ALGAEOLEUM

---The third generation biofuel

ABSTRACT

Biodiesel is biodegradable, less CO2 and NOx emissions. Continuous use of

petroleum sourced fuels is now widely recognized as unsustainable because of depleting
supplies and the contribution of these fuels to the accumulation of carbon dioxide in the
environment. Renewable, carbon neutral, transport fuels are necessary for environmental
and economic sustainability. Algae have emerged as one of the most promising sources
for biodiesel production. It can be inferred that algae grown in CO2-enriched air can be
converted to oily substances. Such an approach can contribute to solve major problems of
air pollution resulting from CO2 evolution and future crisis due to a shortage of energy
sources.

Compared with second generation biofuels, algae are high-yield high-cost (30
times more energy per acre than terrestrial crops) feedstocks to produce biofuels. Since
the whole organism converts sunlight into oil, algae can produce more oil in an area the
size of a two-car garage than an entire football field of soybeans. Nowadays they cost $5–
10/kg and there is active research to reduce both capital and operating costs of production
so that it is commercially viable.Algal fuels do not impact fresh water resources, and can
use ocean and wastewater. One advantage of many biofuels over most other fuel types is
that they are biodegradable, and so relatively harmless to the environment if spilled.

INTRODUCTION:

Bio energy is one of the most important components to mitigate greenhouse gas
emissions and substitute of fossil fuels. The need of energy is increasing continuously,
because of increases in industrialization and population. The basic sources of this energy
are petroleum, natural gas, coal, hydro and nuclear. The major disadvantage of using
petroleum based fuels is atmospheric pollution created by the use of petroleum diesel.
Petroleum diesel combustion is a major source of greenhouse gas (GHG). Apart from
these emissions, petroleum diesel is also major source of other air contaminants including
NOx, SOx, CO, particulate matter and volatile organic compounds. Biomass is one of the
better sources of energy. Large-scale introduction of biomass energy could contribute to
sustainable development on several fronts, environmentally, socially and economic.
Biodiesel (monoalkyl esters) is one of such alternative fuel, which is obtained by the
transesterification of triglyceride oil with monohydric alcohols. It has been well-reported
that biodiesel obtained from canola and soybean, palm, sunflower oil, algal oil as a diesel
fuel substitute. Biodiesel is a nontoxic and biodegradable alternative fuel that is obtained
from renewable sources. Biodiesel fuel can be prepared from waste cooking oil, such as
palm, soybean, canola, rice bran, sunflower, coconut, corn oil, fish oil, chicken fat and

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algae which would partly decrease the dependency on petroleum-based fuel. The burning
of an enormous amount of fossil fuel has increased the CO2 level in the atmosphere,
causing global warming. Algal biofuel is the best solution to this problem.

INTEREST IN MICROALGAE:

Biomass has been focused on as an alternative energy source, since it is a

renewable resource and it fixes COz in the atmosphere through photosynthesis. If
biomass is grown in a sustained way, its combustion has no impact on the CO2 balance in
the atmosphere, because the CO2 emitted by the burning of biomass is offset by the CO2
fixed by photosynthesis. Among biomass, algae (macro and microalgae) usually have a
higher photosynthetic efficiency than other biomass. It is reported that algae were one of
the best sources of biodiesel. In fact algae are the highest yielding feedstock for biodiesel.
It can produce up to 250 times the amount of oil per acre as soybeans. In fact, producing
biodiesel from algae may be only the way to produce enough automotive fuel to replace
current gasoline usage. Algae produce 7 to 31 time greater oil than palm oil. It is very
simple to extract oil from algae. The best algae for biodiesel would be microalgae.
Microalgae are an organism capable of photosynthesis that is less than 2 mm in diameter.
Macroalgae, like seaweed, is not as widely used in the production of biodiesel.
Microalgae has much more oil than macroalgae and it is much faster and easier to grow.
Microalgae can provide several different types of renewable biofuels. These include
methane produced by anaerobic digestion of the algal biomass biodiesel derived from
microalgal oil and photobiologically produced biohydrogen. The idea of using
microalgae as a source of fuel is not new but it is now being taken seriously because of
the escalating price of petroleum and, more significantly, the emerging concern about
global warming that is associated with burning fossil fuels.

GROWING ALGAE FOR BIODIESEL USE:

The most natural method of growing algae for biodiesel production is through open-pond
growing. Using open ponds, we can grow algae in hot, sunny areas of the world to get
maximum production. While this is the least invasive of all the growing techniques, it has
some drawbacks. Bad weather can stunt algae growth, as can contamination from strains
of bacteria or other outside organisms. The water in which the algae grow also has to be
kept at a certain temperature, which can be difficult to maintain.

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Vertical growth/closed loop production has been developed by biofuel companies to
produce algae faster and more efficiently than open pond growth. With vertical growing,
algae are placed in clear plastic bags, so they can be exposed to sunlight on two sides.
The bags are stacked high and protected from the rain by a cover. The extra sun exposure
increases the productivity rate of the algae, which in turn increases oil production. The
algae are also protected from contamination.

Other companies working to produce algae for biodiesel are constructing closed-tank
bioreactor plants to help increase oil rates even further. Instead of growing algae outside,

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indoor plants are built with large, round drums that grow algae under ideal conditions.
The algae are manipulated into growing at maximum levels and can be harvested every
day. This yields a very high output of algae, which in turn yields large amounts of oil for
biodiesel. Closed bioreactor plants can also be strategically placed near energy plants to
capture excess carbon dioxide that would otherwise pollute the air.
Researchers are testing another variation of the closed-container or closed-pond process
-- fermentation. Algae are cultivated in closed containers and fed sugar to promote
growth. This method eliminates all margin of error since it allows growers to control all
environmental factors. The benefit of this process is that it allows the algae biodiesel to
be produced anywhere in the world. But, researchers are trying to figure out where to get
enough sugar without creating problems.
ALGAE BIODIESEL ENGINEERING: EXTRACTING OIL FROM ALGAE

Oil extraction from algae is a hotly debated topic currently because this process is one of
the more costly processes which can determine the sustainability of algae-based
biodiesel.
In terms of the concept, the idea is quite simple: Extract the algea from its growth
medium (using an appropriate separation process), and use the wet algae to extract the
oil. The algae need not be dried before oil extraction
There are three well-known methods to extract the oil from oilseeds, and these methods
should apply equally well for algae too:

1. Expeller/Press
2. Hexane solvent oil extraction
3. Supercritical Fluid extraction
Expeller/Press

Expression/Expeller press-When algae is dried it retains its oil content, which then can be
"pressed" out with an oil press. Many commercial manufacturers of vegetable oil use a
combination of mechanical pressing and chemical solvents in extracting oil. While more
efficient processes are emerging, a simple process is to use a press to extract a large
percentage (70-75%) of the oils out of algae.

Hexane Solvent Method

Algal oil can be extracted using chemicals. Benzene and ether have been used, but a
popular chemical for solvent extraction is hexane, which is relatively inexpensive. The
downside to using solvents for oil extraction are the inherent dangers involved in working
with the chemicals. Benzene is classified as a carcinogen. Chemical solvents also present
the problem of being an explosion hazard.

Hexane solvent extraction can be used in isolation or it can be used along with the oil
press/expeller method. After the oil has been extracted using an expeller, the remaining
pulp can be mixed with cyclo-hexane to extract the remaining oil content. The oil
dissolves in the cyclohexane, and the pulp is filtered out from the solution. The oil and

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cyclohexane are separated by means of distillation. These two stages (cold press &
hexane solvent) together will be able to derived more than 95% of the total oil present in
the algae.
Supercritical Fluid Extraction

This can extract almost 100% of the oils all by itself. This method however needs special
equipment for containment and pressure

In the supercritical fluid/CO2 extraction, CO2 is liquefied under pressure and heated to
the point that it has the properties of both a liquid and gas. This liquefied fluid then acts
as the solvent in extracting the oil.

Other Less Well-known Extraction Methods

Enzymatic extraction - Enzymatic extraction uses enzymes to degrade the cell walls
with water acting as the solvent, this makes fractionation of the oil much easier. The costs
of this extraction process are estimated to be much greater than hexane extraction.

Osmotic shock - Osmotic shock is a sudden reduction in osmotic pressure, this can cause
cells in a solution to rupture. Osmotic shock is sometimes used to release cellular
components, such as oil.

Ultrasonic-assisted extraction - Ultrasonic extraction can greatly accelerate extraction

processes. Using an ultrasonic reactor, ultrasonic waves are used to create cavitation
bubbles in a solvent material, when these bubbles collapse near the cell walls, it creates
shock waves and liquid jets that cause those cells walls to break and release their contents
into the solvent.
Once the oil's extracted, it's refined using fatty acid chains in a process called
transesterification. Here, a catalyst such as sodium hydroxide is mixed in with an
alcohol such as methanol. This creates a biodiesel fuel combined with a glycerol. The
mixture is refined to remove the glycerol. The final product is algae biodiesel fuel.

The process of extracting oil from the algae is universal, but companies producing algae
biodiesel are using diverse methods to grow enough algae to produce large amounts of
oil.

ADVATAGES OF ALGAE BIOFUEL:

Algal biofuel has the following advantages

• Grows at all places and environments: Algae can be grown in a non arable land
and thus is an excellent source of biofuel.

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 • Highest yield feedstock: An alga is considered as the highest yield feedstock for
biodiesel that can produce more enough oil compared to soybeans when grew in
an acre.
• Rapid growth of the plant: Using Algae Biodiesel gives high per acre yield.
• Highly biodegradable: Algae biodiesel does not used to contain sulfur, toxic
materials and it is highly biodegradable.
• Energy Security: One of the main drivers for adoption of biodiesel is energy
security. This means that a nation's dependence on oil is reduced, and substituted
with use of locally available sources, such as coal, gas, or renewable sources.
Thus significant benefits can accrue to a country from adoption of biofuels, even
without a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. Whilst the total energy balance
is debated, it is clear that the dependence on oil is reduced.
• Reduced effects on the environment which include reductions in greenhouse gas
emissions, deforestation, pollution and the rate of biodegradation.
• Efficiency and economic arguments: Almost 100% of oil can be extracted
and many others to list…
CONCLUSION
Algae are an economical choice for biodiesel production, because of its availability and
low cost. Our results prove that biodiesel can be produced from macroalge. In this way
algae can be used as renewable energy. Many researchers reported that microalgae might
better for higher biodiesl production. With the record oil price increases since 2003,
competing demands between foods and other biofuel sources and the world food crisis,
there is much interest in algaculture (farming algae) for making vegetable oil, biodiesel,
bioethanol, biogasoline, biomethanol, biobutanol and other biofuels.The production of
biofuels to replace oil and natural gas is in active development, focusing on the use of
cheap organic matter (usually cellulose, agricultural and sewage waste) in the efficient
production of liquid and gas biofuels which yield high net energy gain.

REFERENCES:

"Renewable energy markets in developing countries," Eric Martinot, Akanksha

Chaurey, Debra Lew, Jose Roberto Moreira, and Njeri Wamukonya, Annual Review of
Energy and the Environment 27: 309-348 (2002).

Biomass energy in Asia: a review of status, technologies and policies in Asia, S.C.
Bhattacharya. Energy for Sustainable Development 6(3): 5-10 (2002).

Global electric power reform, privatization, and liberalization of the electric power
industry in developing countries, R.W. Bacon and J. Besant-Jones. Annual Review of
Energy and the Environment 26: 331-59 (2001). Good discussion of power sector reform
context affecting renewable energy prospects.

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"Innovation, Renewable Energy, and State Investment: Case Studies of Leading
Clean Energy Funds," Ryan Wiser, Mark Bolinger, Lewis Milford, Kevin Porter, and
Roger Clark, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Report LBNL-51493 (Berkeley,
CA, 2002), 144 pp.

"Case Studies on the Effectiveness of State Financial Incentives for Renewable

Energy," S. Gouchoe, V. Everette, and R. Haynes, NREL/SR-620-32819 (National
Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO, 2002), 128 pp.

Handbook of Renewable Energies in the European Union: Case Studies of all Member
States, Danyel Reiche, ed. (Peter Lang Publishing, Bern, Germany, 2002), 270 pp.

Document By
SANTOSH BHARADWAJ REDDY
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