Biorenewable Systems John Staley, Moises Contreras TSM/ABE 325 Jesz Austin, Md Yusoff Mohammad Iqbal Algae as a New Source of Biodiesel Introduction Background Information Constraints and Opportunities Potential Solutions • Biofuels utilizing algae as a • Algae can produce between 2,000- Opportunities: • Algae can utilize CO2 production from biofuel • Scientists can genetically engineer new feedstock processes the algae’s 5,000 gallons of fuel per acre, plants to stimulate growth, also limiting chloroplasts to transform the plant incredibly high compared to other greenhouse gas production by re-using harmful strains of algae to produce better oil at into oil that is nearly chemically biofuels gallons/acre such as ethanol, emissions (8). a cheaper price (3). • United States Department of Energy estimates to • Better harvesting equipment and using identical to crude oil (7). with a potential revenue of $16,000 replace all petroleum fuel use in the US would wastewater instead of freshwater to cut • Algae can grow using only per hectare (2). require 15,000 square miles. Only 1/7 land area down on upfront costs needed to available raw materials including • Algae contains 30% oil by weight committed to corn production (9). produce algae (5). which is huge compared to other Constraints: • Introducing a photo-bioreactor to algae sunlight, carbon dioxide and • Algal oils contain high nitrogen, phosphorus and nutrients from wastewater (4). biofuels (2). sulfur concentrations that are problematic to growth, which is a cultivation volume • Algae can play a major role in the • Can grow on non-crop land and current engine performance if present in fuels that is lit internally that enables it to cultivate very efficiently in three other unusual locations, avoiding (1). treatment/utilization of major • Algae has a C3 photosynthesis mechanism, dimensions (8). wastewater and reduction of carbon problems related to food prices and which can lead to photorespiration (the loss of • Government creates incentives or other dioxide in the atmosphere (3). land usage (5). carbon and nitrogen from the plant) in hotter funding for algae as a feedstock • Algae has high productivity cycles, climates (5). comparable to corn for ethanol. • Growing algae can be challenging (6): able to be harvested a higher amount • Bioreactors accumulate oxygen and inhibit • Algae fuels could reach price parity of times in a season compared to the growth of algae. In addition, maintenance with petroleum fuels by 2018 if granted traditional feedstocks (1). of the necessary turbulent flow in long lengths production tax credits (10). of narrow tubing is also time consuming References 1. Algae Biomass Organization. Web. Accessed November 23, 2015.

2. Williams, Peter J. le B., and Lieve ML Laurens. "Microalgae as biodiesel & biomass feedstocks: review & analysis of the biochemistry, energetics & economics." Energy & Environmental Science 3.5 (2010): 554-590. Web. Accessed: November 24, 2015.

3. Singh, Anoop, and Stig Irving Olsen. "A critical review of biochemical conversion, sustainability and life cycle assessment of algal biofuels." Applied Energy 88.10 (2011): 3548-3555. Web. Accessed: November 24, 2015.

4. Francisco, Erika C., et al. "Microalgae as feedstock for biodiesel production: carbon dioxide sequestration, lipid production and biofuel quality." Journal of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology 85.3 (2010): 395-403. Web. Accessed: November 29, 2015. Figure 3: Algae Bioreactor Figure 1: Algae Production Process 5. "Where Are We with Algae Biofuels?" Biofuels Digest. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 • Open raceways are prone to contamination Dec. 2015. • Light limitation as the top layer of algae • High upfront costs, outdated 6. "Characterization of Microalgae for the Purpose of Biofuel limits the light from getting to lower levels of Production."Transactions of the ASABE Trans.ASABE (2013): 1529-539. Web. technology, and non-existing Figure 2: Open Pond System used to Harvest Algae the tank. 7. "Advanced Biofuels Feedstock | Algae, Sugars, Waste, Wood, incentives are the main reasons • Transportation and storage issues exist as Vegetable." Advanced Biofuels Feedstock | Algae, Sugars, Waste, Wood, • Major biochemical groups in algae Vegetable. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Dec. 2015. algae as a feedstock is currently an spoilage is common and the necessary plants to include algal lipids, protein, and convert the feedstock are scarce (3). 8. "PROJECTS." Joe Dahmen. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Dec. 2015. unpopular choice for biofuel (1). polysaccharides, and byproducts • Large upfront costs exist to build algae 9. Hartman, Eviana (6 January 2008). "A Promising Oil Alternative: Algae Energy". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 2, 2015. include protein, aquaculture production structures for commercial scale (2) 10. Feldman, Stacy (22 November 2010). "Algae Fuel Inches Toward Price nutrients, as well as fertilizers (1). Parity with Oil". Reuters. Retrieved 2 December 2015. Semester Project – Fall 2015