Growth • More than100 companies are working on algae fuels, especially in USA and UK 0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 # of companies
- 50. Investments 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 2006 2007 20082009 (in million dollar)
- 52.