1. Biodiesel From Microalgae
Madhura Sarkar

2. Outline Biodiesel from algae Feasibility of algae
Oil collection and refining

3. Algae Overview

4. Algae and Biodiesel
Algae Biodiesel is a good replacement for standard crop Biodiesels like soy and canola
Up to 70% of algae biomass is usable oils
Algae does not compete for land and space with other agricultural crops
Algae can survive in water of high salt content and use water that was previously deemed unusable

5. Storing the Sun’s Energy (Photosynthesis)
What is needed
Sunlight
CO2
Nutrients
Storage of Energy
Lipids and oils
Carbohydrates

6. What affects oil production?
Climate
Cold weather reduces algae oil production
Overcast days reduce sunlight and lower oil production
Nutrients
Depletion of Nitrogen and Silicate

7. Controlling Nutrients
Nitrogen
Aids in cell division
Silicate
Aids in cell wall production
Depleting Nutrients
Starving the algae of these two nutrients reduce the rate of cell division
Oil production remains constant
Results in an increase in the oil to mass ratio

8. CO2
The Glenturret Distillery in Perthshire, UK – home to The Famous Grouse Whisky – percolate CO2 made during the whisky distillation through a microalgae bioreactor. Each tonne of microalgae absorbs two tonnes of CO2. Scottish Bioenergy, who run the project, sell the microalgae as high value, protein-rich food for fisheries. In the future, they will use the algae residues to produce renewable energy through anaerobic digestion

9. The Algae Pond

10. Mass Production of Algae

11. Choosing an Algae Important characteristics of Algae
High % of total biomass is oil
Maintains a high % of oil even under stress
Compatible with the area climate

12. What Type of Algae Botryococcus braunii
Converts 61% of its biomass into oil
86% of it is long chain hydrocarbons
Drops to only 31% oil under stress
Grows best between 22-25oC (71-77oF)

13. Where To Grow It Extensions onto our water treatment plants
Clean up our waste and generate fuel
Agriculture runoff
Exploit the county’s many farms and vineyards
Soda Lake
Salt lake east of Santa Margarita
Vast open space of Carrizo Plain
Only has water in winter/spring months
National Monument status may prevent development

14. Feasibility Is it too good to be true?
DOE concluded a 16-year study of algal biomass in 1996 (and wrote a 328-page report)
Conducted large-scale tests in California, New Mexico and Hawaii
With good temperatures, could harvest 50 grams of algae per sq. meter per day
Used a 1,000 m2 pond for 1 year
Research stopped due to budget cuts
UNH paper may hopefully rekindle research
Due to the burgeoning interest in alternatives to fossil fuels, there has been renewed research interest in Botryococcus braunii. The DOE Joint Genome Institute is sequencing the DNA of Bb in

15. $ Per Barrel

16. Show Me The Money!!! The current price of diesel is growing
What does this mean for Biodiesel?

17. Cost per hectare

19. Pressing oil from the 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

20. 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.

21. Super Critical Oil Extraction
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.

23. TAG (triacylglycerol)
Three chains of fatty acids attached to a glycerol
Natural oil from the algae

24. Transesterification Start with triacylglycerol (TAG)
End up with alkyl ester alcohol (biodiesel)

25. Three ways to produce biodiesel
Base catalyzed transesterification with alcohol.
Acid catalyzed esterification with methanol.
Convert the oil to fatty acids. Then acid catalyze to alkyl esters.

26. Base Catalyzed with Alcohol
Most common process
Most economical
Low pressure (20psi)
Low temperature (150oF)
No intermediate steps
High conversion rate (98%)

27. General Process

28. Diesel Hybrid
GM Hybrid Bus

29. Hybrid Bus Statistics GM Hybrid Bus EP system Clean Hybrid technology
Hydrocarbon and carbon monoxide reduction of about 90%
Nitrous oxide reduction of about 50%
Already in service in many cities
Up to 60% improved fuel economy

30. Conclusion Algae is a very efficient means of producing biodiesel
The oil production from algae farms is feasible and scalable
Further research necessary to unlock full potential of algae

31. Questions