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Algae to Biodiesel
Joshua J. Heller
Department of Chemical Engineering
The University of Texas at Austin
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Presentation Overview
• Background
• Algae
• Technology– Open Pond– Bioreactor– Greenhouse
• Challenges
• Conclusion
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Background
• Growing U.S. and World demand for diesel– Approximately 30 billion gallons per year (U.S. only)
• Renewable fuel mandates– 36 billion gallons of biofuel per year by 2022
• Future carbon legislation– Cap and Trade/Carbon Tax
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Background Cont.
• Compatible with existing technology– Engines– Infrastructure
• Versatile growing environment– Non-arable land– Will not displace food crops
• Potentially reduces greenhouse gases
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Algae
• Main sources of energy– Lipids– Fatty acids
• Lipid accumulation– Environmental stress– Greater under nutrient deficient conditions
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Algae Cont.
• Algae holds significant advantage over other oilseed crops– Does not require arable land– More efficient in term of oil per acre
• 15,000 acres of algae farms required to meet U.S. transportation fuel demand– Optimistic calculation– 1/7th the area of Colorado
Plant or Organism Gallons of Oil per Acre per year
Corn 18
Soybeans 48
Safflower 83
Sunflower 102
Rapeseed 127
Oil Palm 635
Algae 5,000 – 10,000
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Technology – Open Pond
• National Renewable Energy Laboratory
• Relatively cheap
• Synergy with power plant waste CO2 and waste water nutrients
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Technology – Bioreactor
• Increased surface area• Turbulent mixing• Power plant pollutant
scrubber• Capital costs relatively
more expensive
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Technology - Greenhouse
• Small scale• Greater temperature
control• Need access to local
processing facility
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Challenges
• Cost– Capital and operations
• $0.50 to $10.00 per square foot• Product separation - $0.02 to $ 20 per gallon of
product
• Productivity– Efficiency– Photosynthesis limitations
• 3 to 4 % of sunlight converted to biomass• Light saturation
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Conclusion
• High potential
• Variety of developing technologies
• Several challenges
• Bridge fuel
• One piece of the “all of the above” energy solution approach
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Questions?
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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.
• Nelson, Richard. "SOLAROOF : Green Buildings for Urban Agriculture and Solar Living ." Solaroof. 23 Nov. 2008 <http://www.solaroof.com/>.
• 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.