This project is focused on existing technologies that could be applied to the processing of algae biomass. Also cover the design of the process in which prototype of Distillation column, Heat exchangers and Reactor will design. Project will also cover the socio-economic impacts (Environmental considerations; Economic considerations and Energy considerations). For testing our process model, the algal biodiesel will be produced on lab scale to understand the consequences, requirements and difficulties.

1. Production Of Bio-Diesel from Algae
Department of Chemical, Polymer and Composite
Materials Engineering UET Lahore.(City campus) 1
Design Based Project

2. Supervisor
•
Dr. Asif N. Tabish
Assistant Professor
Ph.D. (TU, Delft, Netherlands), M.Sc. (UET, Lahore)
B.Sc. (Chemical Engineering, UET, Lahore)
Research Interest: Electrochemistry, fuel cells, electrolysis
Group Members
Aqib javed
2015-CH-208
Sajjad Ahmad
2015-CH-241
Bilal Ahmad
2015-CH-205 2

3. Contents:
• Introduction
• Motivation
• Objectives
• Technologies for Cultivation
• Methodology
• Material and Energy balance
• Equipment Design Methods
• Future Work
• References
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4. Bio-Diesel ?
Dr. Rudolph Diesel
(1858-1913)
• It is defined as mono alkyl
ester of long chain fatty
acids derived from
renewable lipid sources.
• It is manufactured from
animal or vegetable fats and
has physical properties very
similar to petroleum diesel
fuel.
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5. Environmental Concerns
Emission Reduction (%)
CO 67
Hydrocarbon 30
Particulate Matter 68
SOOT 50
Polycyclic aromatic 85
hydrocarbons(PAH)
CO2 100
NOX +/-2--6
SO2 80-100
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6. Sources to obtain Bio-diesel
Source Gallons of oil per acre per year
Corn 18
Safflower 83
Sunflower 102
Rapeseed 127
Oil palm 635
Micro-Algae 5000-15000
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7. Why Algae ???
Does not compete with agriculture
High yield per acre
Contains no Sulphur therefore no
SO2 emissions
Non toxic and highly biodegradable
Does not require soil for growth
Adaptable anywhere even at great
distances from water
Abatement of CO2 – carbon neutral
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8. Motivation
8
Energy Conservation

9. The BCG
Matrix
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10. Project Objectives:
1. Assess existing technologies that could be applied to the processing of
algae biomass
2. Design the process of production of biodiesel from algae
3. Production of biodiesel from algae at lab scale
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11. How to Cultivate Algale on Large Scale ?
Open System Close System
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12. 12
Advantages
• Maximum production
• Less dry biomass
• Easy to prevent
system
Disadvantages
• Cooling required
• over concentration of oxygen
• High cost
Advantages
• Less cost
• Need of cooling
• Saturation of oxygen
Disadvantages
• Less production
• Light Problem
• Loss of water
Open Cultivation SystemClose Cultivation System

13. Separation Techniques
1. Flocculation
2. Gravity Sedimentation
3. Centrifugal Recovery
4. Ultrasound
5. Filtration
6. Dissolved Air Floatation
Extraction of Algae Oil From
Biomass
1. Bead Mills
2. Presses
3. Solvent extraction
4. Cavitation
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14. Methods of Production of Bio-Diesel
1. Micro-emulsions
2. Thermal cracking (Pyrolysis)
3. Transesterification
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15. 15
Micro Emulsion
Advantages:
Disadvantages
Pyrolysis
Advantages:
Disadvantages:
Trans-esterification
• Better spray pattern During
combustion
• Lower Fuel viscosities
• Low energy content
• Low Cetane Number
• Lower emission of CO2
• Chemically Similar to
petroleum derived diesel
• Energy Concentrated
• Higher cost
• Widely used
Process on
commercial scale
• Having same
physical
characteristics to
Diesel oil
• Easy and simple
process

16. Types of Transesterification process:
1. Alkali catalyzed transesterification
2. Acid catalyzed transesterification
3. Enzyme catalyzed transesterification
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17. 17
Parameters Alkali Catalyst Acid catalyst Enzyme catalyst
Catalyst Used NaOH, KOH H2SO4 Lipase
Methanol to oil
Ratio
6:1 30:1 4:1
Percentage
Conversion
95% 90% 85%
Rate of
Reaction
Fast Reaction Slow Reaction Very Slow
Comparison of Catalyzed Trans-esterification Process

18. Top Five Biodiesel Producers
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Germany(687 million of gallons/yr) France(687 million of gallons/yr) United States(545 million of gallons/yr)
Brazil(423 million of gallons/yr) Argentina(370 million of gallons/yr)

19. Capacity Selection
• Pakistan government is planning to replace 10% of its yearly diesel
consumption with Bio-diesel in 2025
• Total consumption of Diesel per year is 8 million tons
• Since our capacity is majorly dependent upon the availability of raw
materials, the production of Bio-diesel will be 5 million liters per year.
19
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20. Process Description:
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• Temperature of transesterification reactor = 60°C
• Pressure of transesterification reactor = 400 kPa
• Catalyst: NaOH

21. 21
Process Flow Diagram

22. Material Balance
22
Process
FAME(Biodiesel)
Steady State
Process
Simulation
Tool
‘Aspen Plus’
Approximation
of Process
Parameters
Temperature
Pressure
Composition
Flow
Glycerol
MEOWAT
WATMEO
Solids
MEOH
NaOH
Oil
Water
H3PO4

23. 23
Material in
Streams Flow rate Units
MEOH 77 kg/h
Oil 525 kg/h
NaOH 25 kg/h
Water 25 kg/h
H3PO4 20 kg/h
Material Out
Streams Flow rate Units
FAME (Biodiesel) 525 kg/h
Glycerol 55 kg/h
MEOWAT 3.54697 kg/h
WATMEO 82.3621 kg/h
Solids 6.84259 kg/h
IN OUT
672 kg/hr. = 672 kg/hr.

24. Energy Balance
• Continuous Process
• Standard Temperature = 25 °C
• Standard Pressure = 1 bar
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25. Energy Balance
25
Energy in
Streams Enthalpy flow Units
MEOH -38457.6 cal/sec
Oil -93295.7 cal/sec
NaOH -23421.9 cal/sec
Water -26314.2 cal/sec
H3PO4 -18007.6 cal/sec
Energy Out
Streams Enthalpy flow Units
FAME
(Biodiesel)
-84477.1 cal/sec
Glycerol -24294.8 cal/sec
MEOWAT -2345.59 cal/sec
WATMEO -74074.2 cal/sec
Solids -787.481 cal/sec
In = -199497 cal/sec
Out = -185979 cal/sec

26. Selected Equipment Design Methodology
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Methods Equipment
Heat Exchanger Distillation
Column
Reactor
1 Kern McCabe-Thiele Literature review
2 Bell Delaware Lewis-Matheson Develop mechanism
3 FUG Technique Estimate Rate Law

27. Future Work
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28. Acknowledgement:
We want to give acknowledgements to our Project Supervisor Dr. A.N.
Tabish who has been very supportive and cooperative in each possible way.
Despite his hectic schedule, each interaction with was very informative.
We are also very thankful to our department, the honorable Chairman and all
other faculty members.
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29. References:
• Briggs, Michael. Widescale Biodiesel Production from Algae. University of New Hampshire Physics Department. 23 Nov.
2008 <http://www.unh.edu/p2/biodiesel/article_algae.html.
• Gualtieri, Paolo, and Laura Barsanti. Algae : Anatomy, Biochemistry, and Biotechnology. Boca Raton: Taylor & Francis,
2006.
• Larkum, Anthony, Susan E Douglas, and John A Raven. Photosynthesis In Algae. Boston: Kluwer Academic Publishers
2003.
• Riesing, Thomas F. "Cultivating Algae for Liquid Fuel Production." Permaculture Activist 59. 23 Nov. 2008
<http://oakhavenpc.org/ cultivating_algae.htm>.
• United Nations. Food and Agriculture Organization. "Oil production." Renewable biological systems for alternative
sustainable energy production. Osaka: Food and Agriculture Organization, 1997.
• United States. National Renewable Energy Laboratory. A Look Back at the U.S. Department of Energy's Aquatic Species
Program - Biodiesel from Algae. Golden: National Renewable Energy Laboratory, 1998.
• Whitton, Norman. Future Fuels - Algae. N.p.: n.p., n.d.
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30. Thank You!
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