Algae to Biodiesel Process

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2 Algae to Biodiesel Process Algae Nutrients oil-rich algae oil-rich algae Water Air Growth & Monitoring +water water Dewatering Hexane Oil Extraction light Problems? Improvements Needed? algae oil Biodiesel Glycerol(byproduct) Transesterfication algae oil alcohol (MeOH,,EtOH) catalyst(naoh, KOH)

3 Problems to be Addressed Problem: Water and Nutrient Requirements gallons (1,600 L) water per 1kg of algae Solution: Ultra-Violet treated municipal wastewater (from Dover, NH)

4 Problems to be Addressed Problem: Land Requirements - Food driven riots have occurred around the world in places such as Mexico, Egypt, India, Italy, Bangladesh, Haiti, and China Solution: PBRs which float on the surface of salt water Land required to replace 50% of current petroleum diesel

5 Project Goals Based on Needed Improvements Compare microalgae growth in wastewater versus freshwater. Transition from growing algae in glass flasks to vertical hanging plastic bag PBRs to horizontal plastic bag PBRs floating on salt water Evaluate the performance of the horizontal photobioreactor DI Water Waste- Water Waste- Water

6 Results 1.Algae Monitoring 2.Algae Biomass Yield 3.Algae Oil Content 4.Algae Oil Conc. in Medium 5.Calculated Indicators

7 Algae to Biodiesel Process Algae Nutrients oil-rich algae oil-rich algae Water Air Growth & Monitoring +water water Dewatering & Freeze Drying Hexane Oil Extraction light algae oil Biodiesel Glycerol(byproduct) Transesterfication algae oil alcohol (MeOH,,EtOH) catalyst(naoh, KOH)

8 Algae Monitoring Results Started off growing algae in 2L glass flasks The nutrient mediums were: 1. Freshwater with Standard Nutrients 2. Wastewater with Standard Nutrients 3. Wastewater with No Nutrients

9 Freshwater w/ Stand. Nutrients Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5 Day 6 Relatively clear Not much algae Very dark High concentration of algae Day 7 Day 8 Day SNS(C2)F

10 Wastewater w/ Stand. Nutrients Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5 Day 6 Relatively clear Not much algae Very dark High concentration of algae Day 7 Day 8 Day WWSN(C2)F

11 Algae Monitoring Results Then algae was grown in plastic bag PBRs (2L in volume) The nutrient mediums were: 1. Freshwater with Standard Nutrients 2. Wastewater with Standard Nutrients 3. Wastewater with No Nutrients

12 Wastewater w/ Stand. Nutrients Day 0 Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 6 Day 7 Evaporation was a problem with the hanging bags WWSN(C2)B

13 Algae Monitoring Results Fresh water or Wastewater Saltwater Finally algae were grown in horizontal floating plastic bag PBRs (approx 3L in volume) Two standard nutrient mediums were: - Freshwater - Wastewater

14 Freshwater w/ Stand. Nutrients Day 1 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5 Day 6 Day 7 Day 8

15 Algae to Biodiesel Process Algae Nutrients oil-rich algae oil-rich algae Water Air Growth & Monitoring +water water Dewatering Oil Extraction Hexane light algae oil Biodiesel Glycerol(byproduct) Transesterfication algae oil alcohol (MeOH,,EtOH) catalyst(naoh, KOH)

16 Algae Harvesting/Dewatering Centrifuging Separates algae from medium

17 Algae Freeze Drying Removes any leftover liquid, Produces dry algae

18 Final Algae Conc (g/l) Comparing Biomass Yields Horiz Bag 2.50 Vert Bag 2.00 Flasks The floating horizontal plastic bag PBR produced more algae than glass flask PBR but not as much as the vertical plastic bag PBR

19 Algae to Biodiesel Process Algae Nutrients oil-rich algae oil-rich algae Water Air Growth & Monitoring +water water Dewatering Hexane Oil Extraction light algae oil Biodiesel Glycerol(byproduct) Transesterfication algae oil alcohol (MeOH,,EtOH) catalyst(naoh, KOH)

20 Algae Oil Extraction Dry Algae 100mL Hexane 90min later & after filtering and evaporating hexane

21 Wt Percent Oil Comparing Algae Oil Content Vert Bag Flasks Horiz Bag Vertical hanging PBR has highest algae oil content Freshwater medium in horizontal floating PBR produced algae with a relatively high oil content

22 Oil Conc in Medium (mg/l) Comparing Algae Oil Conc. in Medium Oil Conc = (Algae Conc) x (wt% Oil in Algae) 140 Vert Bag Flasks Horiz Bag

23 Calculated Indicators Parameter Volume of CO 2 needed to produce 1kg of dry algae Volume of water needed to produce 1kg of dry algae Nitrogen Requirement g N/ kg dry algae Light Energy Transferred Through PBR Walls and Converted to Biomass Our Value Literature Value 12 m m 3* 570 L * 255 L * ** 0.2% 3.78% by Zemke s Concentrator Bioreactor * Data from Yusuf Chisti (2007) ** Data from Bioking Facility, Netherlands (2008)

24 Conclusions Growing microalgae in a wastewater medium is much better for the environment but it is not as productive as the freshwater medium The freshwater medium in the horizontal floating plastic bag PBR produced the most amount of oil The land based glass flasks were the least productive method of growing algae oil. DI Water Waste- Water

25 Recommendations for Future Work The horizontal plastic bag PBR produced good results, but the algae growth at different flow conditions need to be analyzed.

26 Acknowledgement Dr. Ihab Farag Dr. Jonathan Trent and OMEGA Project Group Hamel Center for Undergraduate Research Nancy Whitehouse Jon Newell Arnie Powers Gina Chaput and Alison Wirshing

27 Thank you Questions?

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