aquatic biofuels presentation kmfri
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KARIBU
Aquatic BiofuelsNew Options for Food and Bio-Energy
KMFRI June 10, 2011
Antonio (Tony) PiccoloAquatic Biofuels Specialist
•What are aquatic biofuels•Why produce aquatic biofuels•Conversion systems•Growth and harvesting•Potential for developing countries•Challenges and Opportunities
WHAT ARE AQUATICBIOFUELS?
Why MICRO - ALGAE?
• Does not compete with agriculture
• High yield per acre
• Contains no sulphur therefore no SO2 emissions
• Non toxic and highly biodegradable
• Does not require soil for growth
• Uses as little as 30cm of water per year per hectare (open pond system) Photo Bio-Reactors dependin on the size can take up as much as 50,000 lt of water, however there is no waste and no evaporation
• Adaptable anywhere even at great distances from water, particularly for PBRs
• Abatement of CO2 – carbon neutral
Oil yield per hectare of microalgae significantly exceeds other common oil sources such as soya and rapeseed
39 500
1 190448
0
5000
10000
15000
20000
25000
30000
35000
40000
Lit
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of
oil
pro
du
ced
per
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Soya Rapessed (oil) Micro Algae
Oil yield from algae compared to soya and rapeseed
446 1190
39 500PBR*
*PBR – Photo Bio-Reactor
88 timesmore than
soya
33 timesmore thanrapeseed
Photo Bio-Reactors?
• Using Photo Bio-Reactors is expensive but it is a State of the Art Technology, it produces higher yields than other systems. Given the right climatic conditions and the right algae strain, some systems can produce 3kg of biomass per 1m3 of water. i.e. almost 1.5 litres of oil.
Flat-plate PBR Pyramid PBR Tubular PBR
Vertical-column PBR
Microalgae Biofixation Process – with wastewater
Open pond wastewater has demonstrated productivities of 100 tonne/ha/yr
Costs and key performance parameters for Open Pond biofixation systems for GHG abatement are:
• Land capital, cost of ponds, harvesting, processing, water supply, infrastructure + operating costs (around US$120/tonne)
• Raceway mixed ponds capital costs of about US$100,000 per hectare
• Availability or transport of flue gas and/or waste water to the ponds
• Algal productivity / harvestability / processing
• Product values: biofuels, GHG abatement, reclaimed water, fertilisers, other
co products.
Caution – With present technology fuel only algal systems are not plausible on their own - they require additional revenues.
Adaptability to developing countries – other key factor requirements
Algae production with Photo Bio-Reactors (PBR)
More suitable for Higher Income Countries (due to higher start-up costs)
Algae production with MBP (Microalgae Biofixation Process) (open/close ponds)
More suitable for Lower Income Countries(due to lower start-up costs)
AVIATION INDUSTRY
FISH WASTE – From Aquaculture Farms • Press the fish waste
• Oil is extracted through a water separation process at 90o C • Manganese (Mn), methanol (9%) and caustic soda is added.
• The by-product glycerine is sold to the cosmetic industry and the residues are made into fishmeal.
• 1kg of fish waste can produce just over 1lt of bio-diesel (if right
conditions prevail)
Aquafinca - Honduras Agifish – Viet Nam
Fish Waste - Key points and feasibility for developing countries
• Technology is adaptable and transferable in many developing regions.
• It can provide livelihoods through the production of fish, and produce local energy free from GHG emissions.
• Relatively little investment required.
• Fish waste could also promote more efficient utilization of aquatic living resources and generate additional income for fishers' and fish farmers' communities.
• Adaptable on large fishing trawlers.
• Fishing Ports
Aquatic Biofuels – Challenges, Opportunities and Gains
Algae
• Cost intensive especially for Photo Bio-Reactors may be suitable for Higher Income Countries.
• Open pond systems are much more viable although real costs are still not available, by-products can however make the process completely viable.
• Abatement of CO2 Mitigation from the conversion of the algal biomass to renewable fuels – directly substituting fossil fuels – coal and gas
• Each tonne of microalgae biomass produced = about a tonne of CO2 abated
Both algal to bio-fuel technologies are therefore completely Carbon Neutral
Fish waste
• The oil produced for bio-diesel is already marketable as fish oil, more fish oil
would have to be produced to cater for the demand in bio-diesel this may disrupt fish oil markets.
• The technology is in place and is transferable to other developing countries as pilot project studies.
Algae for Food
Micro-Algae come in a variety of strains (variants) each strain has different proportions of lipids (fats), starches and proteins.
Depending on the strain used we can produce bio-crude (high lipid content) or protein supplements like spirulina (high protein content).
Spirulina platensis or more commonly known as Spirulina is a highly digestible micro-algae used as a food supplement and it is also used to combat and malnutrition and alleviate the suffering of HIV/AIDS patients.
Kisumu has the perfect weather conditions to grow spirulina in open ponds or photo bio-reactors.
Companies in Kisumu producing spirulina are: (in alphabetical order)AVIVA , DUNGA SPIRULINA, GALAXY, IIMSA, and KKEO.
What does Spirulina contain?
Balanced proteins, (supply the body with high amounts of Vitamin B (particularly B12)
Minerals and micro-nutrients which provide a variety of benefits for the human body, like nourishment, mental clarity, assisting in cancer recovery, depression help and many others.
Several scientific studies show spirulina to have the ability to inhibit viral replication; in particular it was found that 5-10 mg/ml of spirulina will inhibit the HIV-1 virus otherwise known as the AIDS virus.
The beneficial properties of Spirlina are quite remarkable – 10 of the main benefits after taking 5-10 grams of spirulina are listed below; Increases the CD4 count – Strengthens the immune system (particularly useful for AIDS/HIV patients.
Increases RNA (Ribonucleic acid) in the brain for more energy
The beta carotene (contains 10 times more that of carrots) is an excellent source of disease fighting antioxidants, and is also good for healthy eyes and vision.
Contains vegetable protein and amino acids to build muscle
High concentration of B Vitamins; which not only break down carbohydrate and lipids but also maintain cardiovascular health.
It is also an excellent anti-inflammatory, which is an essential benefit to arthritis patients and prevents heart disease.
Contains anti-aging properties.
Improves digestive health
Contains easy to absorb iron supplements ideal for women and children.
Reduces cancer with antioxidant protection
How can we combine Aquatic Resources for food and for fuel?
We need to find a strain or variant of algae that can produce enough lipids to satisfy crude oil production and contain enough protein to be used as a food supplement.
These can be genetically modified but we do not know the consequence of the modification and could enter and affect the food chain.
The most efficient natural strain for crude-oil production is Botryococcus braunii and the best source for spirulina food supplement is Spirulina platensis.
A natural identified strain which could cater for both food and fuel is Prymnesium parvum.
nutrients
Aquatic Biofuels – An Integrated Aquaculture Energy System (IAES)
Asante SanaErokomano
[email protected] www.aquaticbiofuel.com