Transcript CPSG-201 Search For Solutions Project

Algal Biofuels
Emma Thrift- Chris Hiner- Calvin Warthen
CPSG 200 Science & Global Change Semester III “Search for
Solution” Project
Why Algae?
conservationbytes.com
Algal Growth
•
Convert carbon dioxide and sunlight into energy
•
Double their weight several times in one day
•
Grow in freshwater,seawater, contaminated water, and in
lands not suitable for the production of food
Algal Oils
• Algae create oils as they grow
• They create 15 times as much oil per acre than other biofuels
• Once refined, oils are a suitable fuel source
• 50% mass of algae is oil
• Non-toxic
http://2.bp.blogspot.com
What is the Goal?
• To utilize oils from algae to create a high yield and low cost renewable biofuel source for
jet fuel, diesel, and gasoline
http://1.bp.blogspot.com
autoevolution.com
www.perdueagribusiness.com
History of Algal Fuels
1950- Idea of using algae as fuel introduced
1978-United States Department of Energy began research
1996- Aquatic Species program shut down
-Oil price at $20/barrel
2009- Oil price rose to $100/ barrel and research began again
-$67 million dollars to form National Alliance for Advanced Biofuels and Bioproducts Synopsis (NAABB)
Resource Requirement
● All algae requires some basic components
○ Water
■ Biggest limiting factor
○ Light
○ Carbon Source
■ Uses Carbon dioxide from the environment
○ Nutrients
■ Often overlooked
● Phosphorus, Nitrogen, Iron, Sulfur
https://qzprod.files.wordpress.com/2015/07/algae.jpg?quality=80&strip=all&w=1600
Growth and Extraction
● Engineering better systems for growth
○ Photobioreactors
■ Easily controlled closed systems
○ Open pond
■ Cheap open system
http://cfnewsads.thomasnet.com/images/sites/3/2013/02/Open-pond-algae-production.-Pacific-Northwest-National-Laboratory-300x190.jpeg http://www.climatetechwiki.org/sites/climatetechwiki.org/files/images/extra/micro-algae_ph
Growth and Extraction (Cont’d)
● There are three main extraction methods
○ Oil press/ extraction
○ Hexane extraction
○ Supercritical CO2 fluid extraction
Important: Many of the extracted crude oils are very similar to
fossil fuel oils. This means that downstream processing can see
collaboration with established oil companies
Current Developments
What are some current challenges and known potential in the realm of algal biofuels?
● Challenges
○ Fossil Fuel competition
○ Production hurdles
■ i.e Where to grow?
● Potential
○ High growth rate
○ High oil content
○ Decent growth densities
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3152439/
Land Use
To compensate for the amount of oil that the US needs per day alone, an area the size of
Louisiana would need to be dedicated completely to algae growth
●
● There are two strategies for large
scale growth
○ Terrestrial
○ Marine
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c8/Map_of_USA_LA.svg/2000px-Map_of_USA_LA.svg.png
NAABB Goals
www.prweb.com
1.Supply
-Strain development and cultivation
2. Logistics
-Harvesting and extraction
3.Conversion/Production
-Accumulation of intermediates and synthesis of fuels
NAABB Developments
After only 3 years, the NAABB reduced algal crude oil prices
$240 per gallon
$7.50 per gallon (2013)
How?
NAABB Developments (Cont’d)
1. New Strains of algae:
Chlorella sp. DOE1412 can make oil in high
amounts when paired with genetically
modified strain
Cost Reduction: 85%
www.algaeindustrymagazine.com
NAABB Developments (Cont’d)
2.
Improved cultivation Method:
-Aquaculture Raceway Integrated Design (ARID)
uses less energy, extends algae growing period
Cost Reduction:16%
www.hpdezign.com
NAABB Developments (Cont’d)
3.
Low Energy Harvesting Technology
- Electrocoagulation uses low energy,
commercially available technology to harvest the
biofuel
Cost Reduction: 14%
www.sanjivni.in
NAABB Developments (Cont’d)
4.
High yield extraction-conversion technology
-Unique hydrothermal liquefaction
(HTL) system that extracts and
converts the oils to bio-crude
products without extraction
solvents
Cost Reduction: 86%
http://e2-energy.illinois.edu/images/center.jpg
How This Combats CLIMATE
CHANGE:
Theoddessy.com
Combatting CLIMATE CHANGE:
• Doesn’t put extra CO2 into atmosphere
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Instead of burning off previously sequestered CO2 like in fossil fuels
• Make use of eutrophic water
• Highly renewable
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Since algae is a natural resource that
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reproduces exponentially
Combatting CLIMATE CHANGE (Cont’d):
• No toxic byproducts and environmentally friendly
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No environmentally dangerous chemicals produced (CO2 is still released)
• Use to treat wastewater and cut subsequent environmental risks
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The algae make use of any extra substances in the wastewater such as phosphorus, sulfur, etc.
Future Applications
To make this a viable fuel alternative however, there would need to be algae with
those characteristics along with enough economic incentive to produce these fuels
on a large scale which currently is not quite the case.
COST
Trouble with Commercialization
• The costs in biofuel production from algal biomass amounts approximately $7.50
per gallon :
•
The building and upkeep of facilities
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Utilization of land
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The extensive process, etc.
• Currently the mass production qualities of algae breeds and the fuel extraction
process are not on par with that of fossil fuels.
One Possible Solution
• The production of algal biomass on wastewater
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Provides a readily available medium at almost no cost
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Help prevent environmental pollution
•
Tie into existing infrastructures
• This could not only help reduce
• environmental risk but make this
• production much more commercially
• viable.
Summary:
• Algae produce oils that can be extracted and repurposed to form crude biofuels
• Process is environmentally friendly and renewable
•
Limits new carbon dioxide being added to the air
Bibliography:
• University of Virginia. (2008, August 19). Algae: Biofuel Of The Future?. ScienceDaily. Retrieved November 7, 2016 from
www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/08/080818184434.htm
• Lane, Jim. (2014) Where are we with biofuels. Biofuels Digest. Retrieved November 11,2016 from
http://www.biofuelsdigest.com/bdigest/2014/10/13/where-are-we-with-algae-biofuels/
• Hannon, M., Gimpel, J., Tran, M., Rasala, B., & Mayfield, S. (2010). Biofuels from algae: challenges and potential. Biofuels, 1(5),
763–784.
• Murphy, Jerry D., Poonam Singh Nigam, Anoop Singh. 2011. "Mechanism and challenges in commercialisation of algal biofuels".
Bioresource Technology: Volume 102, Issue 1 (Links to an external site.), January 2011, Pages 26–34
ANY QUESTIONS?