Alternative Uses for Algae Produced For Photosynthetic CO2 Mitigation. by Louis Landesman, Ph.D

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1 Alternative Uses for Algae Produced For Photosynthetic CO2 Mitigation by Louis Landesman, Ph.D

2 Increase in Atmospheric CO2 Burning coal to generate electricity releases large amounts of CO2, a gas that contributes to global warming and ocean acidification. Algae can capture this CO2 to produce large amounts of algal biomass. This biomass contains oils which can be converted into biodiesel fuel. The residue remaining after oil extraction is valuable and its use can make the whole process more profitable.

3 Advantages of Algae over Other Crops as an Energy Source Algae can use waste gases from power plants and industries Algae are an order of magnitude more productive than terrestrial crops Algae can grow on salt, brackish or wastewater

4 Advantages of Algae over Other Crops for Producing Biodiesel Algae can be harvested every day instead of just once or twice a year Algae can be raised on land unsuitable for food crops Algae can use water not suitable for irrigation (salt and brackish water) Algae require less land to produce an equivalent amount of biofuel

5 Algae a very diverse group

6 Productivity of Algae as a Crop In Arizona Green Fuel s bioreactors produce up to 25 g dry biomass per square meter per day At this rate one hectare could yield around 50 metric tons of dry algae per hectare per year (22 short tons per acre per year). For every one ton of biomass produced, 1.9 tons of CO2 are consumed. Significant quantities of algal biomass and algal residual products will become available as algae production increases.

7 Methods of Algae Production Open raceways Here algae are raised outdoors in lined or unlined ponds. Advantages: Low capital cost, easy to scale up to large areas. Disadvantages: Vulnerability to disease and grazing by predaceous animals (zooplankton, fish and other herbivores).

8 Pond Culture of Algae Arizona Desert Sweet Biofuels Gila Bend, Arizona

9 HR Algae Farm, Hawaii

10 Earthrise Spirulina Farm, Imperial Valley, California

11 Methods of Algae Production Bioreactors Here algae are raised in glass or plastic tubes. Advantages: Production approaches theoretical maximum, reliable and convenient harvest. Disadvantages: Very high capital cost, management intensive.

12 Greenfuel Bioreactors on Rooftop

13 Algaetech Bioreactor Israel Astaxanthin Production - Kibbutz Ketura, Israel

15 Intensive Algae CultureCarlsbad, New Mexico

16 Algal slurry ready for harvest

17 Harvested Algae

18 Harvested Algae

19 Algae Farm, Spring Grove, VA

20 Algae Farm, Spring Grove, VA

21 Algae as Animal Feed The most direct use of the solid residue left when lipids and carbohydrates are extracted from algae is as animal feed.

22 Dietary carotene effects on egg yolk color Seambiotic, Israel Control Omega3 fish oil Seambiotic microalgae powder A Seambiotic microalgae powder B

23 Algae as Animal Feed Microalgae has been used in feed for pigs, poultry, cattle and fish.

24 Chemicals from Algae Carotenoids xanthophyll, astanzanthin, beta- carotene. Pigments for food and livestock feed. Natural dyes and pigments used in cosmetics and food coloring (phycocyanin, phycobiliprotein). Polyunsaturated fatty acids used for food supplements. Drugs cholesterol lowering compounds, immune system stimulants. Stable isotope biochemicals and serum replacement in tissue culture.

25 Summary Residual algal solids remaining after oil extraction are a valuable source of plant protein for livestock and fish. However the high nucleic acid content and presence of toxic compounds in some species of micro-algae may limit the amount of algae residue that can be used in animal feed.

26 Summary II Residual algal bio-solids are a source of new food products and drugs. Efforts must be made to isolate, test and market these algal products. These algal-derived compounds could make CO2 sequestration of algae profitable even if the price of algal derived biodiesel goes down.

Biodiesel From Microalgae

Biodiesel From Microalgae Lipid synthesis in microalgal cultures Shuo Yao Jingquan Lu Anders Brandt Claes Gjermansen Klaus Breddam Oil yield l/ha/year Soybean 400 Sunflower 1000 Jathropha 2000 Oil Palm