Algae for biodiesel production

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1 Jukka Seppälä: Algae for biodiesel Algae for biodiesel Jukka Seppälä * Timo Tamminen Kristian Spilling Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE) Heiko Rischer Kirsi-Marja Oksman Technical Research Centre of Finland (VTT) *jukka.seppala@environment.fi

2 Jukka Seppälä: Algae for biodiesel Phytoplankton algae Unicellular or filamentous Aquatic Photosynthetic Size: µm >50000 species Genetic & physiological diversity Growth requirements CO 2, N, P, (Si), micronutrients Light 20 µm Photos: Kristian Spilling Compared to higher plants Minimal amount of structural components Fast growing

3 Jukka Seppälä: Algae for biodiesel Economic applications of algae Human and animal nutrition Food source for aquaculture Chemical Medical and cosmetic applications Biofertilizing in rice fields Wastewater treatment Energy Aquatic Species Program (ASP) USA, Focus on open algal cultivation systems for bio-diesel Research for Innovative Technology of the Earth program (RITE) Japan, Focus on closed photobioreactors, CO 2 mitigation and higher value products After 2000, renewed focus

4 Jukka Seppälä: Algae for biodiesel Greenwashing / A pipe dream / Realistic alternative? Technical, Economical, Ecological & Ethical Feasibility?

5 Jukka Seppälä: Algae for biodiesel Why algae for biodiesel? High productivity of algae (up to g Dry weight m -2 day -1 ). High lipid content of algae (up to 30-50% (-80%) of Dry weight). Redrawn from Schenk et al. Bioenerg. Res 2008 Algae low prod. (10 g m -2 day -1 & 30% lipids) Algae high prod. (50 g m -2 day -1 & 50% lipids) (1) Can be grown on marginal land (2) Can be situated on non-arable land

6 harvesting Jukka Seppälä: Algae for biodiesel Biodiesel Growing algae in large scale Open ponds: Outdoors, exposed to sunlight No temperature control Economical Water depth approx. 20 cm Evaporation losses Contamination by unwanted species Closed photobioreactors: More expensive Transparent tubes, diameter approx. 10 cm Better utilization of solar energy i.e. higher productivity Control of CO 2, O 2 and nutrients needed May require temperature control Schenk et al. Bioenerg. Res 2008

7 harvesting Jukka Seppälä: Algae for biodiesel Biodiesel LIGHT NUTRIENTS WATER CO 2 Possibilities to utilize CO 2 emissions No fresh water required May be coupled to waste-water streams Light is required for photosynthesis, but light inhibition may occur at surface, while too low light prevails in few cm below surface

8 harvesting Jukka Seppälä: Algae for biodiesel Biodiesel Selection of species/strains, optimization of lipid yield Screening of potential candidates: Growth rates, cultivability Lipid yields and profiles Side-products Triggers for lipid Nutrient limitation Light, CO 2, etc.

9 harvesting Jukka Seppälä: Algae for biodiesel Biodiesel Synechococcus 60 sp. (Cyanobacteria) Lipid yield (g) Selection of species/strains, optimization of lipid yield Isochrysis (µ=0.65; FA=23%) Chlorella 30 sp. (Chlorophyta) 0 Our focus on cold & brackish water species Baltic, Lipid warm yield water = f (growth species rate, (+18 C) lipid %) Nodularia spumigena Chlamydomonas (Cyanobacteria) sp. (µ=0.55; FA=16%) 50 Pavlova lutheri (Haptophyta) Chlamydomonas +4 C, T. baltica (µ=0.58; FA=26%) 40 sp. (Chlorophyta) Monoraphidium contortum (Chlorophyta) Isochrysis sp. (Haptophyta) 20 Thalassiosira pseudonana (Diatom) Scenedesmus 10 sp. (Chlorophyta) Phaeodactylum tricornutum (Diatom) Thalassiosira pseudonana (µ=0.69; FA=23%) +4 C, Chaetoceros sp (µ=0.45; FA=27%) Days of growth Baltic, cold water species (+4 C) MODEL: Gymnodinium sp. (Dinophyta) - Scrippsiella Only exponential hangoei growth (Dinophyta) - Start: 1 g DW at day 1 Pauliella taeniata (Diatom) Thalassiosira baltica (Diatom) Skeletonema costatum (Diatom) Melosira arctica (Diatom) Chaetoceros wighamii (Diatom) Marine species (+18 C) Phaeodactylum tricornutum (Diatom) Thalassiosira pseudonana (Diatom) Isochrysis sp. (Haptophyta) Dunaliella salina (Chlorophyta)

10 harvesting Jukka Seppälä: Algae for biodiesel Biodiesel Dewatering culture broth is challenging and costly. Traditional nets / screens not suitable due to clogging Sentrifugation can be done at large scale but consumes lots of energy Flocculation may be induced using ph or chemicals Drying assisted by gravity and capillary forces Spilling, Seppälä, Tamminen, submitted

11 harvesting Jukka Seppälä: Algae for biodiesel Biodiesel Lipid extraction and transesterification Mechanical crushing & electroporation Chemical solvents needed Side products Animal feed? Biogas? Fertilizer? Nutrient recycling (Si for diatoms)? Other products?

12 harvesting Jukka Seppälä: Algae for biodiesel Biodiesel Production costs? At petroleum price $100/ barrel algae (with 55% oil content) needs to be produced at less than $340 ton -1. Current price is around $3000 ton -1. Chisti 2008 However, algal biodiesel is the only renewable biodiesel that has the potential to completely displace liquid transport fuels derived from petroleum. (Chisti 2008)

13 Jukka Seppälä: Algae for biodiesel Algae for biofuel, SYKE & VTT projects Projects: ALGIESEL (SA, 2011) LIPIDO (SA, 2010) MICROFUEL (Tekes, 2009) Overall aim: Investigate the potential of microalgae as a raw material for biofuel Targeted through investigations of: * Sp. selection * Lipid profile * Growth control and yield * Harvesting * Biomass handling

14 Jukka Seppälä: Algae for biodiesel Thank You Kiitos

Microalgae Production of Biodiesel

Microalgae Production of Biodiesel Ihab H. Farag, Sc.D., P.E. Chemical Engineering Dept University of New Hampshire Durham, NH 03824-3591, USA Phone: 1-603-862-2313, 2313 fax: 1-603-862-3747 email:ihab.farag@unh.edu