Sustainable biofuels from large scale algal culture by using bioprocess technology

Department of Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Pondicherry University, Pondicherry

Dr. Lata ShuklaAssistant Professor

http://www.pondiuni.edu.in/profile/dr-lata-shukla

INTRODUCTION• The sustainable solution for power generation using

biofuels generated by light harvesting algae by clubbing plug flow reactor with airlift fermenters have been experimentally proved on large scale.

• This could provide sustainable solution for generation of biofuels.

• The continuous fermentation and separation of the biomass generated and only sparging as requirement could generate algal biomass in self sustaining air lift fermenter.

• Also, the designing of the plug flow reactor could also provide the reduction of light intensity and could be used for generation of green house.

C.M. Beal, et al. 2012, Gressel J. 2008, L. Gouveia et al. 2009

• The microalgae are efficient biological producer of oil, a versatile biomass source and important renewable fuel.

• Their photosynthetic efficiency- Highest• Higher biomass productivities• Faster growth rate than higher plants. . • Growth conditions: requires liquid medium ,• Could grow in treated waste water, cheap fertilizers could be

used to provide nitrogen source.• Either very productive or only productive in variable

climates. • Can use non-arable land (unsuitable for agricultural

purposes e.g. desert and seashore lands) production is not seasonal and can be harvested daily.

• Algae cells have a strong and biochemically complex cell wall designed to protect the cells from hydrodynamic stress (This tough cell wall must be disrupted to liberate the oil that accumulates inside the cell).

• Energy return on investment for algal biofuel production coupled with waste water treatment and the thermodynamic analysis of algal biocrude production is known.

• Biotechnological advancements includes transcriptome sequencing and annotation of the microalgae Dunaliella tertiolecta. Pathway description and gene discovery for production of next-generation biofuels leading to a new dawn for industrial photosynthesis. The green light for engineered algae: Redirecting metabolism to fuel a biotechnology revolution is available.

Fig. 1: Real view of the tubular photobioreactor at the experimental station.

Fernandez et al. 2014

Fig.2: Tubular photobioreactor scheme.

Fernandez et al. 2014

Fig.3: Calibration results: simulated and experimental data of dissolved oxygen concentration (DO), pH, and biomass concentration as a function of CO2 injection and solar radiation (Feb 3–5, 2014).

Fernandez et al. 2014

Fig.4: Calibration results: simulated and experimental data of temperature as a function of ambient temperature, medium temperature, water inlet temperature, volumetric flow rate of both water and medium inputs, and solar radiation (Oct 27–29, 2013).

Fernandez et al. 2014

Fig.5: Enlarged view of calibration results.

Fernandez et al. 2014

Fig.6: Validation results: simulated and experimental data of dissolved oxygen concentration (DO), pH, and biomass concentration as a function of CO2 injection and solar radiation (Feb 25 and 26, 2014).

Fernandez et al. 2014

Fig.7: Validation results: simulated and experimental data of temperature as a function of ambient temperature, medium temperature, water inlet temperature, volumetric flow rate of both water and medium inputs, and solar radiation (Nov 19 and 20, 2013).

Fernandez et al. 2014

Fig.8: Scenario 1: pH responses under winter conditions.

Fernandez et al. 2014

Fig.9: Scenario 2: temperature responses under summer conditions.

Fernandez et al. 2014

Fig.10: Scenario 2: pH responses under summer conditions.

Fernandez et al. 2014

Table 1: Lipid content of some microalgae(% dry matter)

SPECIES LIPIDSScenedesmus obliquus 11–22/35–55

Scenedesmus dimorphus 6–7/16–40

Chlorella vulgaris 14–40/56

Chlorella emersonii 63

Chlorella protothecoides 23/55

Chlorella sorokiana 22

Chlorella minutissima 57

Dunaliella bioculata 8

Dunaliella salina 14–20

Neochloris oleoabundans 35–65

Spirulina maxima 4–9

Gouveia, L. et al. 2009

Down stream processing

“Dry Process”

Separate Waterand Algae

Feed:ConcentratedAlgae Slurry

Water

Algae Paste orPowder

Solvent

Lysing andOil Recovery

Separate algaeand solvent(and water)

Separate oiland solvent

Lysing and Oil Recovery

Separate oiland solvent

Separate waterand algae

Solvent

“Wet Process”

www.openalgae.com

OpenAlgae Mobile Algae Processing

www.openalgae.com

Lysing chamber &

power supply

Concentrationskid

Oil Recoveryskid

OpenAlgae Mobile Algae Processing

www.openalgae.com

Oil Concentration in Water = 0.5 g oil/L(No Solids)

Large Module

Oil Recovery Using Solventless Process

www.openalgae.com

Comparisons with other biofuel show algae are best

• Other Biofuels• Edible oil• Non edible oil of plant origin

Links for comparisons

• http://www.bioenergy.wa.gov/OilSeed.aspx• http://jatropha.pro/PDF%20bestanden/

INTA.pdf

Plant Yield (seed) lbs/acre

Biodiesel gal/acre

Plant Yield (seed) lbs/acre

Biodiesel gal/acre

Corn 7800 18 Safflower 1500 83

Oats 3600 23 Rice 6600 88

Cotton 1000 35 Sunflower 1200 100

Soybean 2000 48 Peanut 2800 113

Mustard 1400 61 Rapeseed 2000 127

Camelina 1500 62 Coconut** 3600 287

Crambe 1000 65 Oil palm** 6251 635

Biofuel Variety Trials Factsheet, USDA-ARS and WSU, Prosser, WA

CONCLUSIONS• Algal photobioreactor can provide continuous biomass. • Advanced technology for isolation of oil from biomass is

available.

• Tubular bioreactor design could also be used to reduce light intensity and temperature and hence could provide canopy for green houses, go down in rural system and surveillance and upkeep is easy.

• It has 3 merits: - waste water treatment,- carbon dioxide fixation,- oxygen generation.

• Aesthetically beautiful.

• It has much higher yield than other biodiesel feedstocks, less spatial requirements and lack of competition for human consumption.

• For all these reasons microalgae are considered as one of the main biodiesel feedstocks for the future.

• However, for being competitive in bioenergy market, the cost and production capacity must be better than the rest of the biodiesel feedstocks.

REFERENCES

• I. Fernandez et al. (2014) First Principles Model of a Tubular Photobioreactor for Microalgal Production. Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 53, 11121-11136.

• Gouveia, L. & Oliveira, A.C. J. Ind. Microbiol. Biotechnol. (2009) 36: 269. doi:10.1007/s10295-008-0495-6.

• C.M. Beal, et al. (2012) Water Environ. Res. , 84: 692-710. C.M. Beal, R.E. Hebner, M.E. Webber,2012 "Thermodynamic analysis of algal biocrude production," Energy, 44: 925-943.

• Gressel J. (2008) Plant Science 174: 246–263. • H. Rismani-Yazdi (2011) BMC Genomics 12: 148–165. • D E Robertson (2011)Photosynthetic Research 107: 269–277.• Rosenburg JM (2008) Current Opinion in Biotechnology 19: 430–436.• http://www.openalgae.com/

Thank You