Biodiesel Fuel Production

from Algae
A reasonable alternative renewable Energy

Definition Paper In Partial fulfillment of the course work

requirement in “Energy in the Changing World”. The
Pennsylvania State University.

Paper written by: Richard Olawoyin

8/1/2010
Table of contents:
1. Introduction
2. Algaculture: Concept and Cultivation
3. Biodiesel from Algae
4. Cost of making oil from Algae: Benefits and Challenges
5. Conclusion

Biodiesel Fuel Production from Algae as Renewable Energy Definition Paper

1. Introduction:

Algae are photosynthetic organisms that contain two forms of chlorophyll which are used to
capture light energy to facilitate the production of carbohydrates, protein and fat, and the fat can
later be converted into biodiesel. There are two types of algae, the macro algae also known as the
seaweed or the micro algae which are the fastest growing photosynthesizing organisms, it can
complete an entire growing cycle every ten days. Algal is remarkably more efficient at
photosynthesis than any other plant, micro-algae will under peak growing conditions produce up
to 15,000 gallons of oil/acre/year.

“Algaeoleum” is a biofuel produced from algae and it is commercially viable due to the capacity
to serve as low emission fuel for transportation purposes. Biofuel generated from algae can
easily and readily replace gasoline in existing infrastructure, such as in car tanks, pipelines
refineries and pumps due to the similar molecular configuration to the fossil fuel. This is an
added advantage to its production and usage. Algae fuel is considered as a third generation
feedstock which can be cultivated in saline water or other water unsuitable for crop plant, this
also gives algae an edge as its production is not in competition with food production resources.
For Algae to be better productive they require CO2 in large quantities, this attribute makes Algae
environmentally friendly as it is an important component of carbon sequestration, which has
been noted to be capable of sucking in about 15kg of CO2 per gallon of algae- based fuel
produced. When compared to gasoline mile by mile on a lifecycle basis, Algae reduces as much
as 61% of greenhouse gases and 70% reduction can be achieved for diesel fuel. Concentration on
algae production as biofuel would undoubtedly save the day as corn and soybeans will then be
spared for consumption as food by humans. Although is sky is bright in terms of the
commercial potential for microalgae, technological and other impediments associated to algae
species and varieties, environmental conditions and production technical knowhow must be met
for practical significant production.1

1
Farming Algal Fuel: Economics Challenge Process Potential: Global Aquaculture Advocate 13(4): 71-73 (July/August) 2008

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2. Algaculture: Concept and Cultivation

The concept ideally involves the farming of a specific or varied species of algae to serve the
purpose of which it is intended. A more preferable production method is the monoculture of
algae entails growing just one species to avoid the issue of dominance if mixed cultures are
employed.

Growing algae: For the purpose of diesel production from algae, there are basically three
processes of algae culture that a mostly used

 The photobioreactor
 Closed loop system
 Open pond

Photobioreactors (PBR): These are closed systems of translucent containers with an accessible
light source; here the algae can be grown with provision of all necessary nutrients including CO2
under controlled and appropriate conditions by the cultivator. Examples are tanks, glass tubes,
plastic tubes or polyethylene sleeves or bags, for instance this method is currently being used in
algae research at the Pennsylvania State University Curtis laboratory. Optimum productivity is
attained under this condition where the time of exchange of one volume of liquid equals the
volume of the algae.

Pond and closed cultivation methods: Algae can be cultured in open-ponds such as trench, lakes
etc. Cultivators however prefer the use of closed system if they have to choose between these
two though the open ponds are cheaper to construct but are also highly vulnerable to
contamination by other microorganisms. This will ultimately defeat the purpose of having a
monoculture. The open system can be easily converted to a closed one by simply enclosing a
pond with a translucent layer which effectively solves many of the problems related to an open
system. This allows the growing of more species and also allows that species to remain
dominant.
Factors that Determine Algal Growth Rate: In algae cultivation, algal requires certain physical,
biological and chemical factors to be met in order to attain maximum productive level . Minerals,
CO2 and water are all needed in the right proportion to achieve this. The following highlights
some of the other factors;
 Water: The water temperature must be at within a sustainable range that supports the
growth of that specific species of algae. It is also important for the water to contain some
nutrients which accelerates the growth.
 Light and Mixing: Light is quintessential for photosynthesis to take place. As the algae
grow and multiply, there is tendency for the culture to become dense and this may
prevent light from getting through to other parts of the culture. Proper mixing techniques
are important so as to balance the light ration reaching all parts of the culture, preventing
settling of algae and equal exposure to light source.

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  Temperature: The ideal temperature required for algae to grow must be maintained
 pH - Algae thrives better between a pH of 7 to 9 to have an optimum growth rate
 Algae Type selection: The best species that produces the best natural oil should be chosen
for cultivation since different algae have different growth rates.
 Aeration: The algae culture also needs a proper circulation process because it is required
to have unlimited and uninterrupted access with air in other to capture the CO2 needed for
the photosynthesis.

3.Biodiesel from Algae:

Harvesting: The process of harvesting algae primarily depends on the size of the algae which
will determine how easily the organism will settle and be ready to be filtered. For the purpose of
bio fuel production, the microalgae are the most common since they grow rapidly, but they also
pose challenges in harvesting due to their motile unicellular nature and small size. The best used
harvesting techniques of microalgae include;

 Chemical techniques: This involves the use of flocculants or once the CO2 supply to the
cultivation system is interrupted, the algae begin to flocculate by its self, this process is
called autoflocculation.
 Mechanical techniques: Filtration methods can be employed to harvest the algae using
strong membranes such as microscrrens and microstrainers.
 Centrifugation: Harvesting of microalgae can be done using the process of centrifugation
 Flotation: The water supply to the culture can be aerated into froth, if this is done then the
algae can be skimmed from the top, this process is known as the froth floatation.
 Settling and sedimentation: Once the algae are allowed to settle, sedimentation takes
place and it is then harvested.

These are just a few of the harvesting techniques available amongst others, including the
ultrasound method which is still under development.

Extraction: Micro-algae have considerable potential for the production of biofuel and in
particular biodiesel2.Extraction of oils from algae is carried out using different techniques due to
its many commercial and industrial uses, just as in the case of fossil fuel extraction and
processing. Estimates of the cost to extract oil from microalgae vary, but are likely to be around
$1.80 (US$)/kg (compared to $0.50 (US$)/kg for palm oil).3
2
. Budiman, M. Algae Fuel. Condensed Matter - Materials Engineering Newsletter, McMaster University. Hamilton: McMaster
University, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, 2009. Vol. 1, 4.
3
Chisti, Y. (2007). "Biodiesel from microalgae". Biotechnology Advances 25 (3): 294–306.
doi:10.1016/j.biotechadv.2007.02.001. PMID 17350212 http://mse.mcmaster.ca/Condensed%20Matter/November2009.pdf.

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 Schematics showing algae life cycle

Oxygen Oxygen
Sun

Ox
yg
Chlorophyll
en
Algae CO2 + Water

Microalgae Macroalgae
Cultivation

Interme
CO Hydrogen Hydrocarbon Carbohydrates Biomass diate
or Lipids
2
Level CO
Se
2
qu
Se
est
Syngas CH4 qu
rat
est
io
rat
n
Fu io
Hydrogen n
Fuel Biodiesel Alkanes or Ethanol FT Liquids Methane el
Green
diesel

Associated Emissions

Physical Extraction: Crushing is the first step in separating the algae from the oil, which simply
crushes the algae and squeezes out the oil since when the algal is dry it contains its oil content.
Cavitation bubbles can also be created in the solvent using ultrasonic waves from an Ultrasonic
reactor, the resulting bubbles which collapses at the wall creates shock waves that eventually
causes the walls to break and release their contents into the solvent. This is known as the
Ultrasonic extraction; it accelerates the extraction process and increases yield4.
4
"Ultrasonically assisted enzymatic extraction". hielscher.com.
http://www.hielscher.com/ultrasonics/algae_extraction_01.htm#Ultrasonic_Enzymatic_Extraction. Retrieved 2007-11-06.

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Chemical extraction: Certain chemical solvent can be used to extract oil from algae such as
hexane. The oils can be extracted from the algae by repeated washing using this chemical solvent
in a process known as the Soxhlet extraction. Water can also be used as a solvent when enzymes
are used to degrade the cell walls in a process known as Enzymatic Extraction. When pressure is
applied to CO2 with the intention of liquefying it, and then its heated above a threshold level to
the supercritical state, it can also be used then as a solvent for the oil extraction.

4. Cost Of Making Oil From Algae

One of the major setbacks in the commercialization of algae fuels is the problem associated with
cost. Several researches are currently going on to determine the best possible way to produce oil
from algae at the lowest possible cost.

Harvesting Cost: The cost of operations during harvesting has been estimated to be about $0.2
per 1000 annual gallons which is approximately $100 per million gallons for drum filtration. The
major cost drivers during harvesting are the cost of chemicals, cost of harvesting equipment, cost
of dying algae and maintenance. While the capital cost of open and closed ponds are estimated to
be about $125, 000 - $150,000 per hectare per annum. It could cost about $0.12 per gallon to
extract oil from algae using the press method.
Researchers at the University of Kentucky estimated production costs for algal biodiesel to be
between $18-$30/gal that is $4.76-$7.93/L. 5

Benefits of Algae production:

 There is no competition between food and fuel production as both can be produced
simultaneously without pressure on food crops.
 There is higher efficiency of about 5% when algae are produced and if conditions are very
favorable, it can be as high as 14%, unlike normal crops with 1% efficiency,
 There is no pressure on land, since the yields of biomass is 15 times higher than normal crops,
which makes algae remain with a low land foot print.
 Algae can be grown quickly in 1-10days and up to 99% of the carbon dioxide in solution can be
converted.
 It is very environmentally friendly since it improves the climate by capturing CO2 and provides
greenhouse gas mitigation benefits.
 Other benefits include by are not limited to; provision of fuel security due to stability in supply,
improves the economy by providing jobs and creating means of export, and there is no emission
like other biofuel or fossil fuels.

5
Farming algal fuel: economics challenge process potential Global Aquaculture Advocate 13(4): 71-73 (July/August).

5
Challenges: Although algaeoleum sounds like the celebrity in the biofuel world, it has its own
downside as well. As outlined earlier, the cost of production is the number one discouragement
when it comes to investing in algae fuel. Also, there is a need for advancement in technologies to
be able to produce algae commercially at a scale equivalent to the production of 1000 hectares
without endless use of resources. There also exist some technical difficulties in transiting
experimental algae in the laboratory to farms outdoors. Presently the process of producing fuel
from algae would appear to be uneconomic even with over 50 algal biofuel companies and none
has been able to come up with a better way of producing commercial-scale quantities at
inexpensive prices 6, 7. For production to be more economically viable the cost will have to come
down by two orders of magnitude8. There is also a problem of algal waste that will arise when
the production of algal biofuels becomes commercialized.

Conclusion
The European Algae Biomass Association has estimated that in order to achieve a complete
transition from laboratory experiments into industrial-scale production of algal biofuel it may
take another 10 to 15 years to turn. 9 Efficient algal cultivation, and processing remains the
paradigm for the successful transitioning from an energy dependent nation to a well secured and
efficient one, once all the challenges facing the commercial production of algal are met. While
biofuel production from algae remains technologically achievable, the fate of the success story
lies on research and development which will transform the landscape from laboratory
experiments to massive production stations outdoors enabling greater biomass with higher oil
content algal species that also grows rapidly. Better techniques for harvesting are essential.
More economical production systems are vital. A positive solution is crucial with better
technologies and interdisciplinary studies where for instance algal production can be linked to
other fuel generations and supplies, also in the treatment of wastewater associated with fossil oil
production. In half a decade to a decade, it will be remarkable to have the capability for algal
production to be done in micro-refineries, such as each household making algal fuel production
the easiest since sliced bread.

6
Pienkos, P.T & Darzins, A. The Promise and Challenges of Microalgal-derived Biofuels. Biofuels, Bioprod, Bioref. 3, 2009,
pp. 431-440.
7
. St John, J. Algae Company Number 56: Plankton Power. Greentech Media. [Online] Greentech Media Inc, 04 08 2009.
[Cited: 10 12 2009.] http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/plankton-power-another-algae....
8
. Wijffels, R.H. Potential of Sponges and Microalgae for Marine Biotechnology. . Trends in Biotechnology. 2007, Vol. 26, 1,
pp. 26-31.
9
. Kovalyova, S. European body sees algae fuel industry in 10-15 years. Reuters. [Online] Thomson Reuters, 3 6 2009. [
Cited: 10 12 2009.] http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE5526HY20090603.

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