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Worldwide are described 30 000 species of microalgae (< 10% of estimated). The classes (29) are distinguished by the structure of flagellate cells (e.g., scales, angle of flagellar insertion, microtubular roots, and striated roots), the nuclear division process (mitosis), the cytoplasmic division process MACROALGAE (cytokinesis), and the cell covering.
Classification of Algae
PHAEOPHYTA
Fucus spp Laminaria spp Ascophyllum nodosum
RHODOPHYTA
Chondrus crispus Gelidium spp
CLOROPHYTA
Ulva lactuca
MICROALGAE
Cianoficae
Spirulina spp
Dinophyta (dinpflagellates)
Diatomee (Bacillariophyta)
flos-aquae
Chrysophycophyta
(golden algae)
Macroalgae or seaweeds
Seaweeds cultivation are old. Seaweed has been part of the Chinese diet for over 2000 years and probably much longer. The macroalgae have a high biomass yield from 730t/hectares. Japan is one
The shallow coral lagoons off the coast of East Africa and Zanzibar are host to multiple seaweed farms. Cultivating seaweed in Portugal, England and Ireland is traditional. People use fertilizer for their seaweed.
China is the biggest producer The worlds most and consumer of successful seaweed seaweed
cultivation industries are in Asia. However this continent is real low in technology
Generally seaweeds species grow very fast and can be cropped within a few months.
A concave mirror placed in the sea surface converges the radiation at depths where macroalgae grow
Because most of macro algae live on the sea bed is difficult to cultivate in offshore installations and have high production. These technology, indeed, are subjected to the action of waves and tides. To resolve these problems
Paths of the various energy products from seaweed Syngas is the name given to a
gas mixture that contains varying amounts of carbon monoxide and hydrogen. The gas is obtained by a process that occurs at high temperature and in absence of oxygen
MICROALGAE
The microalgae are unicellular organisms, in general photosynthetic, with a few microns size (<30m). These organisms, unlike most green plants, convert solar energy into carbohydrates or fat through specific metabolic pathways.
MICROALGAE
Microalgae generally have a protein, carbohydrates and fats content vary widely depending on the species. For instance the average amount of lipid ranges from 140% dry weight. Fats composition and quantity depend on the environmental factors of the algae broth (temperature, salinity, light intensity, etc.). So, when algal cells grow in situations of nutrient deficiency (such as nitrogen, silicon, etc.) or in a broth rich in sodium chloride, can increase fats content more than 70%.
Biodies el
Bioethanol
Hydroge n
Biogas
Feed industry
Food industry
Microalgae, have the highest biomass production (50-70 t/ha) and oil content (about 20-30 m3/ha) among all plants, significantly higher than those of corn, soybeans, palm oil, etc.. Land surface According to some authors, the annual occupied by algae yields are much higher, up to values schemes necessary to supply 280t/ha. USA ~ 250 billion liters of diesel is the nation presently consumes diesel consumption
Comparison between yield of most common oleaginous crops and microalgae
but this During the first energy crisis (1973) the American Congress programme was set up the NREL (National Renewable Energy Laboratory), linked to the DOE (Department Of Energy). This laboratory carried outstoped call Aquatic Species Program a programme, in 1996 (ASP), to grow unicellular microalgae in a ponds connected to electric power plants. because
1 Open ponds
2 Photobioreactors
To cultivate microalgae requires an appropriate culture medium (broth), consisting of an aqueous solution rich in inorganic salts such as sodium chloride, potassium carbonate, calcium chloride, potassium nitrate, calcium phosphate, etc.. and appropriate environmental conditions (light, temperature, concentration of CO2, etc.).
Some installations are made by several ponds where you can use a thermal power plant emissions (CO2, and oxides of nitrogen) and/or sewage(wastewater with high concentration of nitrogen and phosphorus) to feed algae.
To prevent predation by other species, the salt concentration of the broth is keep high
Temperature Very variable Depends on the depth of the ponds Mixing algae Cleaning equipment It is carried out using a paddlewheel Not required Low
Very low
and rate of nutrient intake. When the algae biomass achieve high concentration than it is inoculated in open ponds. To prevent contamination phenomena, algae biomass are left in the tank for a day allowing sterilization during the follow night. With the development of this hybrid production system, HR BioPetroleum has achieved significant
Oil extraction
Open pond or bioreactors
The water removed, still rich in nutrients, is sent again in the pond or bioreactors.
Water
Decantation Centrifugati / on This phase can occur Filtration Filtration is carried out commonly on used to remove Centrifugation is spontaneously in a tank, but membranes of modified cellulose. water still present in most of the The can be speeded up by advantage of this method as a greatest This is the most raising the value ofconcentrating device algal biomass.to pH, is that it is expensive able stage adding salts, lowering the microalgae or cells of very low because of the collect energy consumption (1000$/t) concentration of certain density. However, concentration by and volumes cost. filtration nutrients or gases or by is limited to small purchaseand adding flocculants.
leads appropriate to the eventual clogging of the filter by the packed cells when vacuum is applied. This technology is used when is not required an excessive removal of water.
Flocculation
Oil extraction
Open pond or bioreactors
The water removed, yet rich in nutrients, is sent in the pond or bioreactors.
Water 1g/L
Flocculation
Oil extraction that may occur by simple cold pressing, with recovery 70-75% of oil, or a suitable solvent (benzene, petroleum ether, cyclohexane, etc.). immiscible in Trans-esterification water, with yields up to BIODIE OIL 100%. SEL
50-100 g/L
Centrifugati on
Extract ion
The cake not treated using cyclohexane, still rich in precious polyunsaturated fat acids -3 and -6 , Animal feed can be utilized as Heat Cake feed because it is rich also Biogas in Final Chemicals carbohydrates and
OIL FROM Though MICROALGAE oil from microalgae may be used as it is in diesel engine, in order to improve its performance, it undergoes a process of trans-esterification having it react with alcohol (methanol).
In general, biodiesel from microalgae has similar physical-chemical characteristics and, in some cases, better than standard one, for example, a fewer number of a Cold Filter Plugging Point and a higher value of heating value.
Open Pond
Pannell Photobioreactor
Tuborar Photobioreactor
20 1,5
60 5
40 3
cm 20 3 3,4 At the present we cost of 1L of the reduce How can biodiesel product 000 > 700 000 /hect. 70 000 > 700 with the price of biodiesel photobioreactor is 5.000-185.000 kWh/ha ~ 1.800 5.000-185.000 < 3$/L(dw)microalgae? /kg 5.70 4.03 4.02 from (palm oil 0,6 $/L) % Movement of paddle (15) Input of air (24) Pumping (46)
The development of commercial-scale biodiesel from microalgae seems not yet economically feasible for both the low biomass production and high cost. As you can see in table, photobioreactors have capital and operating costs much higher than open pond because of more complex technology involved in this technology. However, higher yields in biomass would seem to offer better development prospects to photobioreactors than open ponds.
Actual yield in a best plant: 15/m2 per day 50 t/hect. per year (dw) oil ~ 20 t/ per year Best yields a short-run: 30/m2 per day 100 t/hect. per year (dw) oil ~ 40 t/ per year Best yields a long run: 50g/m2 per day 170 t/hect. per year (dw) oil ~ 70 t/ per year
lost 10%
/m2
90% lost
55% 45% 45% 90%
75-78% lost
lost
(mt= 1000t)
Some economics aspects (GMO Because of the size of the chlorophyll pigment, 90% of microalgae)
solar radiation absorb by the algal cell is lost as heat
Wild types Mutant types
Wild types
Mutant types
Researchers now want to transfer this mutant character to other species of microalgae
In nature there is an mutant strainlight saturation effect is This phenomenon known as the of alga (Chlamydomonas reinhardtii) that has a short dimension of photosynthetic particularly unfavorable to microalgae production systems. pigments. This modification the deep growamount because In fact microrganisms live in reduce the slightly of light absorbed sunlight intercepted the radiation get placed deep.the of the by the algae leaving by the algae in the on
Because 300 t/ha per year (dw) is considered the production of microalgae biomass which would produce a real economic benefit to the factory owner we are far from producing an economic return in the production of biodiesel from algae
to use by-products How can we reduce the came of biodiesel price from oil from microalgae? production (i.e. astaxantina)
Actual yield in a best plant: 15/m2 per day 50 t/hect. per year (dw) oil ~ 20 t/ per year Best yields a short-run: 30/m2 per day 100 t/hect. per year (dw) oil ~ 40 t/ per year Best yields a long run: 50g/m2 per day 170 t/hect. per year (dw) oil ~ 70 t/ per year
I wonder how photobioreactors ** Includes the energy obtainable from the production of algal biomass can be considered the cheapest It should be noted,they consume simple technology if however, that the 100 comparison between the input and output energy times more energy athan "energy open show that open ponds involve higher Energy is considered ponds?total costs an important cost: it represent return than the photobioreactors. 40% of the
*Include the energy consumption in the plant and the energy consumption to produce the devices.
Future developments
The production of biodiesel from microalgae is a valid alternative to the traditional energy crops, because the use of these microorganisms do not subtracts valuable resources for food.
Future developments
However, the low biomass yields and high production costs prevent a large-scale commercial development. In deed, as we see above, 1 liter of oil from microalgae costs about six times the palm oil.
Future developments
So, some researchers believe that commercial development of biodiesel production from microalgae requires many years before being feasible. They think, in deed, that has not yet shown that intensive algal culture provide more energy than that it consumes.
This figure shows the energy invested over the lifecycle versus the energy in the algae biomass
Future developments
Challenges for the future are: 1) genetic improvement of microalgae species (to create an organism with a higher yield in biomass and oil); 2) to resolve technical issues (fouling, contamination of the broth, control of operating parameters, etc.); 3) economic valorization of by-products (final chemical, biogas, animal feed, etc.)
The achieve of these targets will reduce capital and management costs and will allow the largescale production of biodiesel from