Review article microalgae as sustainable renewable energy. Microalgae cultivation for biofuels production explores the technological opportunities and challenges involved in producing economically competitive algalderived biofuel. Pdf as the search for alternatives to fossil fuels continues, microalgae have emerged as a promising renewable feedstock for biodiesel. A comprehensive technoeconomic analysis and life cycle assessment. Determination of microalgal lipid content and fatty acid. Microalgae as an alternative energy source hold immense potential to revolutionize the biofuel production system without putting much pressure on agriculture and the forest ecosystem. Latest development in microalgaebiofuel production with nano. Feasibility study of algae biodiesel production in the.
This book covers the key steps in the production of renewable biofuels from microalgae strain selection, culture systems, inorganic carbon utilisation, lipid metabolism and quality, hydrogen production, genetic engineering, biomass harvesting, extraction. Hydrogen can be produced by photosynthetic algae and cyanobacteria under certain nutrient or oxygendepleted conditions, and by bacteria and archae utilizing organic substrates under anaerobic conditions drapcho et al. The book discusses efficient methods for cultivation, improvement of harvesting and lipid extraction techniques, optimization of conversion production processes of fuels and coproducts, the integration of microalgae. Currently, the increasing evidences showed that algal biomass as a favorable source for biofuel production. However, microalgae biofuels have some disadvantages such as low biomass production, low lipid content in the cells, and small size of the cells that makes harvesting. It is well known that microalgae generate much larger amounts of biofuels in a shorter time than other sources based on plant seeds. Interest in a variety of renewable biofuels has been rejuvenated due to the instability of petroleum fuel costs, the reality of peak oil in the near future, a reliance on unstable foreign. Microalgal triacylglycerols as feedstocks for biofuel. The ability of microalgae to be cultivated on land not suitable for agricultural food production as well as on waste water resources give algal biofuel production systems advantage over first and second generation biofuels production system. The economic viability of microalgal biofuel production should be significantly enhanced by a highvalue coproduct strategy, which would, conceptually, involve sequentially the cultivation of microalgae in a microalgal farming facility co 2 mitigation, extracting bioreactive products from harvested algal biomass, thermal processing and. This paper elucidates the optimal bioenvironmental conditions for microalgae cultivation, process design of algal biodiesel production, physicochemical properties of lipids extracted from microalgae and the properties of the produced biodiesel fuel, and the transesterification process. Pdf biofuel production from microalgae as feedstock. Mar 22, 2015 microalgae biofuel production is commercially viable because it is cost competitive with fossil based fuels, does not require extra lands, improves the air quality by absorbing atmospheric co 2, and utilizes minimal water. Microalgae have long been considered as a promising feedstock for biomass production.
Potential production of biofuel from microalgae biomass. Algal cultivation for biofuel production sounds quite. Oct 31, 2012 many researchers consider efficient harvesting is the major challenge of commercialising microalgal biofuel. Quantitative uncertainty analysis of life cycle assessment. Microalgae have been used to produce biodiesel and bioethanol with excellent results. Microalgae are recognized as promising feedstocks for biofuel production and have been intensively studied. Institute of technology and engineering, massey university, private bag 11 222, palmerston north, new zealand available online february 2007 abstract continued use of petroleum sourced fuels is now widely recognized as unsustainable because of depleting supplies and the. Microalgae have been experimented as a potential feedstock for biofuel generation in current era owing to its rich energy content, inflated growth rate, inexpensive culture approaches, the notable capacity of co2 fixation, and o2 addition to the environment. The key process limitations in microalgal biofuel production are inexpensive and effective harvesting of biomass and extraction of lipids.
Frontiers tailoring microalgae for efficient biofuel. However, a systematic investigation of the relationship between cellular components and fuel properties in microalgae is currently absent. The use of microalgae as a thirdgeneration biofuel feedstock avoids these issues and presents several distinct advantages of not requiring agricultural or arable lands for production, high photosynthetic efficiencies and biomass productivities biomass doubled in less than one day, and 100 times more lipids per acre of land 5, 6. Pdf biodiesel production from microalgae researchgate. This article will focus on the requirements for establishing microalgae as an environmentally and economically viable platform, with an emphasis on combining fuel production with production of coproducts, which we view as an essential strategy for the economic viability and, hence, broad adoption, of this potential fuel source figure 2. Microalgal torrefaction for solid biofuel production.
The national algal biofuels technology roadmap workshop, held december 910, 2008, was convened by doeeeres biomass program. Biodiesel derived from microalgae is a potentially renewable and carbonneutral alternative to petroleum fuels. Even if industrial scale biofuels from microalgae remain at an early stage, they remain a sustainable solution as a transportation fuel. They are fast growing, have high photosynthetic efficiency, and. Genetic engineering of algae for enhanced biofuel production. For the past several decades, the bestknown source of biofuels is the plant biomass. Undoubtedly, microalgae biodiesel production using wastewater is an apparently. Although numerous reports are available on the production of biodiesel from vegetable oils of terraneous oilplants, such as soybean, sun. Microalgae cultivation for biofuels production 1st edition. A unified modeling framework to advance biofuel production. Tiny algae can play a big role in tackling americas energy challenges. Despite the promises, commercialization of the microalgal biofuel technology is far from real, owing to its high production cost.
For instance, microalgaebased fuels are viewed as an alternative. Depending on species and cultivation method microalgae can produce biohydrogen, biomethanol, bioethanol, biodiesel, or carbohydrates, proteins or other compounds that are being used in pharmaceutical companies. The set of processes that lead from algae cultivation to collection and harvest, and finally to fuel conversion is termed the pathway for algal biofuel production. Unfortunately, biodiesel from oil crops, waste cooking oil and animal fat cannot realistically satisfy even a small fraction of the existing demand for transport fuels. Mass production of biodiesel fromalgae historical milestones of micro alge production production of chlorella species in japan. Microalgae are basically unicellular organisms, so small that it can only be viewed under a microscope. Based on current knowledge, the usage of microalgae is being considered as an attractive feedstock for biofuels production. Algal biofuel production for fuels and feed in a 100ha facility.
In recent years, mass production of microalgae has been extensively exploited for applications in the industry of food, aquaculture, and bioenergy, and especially for biodiesel production 1, 2. Depleting fossil fuel, soaring prices, growing demand, and global climate change concerns have driven the research for finding an alternative source of sustainable fuel. Mar 26, 20 mass production of biodiesel fromalgae historical milestones of micro alge production production of chlorella species in japan. Life cycle assessment of biofuel production from microalgae cultivated in anaerobic digested wastewater. Microalgae biofuel production in the desert southwest. However, the company is using the partnership to great advantage, portraying itself as a committed. Biodiesel derived from oil crops is a potential renewable and carbon neutral alternative to petroleum fuels. Due to increasing oil prices and climate change concerns, biodiesel has gained attention as an alternative energy source. Onefifth, approximately, of this biomass is used to nourish fish and shellfish that are cultivated in aquaculture hatcheries. Jun, 2016 in recent years, mass production of microalgae has been extensively exploited for applications in the industry of food, aquaculture, and bioenergy, and especially for biodiesel production 1, 2. But in the case of microalgae biomass that has high water content 8090% patil et al.
Making algal biofuel production more efficient, less. The product gas from this process can be burned directly or used as a fuel gas engine, or can be used as a feedstock synthetic gas mckendry, 2003. Publication 442886 microalgae as a feedstock for biofuel. Spirulina harvesting facility in mexico and thailand in 1970 and 1977 respectively. However, the greatest challenge in a transition to algae. Recent scientific breakthroughs and projects, funded by the energy departments bioenergy technologies office, have resulted in a number of advancements that are helping make. Ultimately, this work demonstrates a clear need to leverage integrated modeling platforms to advance microalgae biofuel systems as a whole, and specific recommendations are made for the prioritization of research and development pathways to achieve economical biofuel production from microalgae. For achieving the large scale microalgae energy production, the requirements of industrialization and sustainability of microalgae energy were analysed. Microalgae exhibit great adaption to various environmental conditions, making them easy to. Microalgae as sustainable renewable energy feedstock for. The commercial initiatives for this purpose will depend on the composition and volume of the effluent, on the selected microalgae species, and on the. Oct 18, 2019 the shortage of fossil fuels is actually a major economic issue in the context of increasing energy demand. The worldwide annual production of algal biomass in 2004 was estimated to be 5 gg. Life cycle assessment of biofuel production from microalgae.
The worldwide annual production of algal biomass in 2004 was. Review article microalgae as sustainable renewable energy feedstock for biofuel production srikanthreddymedipally, 1 fatimahmd. Li g, lu z t, zhang j, li h, zhou y g, zayan a m i, et al. Karthikeyan assistant professor, department of biotechnology adhiyamaan college of engineering, hosur, tamil nadu, india abstract biofuel production from renewable sources is widely considered to be one of the most sustainable.
Metabolic engineering of microalgal based biofuel production. In recent years, use of microalgae as an alternative biodiesel feedstock has gained renewed interest from researchers, entrepreneurs, and the general public. Microalgae have long been recognized as potentially good sources for biofuel production because of their high oil content and rapid biomass production. Compared to macroalgae which are structurally more complex consisting of different cells with its own functions and purposes, microalgae in general has only basic cell construction which is just enough to ensure their survival. Microalgae have emerged as a potential feedstock for biofuel production as many strains accumulate higher amounts of lipid, with faster biomass growth and higher photosynthetic yield than their land plant counterparts. Other microalgae biofuels such as ethanol and methane are produced as organic substrates and can be fermented by microbes under anaerobic conditions. Microalgae are microscopic unicellular plants, which typically grow in marine and freshwater environments. Currently, research is ongoing towards the advancement of microalgalbiofuel technologies. Production of biodiesel from microalgae intechopen. Cultivation of oily microalgae for the production of third. Microalgae production harvesting and drying extraction and purication biochemical conversions biofuel downstream processes upstream processes microalgae bacteria interactions f. Simple fermentation treatment can convert byproduct of biofuel production into valuable chemical feedstock mar, 20 scientists seek key to converting algae to biofuel.
Biofuel production by oleaginous microalgae is a promising. Microalgae are one of the most studied potential sources of biofuels and bioenergy. Shariff 1,3 laboratory of marine biotechnology, institute of bioscience, universiti. The current scenario in renewable energy is focused on development of alternate and sustainable energy sources, amongst which microalgae stands as one of the promising feedstock for biofuel production. Interest in a variety of renewable biofuels has been rejuvenated due to the instability of petroleum fuel costs, the reality of peak oil in the near future, a. The twoday event brought together more than 200 scientists, engineers, executive summary a culture of the microalgae botryococcus.
Microalgae biofuel production is commercially viable because it is cost competitive with fossil based fuels, does not require extra lands, improves the air quality by absorbing atmospheric co 2, and utilizes minimal water. However, there is still a large margin to improve economic yield for largescale biofuel production 3, 4, since fossil fuel is still much cheaper. Many researchers consider efficient harvesting is the major challenge of commercialising microalgal biofuel. Tailoring microalgae for efficient biofuel production frontiers. For instance, microalgae based fuels are viewed as an alternative. Energy is essential for the economic development of the world and depends on the fossil fuels that are limited in availability and are associated with environmental pollution of air, water, soil etc. The algal derived biofuels production requires only. Microalgae biofuel production in the desert southwest exploring the possibility of a renewable, sustainable alternative to fossil fuel energy, and how the desert southwest of the united states has the potential to be the next center for domestic fuel production. This book covers the key steps in the production of renewable biofuels from microalgae strain selection, culture systems, inorganic carbon utilisation, lipid metabolism and quality, hydrogen production, genetic. Dierent strategies involved in microalgae biomass and biofuel production. Pdf microalgae have long been considered as a promising feedstock for biomass production. This chapter describes several contrasting pathways that lead from algae cultivation to.
Effective cultivation of microalgae for biofuel production. Gasification is the conversion process of biomass into ch 4, h 2, co 2, and ammonia. The shortage of fossil fuels is actually a major economic issue in the context of increasing energy demand. Pdf biofuel production from algal biomass researchgate. Determination of microalgal lipid content and fatty acid for. Demonstration and evaluation of hybrid microalgae aqueous conversion systems for biofuel production. Also a comparison between microalgae and other biofuel feedstocks was made. Pdf the first generation of biofuels, such as bioethanol, biobutanol, and biodiesels, is usually produced using edible, conventional crops. Microalgae biodiesel lipids fatty acids production abstract biodiesel has received much attention in recent years. Sustainable biodiesel production from microalgae cultivated with. Microalgae also have potential in the production of gaseous biofuel. Biodiesel has gained much attention in recent years due to its ecofriendly nature, nontoxic characteristics, biodegradability and lower net carbon cycle compared to conventional diesel fuels. However, there is still a large margin to improve economic yield for largescale biofuel production 3, 4, since fossil fuel is still much cheaper and serves as the dominant energy source nowadays. Astm international originally known as the american society for testing and.
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