Renewable Biofuel from Microalgae: Potential and Prospects Defence Institute of Bio-Energy Research Field station, Pithoragarh Dr. M. Arumugam [email protected].

Renewable Biofuel from Microalgae: Potential and Prospects

Defence Institute of Bio-Energy Research Field station, Pithoragarh

Dr. M. [email protected]

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Global oil production scenario

OPEC countries in domination from 2008 onwards

Source: ASPO 2006

India Energy situation

(Khan et al., 2009)

Energy Status: Indian Scenario

Sector wise energy production and consumption: India

Out of the total Oil 70 % is being imported: Dependence of OPEC countries

If the governments around the world stick to current policies, the world will need almost 60% more energy 60% more energy in 2030 than today

At the present staggering rates of At the present staggering rates of consumption, the world consumption, the world fossilfossil oil reserve will oil reserve will be exhausted in less than 45 years (IEA, be exhausted in less than 45 years (IEA, 2007).2007).

What is an alternative?What is an alternative?

Renewable EnergyRenewable Energy

Renewable Energy Sources:

Geothermal, Solar Energy, Hydropower, Wind, Waves & Tides

Renewable energy obtained from various forms of Biomass

Biofuel

www.climate-policy-map.econsense.de

National Policy on Biofuel (8th September 2008) was set up to look exclusively into issues pertaining to biodiesel and the development of Jatropha curcas as feedstock for biodiesel production.

Blending target of Ethanol (10%) and Biodiesel (20%) with petro-diesel were proposed by 2011-12.

DRDO-ARMY BIO-DIESEL PROGRAMME

(SL-P1-2007/DAR-71)

Micro AlgaeJatropha curcas Camelina sativa

Biodiesel from algae: Biological concepts

Algae is an photosynthetic microorganism converts solar energy to fixed neutral lipids in the presence of CO2 and light.

Optimum Growth ConditionTemp-25-30ºC, CO2: 1 to 2%; pH: 6.5-7.5 and light 1.2 Klux

(Arumugam et al., 2010)

The fatty acid and TAG biosynthesis

(Courchesne et al, 2009)

Crop Oil yield (L/ha)

Corn 172

Soybean 446

Canola 1190

Jatropha 1892

Coconut 2689

Oil palm 5950

Microalgae (30%) 58,700

Microalgae (70%) 136,900

Potential of Microalgae

(Chisti, 2007)

Advantages over other feed stock

Synthesis and accumulate large quantities of neutral lipids (20 to 50 % of Dry Cell Weight)

Multiply at higher rate (1-3 doubling time in a day)

Utilize nutrients from variety of waste water, provide an additional benefit of waste water bioremediation

Sequester CO2 from flue gases, thereby reducing emission of major

green house gas

Algae biofuel contains no sulfur, is non-toxic and highly biodegradable

Produce as a value added by-products (Proteins, Polysaccrides, pigments animal, feed, manure, Hydrogen and biopolymers)

Grow in suitable culture vessels (Photo-bioreactors) throughout the year with an annual biomass productivity, on an area basis exceeding that of terrestrial plants by approximately tenfold

DIBER Initiatives in Second generation biofuel

(i) Collection, Screening of ideal algal strain Two algal strains exhibited more promising potential

Scenedesmus bijugatus (Turpin)

Chlorococcum humicolo (Naegeli)

Oil percent: 16 to 40%

Biomass Yield (Dry weight): 450 kg/ha/day

Oil percent: 14 to 22 %

Biomass Yield (Dry weight): 210 kg/ha/day(Arumugam et al., 2010)

Mass culturing of selected algal strains

Open race way pond at DIBER, Fd stn, Pithoragarh

Plastic tray to optimize culturing technique

(ii) Standardization growth medium for open pond

Effect of nutrient on algal biomass grow th

0.000

0.200

0.400

0.600

0.800

1.000

1.200

1.400

Day 1 Day 3 Day 5 Day 8 Day 12 Day 15

Gro

wth

(OD

540

nm

)

T1

T2

T3

T4

T5

T7

T1: CHU13; T2: Tap Water (Control); T3: Urea@ 0.5% ; T4: Urea@ 0.1% T5: 50 % FYM extract ; T6:100 % FYM extract ; T7: 50 % FYM extract +Urea@ 0.1%

Algal culturing in laboratory: synthetic growth medium such as modified CHU-13, BBM, BG11 etc

However culturing algae in large scale is limited because of non-availability of appropriate affordable growth medium

(Arumugam et al., 2010)

(iii) Algal Harvesting and Processing

Gravity settling Natural Sun drying of algal bio-mass

It accounts for 20-30% of total production cost

Find out the economically viable harvesting method

(v) Extraction of Algal oil

Organic Solvent extraction• Polar Solvents• Non polar solvents

Proposed Methods:Mechanical extraction (algae Milling )Electroporation Supercritical CO2 fluid extraction Ultrasonic and micro waves

Oil extraction using Organic solvent

Principle: Polar Organic solvents will dissolve all the total lipids/fats present in the cell.

Organic Solvent: n-Hexane and Petroleum ether

Extraction method: Soxhlet Apparatus

Procedure:

Heating at 65ºC for 6-8 hrs

Fixed oil collected after evaporating the residual solvents using Rota-vapor

Algal Oil recovery

Oil content was examined for different strains and found an

yield of 20-30%

(vi) Processing of Algal oil

Microalgal oil contains fatty acid and triglycerid compounds can be converted in to Methyl esters (i.e., Biodiesel) using conventional transesterification technology.

• IS : 15607

• ASTM : 6751

• EN : 14214

Bio-diesel Specifications (B-100)

Technical bottlenecks….

High Production cost

Algal cell harvesting and drying

Oil extraction and processing

An ideal algal strain

Suitable culturing infrastructure

Biodiesel: For a better future

"The term Peak Oil refers to the maximum rate of the production of oil in any area under consideration, recognising that it is a finite natural resource, subject to depletion."

-Colin Campbell

“The use of vegetable oils for engine fuels may seem insignificant today. But such oils may become, in the course of time, as important as the petroleum and coal tar products of the present time.” 

-Rudolf Diesel, 1912.

Thank you all…

Acknowledgement..

Dr. Zakwan Ahmed, Director, DIBER

Shri. M. C. Arya

Dr. M. Arif

Dr. Ankur Agarwal

Dr. W. SelvamurthyDS and CC R&D (LS)

DRDO Bhawan, Newdelhi