algae to biodiesel joshua j. heller department of chemical engineering the university of texas at...

Algae to Biodiesel

Joshua J. Heller

Department of Chemical Engineering

The University of Texas at Austin

Presentation Overview

• Background

• Algae

• Technology– Open Pond– Bioreactor– Greenhouse

• Challenges

• Conclusion

Background

• Growing U.S. and World demand for diesel– Approximately 30 billion gallons per year (U.S. only)

• Renewable fuel mandates– 36 billion gallons of biofuel per year by 2022

• Future carbon legislation– Cap and Trade/Carbon Tax

Background Cont.

• Compatible with existing technology– Engines– Infrastructure

• Versatile growing environment– Non-arable land– Will not displace food crops

• Potentially reduces greenhouse gases

Algae

• Main sources of energy– Lipids– Fatty acids

• Lipid accumulation– Environmental stress– Greater under nutrient deficient conditions

Algae Cont.

• Algae holds significant advantage over other oilseed crops– Does not require arable land– More efficient in term of oil per acre

• 15,000 acres of algae farms required to meet U.S. transportation fuel demand– Optimistic calculation– 1/7th the area of Colorado

Plant or Organism Gallons of Oil per Acre per year

Corn 18

Soybeans 48

Safflower 83

Sunflower 102

Rapeseed 127

Oil Palm 635

Algae 5,000 – 10,000

Technology – Open Pond

• National Renewable Energy Laboratory

• Relatively cheap

• Synergy with power plant waste CO2 and waste water nutrients

Technology – Bioreactor

• Increased surface area• Turbulent mixing• Power plant pollutant

scrubber• Capital costs relatively

more expensive

Technology - Greenhouse

• Small scale• Greater temperature

control• Need access to local

processing facility

Challenges

• Cost– Capital and operations

• $0.50 to $10.00 per square foot• Product separation - $0.02 to $ 20 per gallon of

product

• Productivity– Efficiency– Photosynthesis limitations

• 3 to 4 % of sunlight converted to biomass• Light saturation

Conclusion

• High potential

• Variety of developing technologies

• Several challenges

• Bridge fuel

• One piece of the “all of the above” energy solution approach

Questions?

References• Briggs, Michael. Widescale Biodiesel Production from Algae. University of New

Hampshire Physics Department. 23 Nov. 2008 <http://www.unh.edu/p2/biodiesel/article_algae.html>.

• Gualtieri, Paolo, and Laura Barsanti. Algae : Anatomy, Biochemistry, and Biotechnology. Boca Raton: Taylor & Francis, 2006.

• Larkum, Anthony, Susan E Douglas, and John A Raven. Photosynthesis In Algae. Boston: Kluwer Academic Publishers, 2003.

• Nelson, Richard. "SOLAROOF : Green Buildings for Urban Agriculture and Solar Living ." Solaroof. 23 Nov. 2008 <http://www.solaroof.com/>.

• Riesing, Thomas F. "Cultivating Algae for Liquid Fuel Production." Permaculture Activist 59. 23 Nov. 2008 <http://oakhavenpc.org/ cultivating_algae.htm>.

• United Nations. Food and Agriculture Organization. "Oil production." Renewable biological systems for alternative sustainable energy production. Osaka: Food and Agriculture Organization, 1997.

• United States. National Renewable Energy Laboratory. A Look Back at the U.S. Department of Energy's Aquatic Species Program - Biodiesel from Algae. Golden: National Renewable Energy Laboratory, 1998.

• Whitton, Norman. Future Fuels - Algae. N.p.: n.p., n.d.