Algae for H 2 : The Perspective

Transcription

1 Algae for H 2 : The Perspective Aparat Mahakhant Microbiological Resources Centre (MIRCEN) Thailand Institute of Scientific and Technological Research (TISTR) aparat@tistr.or.th

2 Content Introduction to algae Hydrogen production from algae Market for energy from algae Introduction to Algal Culture Collection (ACC), MIRCEN, TISTR

3 Introduction to Algae

4 What are Algae? Large, heterogeneous, polyphyletic, photoautotroph (O 2 evolution ) Lack differentiated root, stem, leave Chlorophyll a- common 1 o pigment Terrestrial-aquatic aquatic (fresh/brackish/ marine) Size m (pico( pico) ) to >10 m (seaweed) CO 2 -fixation (C-flux, C-credit/GHG) C N & P uptake (eutrophication/3 o WWT) Storage: starch,, oil, high value substances e.g. pigments, bioactive compounds

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6 Algae and Energy: Learning from History Over a century ago, pond scum (Anabaena( cylindrica, a cynobacterium) ) collected from a Massachusetts reservoir was found to produce almost pure H 2 gas (Jackson & Ellms,, 1896) Microalgae biofuel R&D mainly focused on H 2 production until 2006

7 Algae and energy: Learning from History Also about a century ago, blooms of hydrocarbon producing green alga Botryococcus braunii washing onshore in Australia were collected & used as fuel Microalgae biofuel were mentioned over 50 years ago, when algae pilot plant operated on a rooftop at MIT, as part of R&D program that set the foundations for algae biomass culture technology (Burlew, 1953)

8 Botryococcus bloom

9 Algae and Energy: Learning from History Algae biomass production for wwt & conversion to methane was studied at UC berkeley since early 1950s (Oswald & Golueke,, 1960) The 1970s Energy Shock giving a boost to R&D on algae for energy (Benemann( Benemann, 1980) The U.S. DoE Aquatic Species Program (ASP, ) 1996) managed by NREL, studied microalgae oil production (Sheehan et al., 1998)

10 Algae and Energy: Learning from History From a major program on microalgae for CO 2 capture/utilization was carried out in Japan, focusing on optical fiber closed photobioreactors In 1990s a pilot plant using a combined system of green algae and photosynthetic bacteria was operated within a power plant of Kansai Electric Power Co. Ltd. (Miyamoto, 1997)

11 Microalgae Chlamydomonas reinhardtii Green algae Platymonas subcordiformis Chlorella fusca Scenedesmus obliguus

12 Cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) Oscillatoria limnetica Oscillatoria limosa Anabaena cylindrica Gloeocapsa alpicola Nostoc sp. Microcystis sp.

13 Hydrogen Production from Algae

14 Algae Production Systems Challenge Present High value/low volume Spirulina Phycocyanin β-carotene Future High volume/low value Biofuel (H 2, bioethanol, biodiesel)

15 Why Hydrogen? Future energy Renewable Not evolve the greenhouse gas (CO 2 ) in combustion Liberates large amount of energy per unit weight in combustion Easier to converted to electricity by fuel cells

16 Why Biological Hydrogen Production? Biological hydrogen production by photosynthetic microorganisms require simple solar reactor with low energy requirement Electrochemical hydrogen production via solar battery-based based water splitting requires solar batteries with high energy requirement

17 General (Microalgal) Biomass Conversions Processes Dark Fermentation Hydrogen, Ethanol Biochemical Anaerobic Digestion Hydrogen, Methane Conversion Photo-Fermentation Hydrogen, Ethanol Biophotolysis Hydrogen Gasification Hydrocarbon Gas Microalgal Biomass Thermochemical Conversion Pyrolysis Oil, Gas, Charcoal Liquefaction Oil Chemical Separation Solvent Extraction Oil Direct Combustion Power Generation Electricity or Power Source: U.S.A D.o.E. & Pacific Northwest National Lab.

18 Hydrogen Production Processes Concepts Culture Biomass Dark Fermentation Organic Acids + Solvents + H 2 Organic Acids Photo-Fermentation by Photosynthetic Bacteria H 2 Culture Biomass Direct or Indirect Biophotolysis H 2 + O 2 Challenges Low yields and solar conversion efficiencies for dark & photo ferm. Inhibition of hydrogenase by oxygen in direct biophotolysis Explosive gas mixtures in direct biophotolysis Expensive photobioreactors and gas separation Source: U.S. D.O.E. & Pacific Northwest National Lab.

19 Life Cycle Energy Analysis Objective: Fuel Energy Output > All Energy Inputs (EOR>1) Energy Inputs Consist of: Operating energy needed for pumping CO 2, mixing the pond, pumping water, harvesting the biomass and converting it to H 2 Embodied energy in fertilizers and other used chemicals Embodied energy (amortized) in capital equipment (i.e., construction materials and energy used for construction) EOR ~ 10 for open pond cultures (Benemann( & Oswald, 1996) EOR ~ 10 for open pond cultures (Rudolfi( et al., 2007) EOR 1 for photo-bioreactors (Rudolfi( et al., 2007) (EOR = Energy-output Ratio)

20 Problem of Direct Biophotolysis Oxygen is a positive suppressor of hyda gene expression and inhibitor of the hydrogenase H 2 production by hydrogenase can only take place in anaerobic condition This incompatibility in the simultaneous O 2 and H 2 photoproduction has been a problem in 60-years of related research

21 Indirect Biophotolysis Carbon dioxide 1 st step Solar energy Fixation by microalgae Starch in algal biomass 2 nd step Organic acids Fermentation by anaerobic bacteria 3 rd step Solar energy Hydrogen Photoproduction by photosynthetic bacteria Conversion of algal biomass to produce H 2, Ike et al., 1998

22 Hydrogen production

23 Our Study Selected starch-producing BGA strain: Nostoc muscorum TISTR 8871 Anaerobic digestion of algal biomass: Lactobacillus brevis subsp. brevis TISTR 868 Photosynthetic H 2 producing strain: Rhodobacter sphearoides TISTR 1529

24 Our Results Working volume: 600 ml H 2 accumulation: ml (almost pure) Starting time of production: hours Duration time of production: 8 hours H 2 production rate: ml/l culture/h

25 Limitation High cost for production of bio-hydrogen 200~300 yen/ m3 -H 2 To decrease the cost to less than 100 yen/ m3 -H 2 Increase production efficiency: Continuous culture Production of other useful compounds : Utilization of bacterial cells for functional foods & neutraceutical e.g. CoQ 10 Decrease in cost for material supplement : Utilization of wastewater Sources: Prof. Dr. Kazumasa Hirata, Osaka Univ., Pers. comm.

26 Impaired Water Opportunity from E-W E W Perspective: - brackish groundwater - produced water - desalination concentrate - wastewater - Industrial wastewater - Municipal wastewater - Geothermal water & heat Biofuel from Algae using Non-Freshwater Sources Algae-Based Production of Biofuels, Co products, & Service w/ Impaired Waters Algae Production Systems Ponds, PBRs*, Hybrid Systems+ Sunlight (photoautotrophic) Organic Carbon (heterotrophic) O 2 Waste CO 2 & Heat - Electric power generation - Industrial processing - Wastewater treatment - Desalination Co-Products - feeds - fertilizers - biopolymers - glycerine -others *PBRs = PhotoBioReactors + Hybrid Systems = Ponds + PBRs Biomass Harvesting Processing Biofuels - biodiesel - biogas - ethanol - H 2 Biofixation of CO 2 Reclaimed Water - Nutrient removal Source: Pate, Sandia National Labs. ABS, 2007

27 Co-product: CoQ 10 Photosynthetic bacteria are useful materials for production of CoQ 10 well known as anti-ageing The production of CoQ 10 and antioxidant activity were investigated in photosynthetic bacteria cultivated under basal conditions and H 2 -production conditions Basal conditions H 2 production conditions Sources: Prof. Dr. Kazumasa Hirata, Osaka Univ., Pers. comm.

28 Lets see our previous results (Oscilltoria okeni TISTR 8549) Composition (%) Moisture Protein Fat Fiber Carbohydrate Ash Total energy (cal./g) BG-11 medium , Swine farm effluent

29 Recent Status of H 2 from Algae In Algae Biomass Summit Algae for Energy Nov , 16, 2007, San Francisco, U.S.A. Dr. John R. Benemann,, Manager, International Network on Biofixation of CO 2 and Greenhouse Gas Abatement mentioned in his presentation on A A Brief History of Microalgae Biofuels that Microalgae biofuels R&D mainly focused on H 2 production, until January 31 st, 2006, when H 2 fell out of favor

30 Market for Energy from Algae

31 Market for energy from algae In Algae Biomass Summit Algae for Energy Nov , 16, 2007, San Francisco, U.S.A. Investor are becoming increasingly interested in algae as the next big play in the renewable energy and clean technology space A session provided an opportunity for start-up companies to highlight their organization, projects & technology

32 Market for energy from algae Market of interest included aviation fuel, biogasoline, biodiesel, ethanol, methanol, hydrogen and nutrition supplement for agricultural uses-nevertheless mainly focused on biodiesel for land transportation, commercial aircraft, military jet fuel (JP-8) (Defense Advanced Research Project Agency, DAPRA)

33 Market for energy from algae Biodiesel & bioethanol are more attractive than H 2 because of their downstream process are complete or nearly complete Steering committee formed for Algae Trade Association

34 Introduction to Algal Culture Collection (ACC), MIRCEN,TISTR

35 Functions of ACC, TISTR Services Research - Research relevant to the collection - Applied research on utilization of microbial resources

36 Research conducted by ACC Research relevant to the collection - Survey & collection of algal strains from terrestrial & aquatic ecosystems - Taxonomy of algal strains using morphology - Long-term preservation of algal strains cryopreservation encapsulation freeze-drying gelatin disc

37 Research conducted by ACC Research and development of algal biotechnology for sustainable utilization of algal bioresources -Agriculture -Industry -Environment

38 Algal biotechnology for agriculture Biofertilizer from N 2 -fixing BGA exclusive technology transfer Alginure Algotech Co., Ltd. > 10 years Organic Agriculture Certification Utilized in paddy fields in all regions, especially in the central region of Thailand

39 Algal biotechnology for agriculture Soil conditioner from polysaccharide producing BGA >150 strains in ACC

40 Insecticide Cotton ball worm Beet army worm Hapalosiphon sp. TISTR 8252

41 Herbicide Effect of crude extract of Hapalosiphon fontinalis TISTR 8225 on grass

42 Fungicide Calothrix sp. TISTR 8906

43 Algal biotechnology for paint industry Research on the establishment of Thailand standard test method for determining the resistance of exterior emulsion paint to algae arid mountainous Laboratory industry rubber tree standard strains seaside On-site exposure

44 Paint Industry Thai Industrial Standard TIS Weather Resistant Emulsion Paints Promulgated in Royal Gazette International Biodeterioration Research Group (IBRG) -Annual meeting -Round Robin Test

45 Signing ceremony between TISTR and Siam Nostoc and Microalgae Co. Ltd. on June 14 th, 2007 exclusively technology transfer on mass production of Nostoc ball

46 ACC at MIRCEN, TISTR

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49 Race-way ponds 5,000-10,000 L

50 Thank you very much