Supporting information

Life cycle greenhouse gas emissions of

different CO2 supply options for an algal
biorefinery
Pratham Arora1, Ron Chance2, Howard Hendrix3, Matthew J. Realff4, Valerie M. Thomas5, Yanhui Yuan2
1
Department of Hydro and Renewable Energy, Indian Institute of Technology-Roorkee, Uttarakhand
247667, India

2
Algenol Biotech 16121 Lee Road, Suite 110 Fort Myers, FL 33912, United States

3
Hendrix Engineering Solutions, Inc. 136 B Marketplace Circle PMB 164 Calera, AL 35040, United
States, hendrixengineeringsolutions@gmail.com 205-382-3088
4
School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Georgia Institute of Technology Atlanta GA
30332, United States.
5
School of Industrial and Systems Engineering Georgia Institute of Technology Atlanta GA 30332,
United States

Case 1: Coal based power plant System boundary

2 4

1
3

Stream 1 2 3 4
Temperature C 60.00 45.25 60.00 30.00
Pressure bar 1.00 1.00 2.10 2.00
Mass Vapor
Fraction 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00
Mass Flows kg/hr 136230.00 126050.94 126050.94 121228.15
Mass Fractions
N2 0.65 0.70 0.70 0.73
 O2 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05
CO2 0.19 0.20 0.20 0.21
H2O 0.12 0.05 0.05 0.01

Emission source Time period Energy consumed Emission footprint (g

(per 1 kg CO2 CO2 per 1 g CO2
delivered) delivered)
CO2 intake from power Day -1.0000
plant
Electricity used Day 154 Wh 0.0772
Total -0.9228

Case 2: Coal based power plant with carbon capture System boundary

3
4
1

Stream 1 2 3 4
Temperature C 60.00 50.00 58.91 30.00
Pressure bar 1.00 1.00 2.70 2.00
Mass Vapor Fraction 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00
Mass Flows kg/hr 183877.00 61169.00 35824.50 35753.30
Mass Fractions
N2 0.65 0.74 0.00 0.00
O2 0.05 0.09 0.00 0.00
CO2 0.19 0.09 0.98 0.99
H2O 0.12 0.07 0.01 0.01

Emission source Time period Energy consumed Emission footprint (g

(per 1 kg CO2 CO2 per 1 g CO2
delivered) delivered)
CO2 intake from power Day -1.0000
plant
CO2 losses from carbon Day 0.1564
capture unit
Electricity used Day 76 Wh 0.0379
Natural gas used Day 2.98 MJ 0.0417
Total -0.7638
Case 3: Natural gas based power plant

System boundary

2 4
1
3

Units 1 2 3 4
Temperature C 60.00 45.25 60.20 30.00
Pressure bar 1.00 1.00 2.10 2.00
Mass Vapor Fraction 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00
Mass Flows kg/hr 136230.00 136230.00 136230.00 130175.75
Mass Fractions
N2 0.75 0.75 0.75 0.78
O2 0.13 0.13 0.13 0.14
CO2 0.07 0.07 0.07 0.07
H2O 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.01

Emission source Time period Energy consumed Emission footprint (g

(per 1 kg CO2 CO2 per 1 g CO2
delivered) delivered)
CO2 intake from power Day -1.0000
plant
Electricity used Day 466 Wh 0.2328
Total -0.7672
Case 4: Natural gas based power plant with carbon capture
System boundary

4
1
3

Units 1 2 3 4
Temperature C 60.00 50.00 58.99 30.00
Pressure bar 1.00 1.00 2.70 2.00
Mass Vapor Fraction 1.00 0.95 1.00 1.00
Mass Flows kg/hr 510546.00 61169.00 36146.52 36074.34
Mass Fractions
N2 0.75 0.74 0.01 0.01
O2 0.13 0.09 0.00 0.00
CO2 0.07 0.09 0.98 0.98
H2O 0.05 0.07 0.01 0.01

Emission source Time period Energy consumed Emission footprint (g

(per 1 kg CO2 CO2 per 1 g CO2
delivered) delivered)
CO2 intake from power Day -1.0000
plant
CO2 losses from carbon Day 0.1566
capture unit
Electricity used Day 153 Wh 0.0763
Natural gas used Day 2.98 MJ 0.0417
Total -0.7254
Case 5: Standalone NGCC plant
System boundary 4

1
2

Units 1.00 2.00 3.00 4.00

Temperature C 60.00 45.00 60.00 30.00
Pressure bar 1.01 1.00 1.70 1.60
Mass Vapor Fraction 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00
Mass Flows kg/hr 554000.00 537163.67 537163.67 531573.80
Mass Fractions
N2 0.75 0.77 0.77 0.78
O2 0.13 0.13 0.13 0.13
CO2 0.07 0.07 0.07 0.07
H2O 0.06 0.03 0.03 0.02

Emission source Time period Energy Emission footprint (g

consumed/exported CO2 per 1 g CO2
(per 1 kg CO2 delivered)
delivered)
NGCC plant night time Night 1.0000
emission
Electricity exported to Day 1928 Wh -2.0637
grid Night 2198 Wh
Electricity Used Day 270 Wh
Night 0 Wh
Natural gas used Day 19.03 MJ 0.5327
Night 19.03 MJ
Total -0.5309
Case 6: Standalone NGCC plant with carbon capture

System boundary
2
4

1 3

Units 1 2 3 4
Temperature C 70.00 30.00 35.00 30.00
Pressure bar 1.01 1.00 1.70 1.60
Mass Vapor Fraction 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00
Mass Flows kg/hr 554000.00 537163.67 35082.43 35056.67
Mass Fractions
N2 0.75 0.77 0.01 0.01
O2 0.13 0.13 0.00 0.00
CO2 0.07 0.07 0.97 0.97
H2O 0.06 0.03 0.01 0.01

Emission source Time period Energy Emission footprint (g

consumed/exported CO2 per 1 g CO2
(per 1 kg CO2 delivered)
delivered)
NGCC plant night time Night 1.0000
emission
CO2 losses from carbon Day 0.2485
capture unit Night
Electricity exported to Day 2029 Wh -2.2513
grid Night 2472 Wh
Electricity Used Day 303 Wh
Night 0 Wh
Natural gas used Day 21.39 MJ 0.5989
Night 21.39 MJ
Total -0.4038
Case 7: Standalone NGCC plant with carbon capture and refrigeration
System boundary
3

4
1
2

Units 1 2 3 4
Temperature C 70.00 35.00 -41.93 30.00
Pressure bar 1.01 1.00 12.00 1.60
Mass Vapor Fraction 1.00 1.00 0.00 1.00
Mass Flows kg/hr 277300.00 18221.48 16638.82 34860.30
Mass Fractions
N2 0.75 0.01 0.00 0.01
O2 0.12 0.00 0.00 0.00
CO2 0.07 0.98 1.00 0.99
H2O 0.06 0.01 0.00 0.00

Emission source Time period Energy Emission footprint (g

consumed/exported CO2 per 1 g CO2
(per 1 kg CO2 delivered)
delivered)
NGCC plant night time Night 0
emission
CO2 losses from carbon Day 0.1619
capture unit Night
Electricity exported to Day 1049 Wh -1.0122
grid Night 975 Wh
Electricity Used Day 150 Wh
Night 224 Wh
Natural gas used Day 11.05 MJ 0.3095
Night 11.05 MJ
Total -0.5410
Case 8: Standalone NGCC plant with partial carbon capture and refrigeration

System boundary
2

4
1

Units 1 2 3 4
Temperature C 70.00 30.00 -41.72 30.00
Pressure bar 1.01 1.60 12.00 1.60
Mass Vapor Fraction 1.00 1.00 0.00 1.00
Mass Flows kg/hr 277300.00 265403.75 16652.23 281024.55
Mass Fractions
N2 0.75 0.78 0.00 0.74
O2 0.12 0.13 0.00 0.12
CO2 0.07 0.08 0.99 0.13
H2O 0.06 0.02 0.00 0.01

Emission source Time period Energy Emission footprint (g

consumed/exported CO2 per 1 g CO2
(per 1 kg CO2 delivered)
delivered)
NGCC plant night time Night 0
emission
CO2 losses from carbon Day 0.0918
capture unit Night
Electricity exported to Day 1021 Wh -0.9872
grid Night 952 Wh
Electricity Used Day 141 Wh
Night 211 Wh
Natural gas used Day 10.39 MJ 0.2908
Night 10.39 MJ
Total -0.6046
Case 9: Biomass combustion
System boundary 4
1 3
2

Units 1 2 3 4
Temperature C 70.00 30.00 60.00 30.00
Pressure bar 1.01 1.00 1.70 1.60
Mass Vapor Fraction 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00
Mass Flows kg/hr 166247.78 152611.47 152611.47 151505.88
Mass Fractions
N2 0.65 0.70 0.70 0.71
O2 0.02 0.03 0.03 0.03
CO2 0.23 0.25 0.25 0.25
H2O 0.10 0.02 0.02 0.01

Emission source Time period Energy Emission footprint (g

consumed/exported CO2 per 1 g CO2
(per 1 kg CO2 delivered)
delivered)
Biomass plant night Night 1.0000
time emission
Electricity exported to Day 429 Wh -0.4653
grid Night 502 Wh
Electricity Used Day 73 Wh
Night 0 Wh
Biomass used Day 0.58 kg -1.8426
Night 0.58 kg
Total -1.3079
Case 10: Biomass gasification
System boundary
4
1 3
2

Units 1 2 3 4
Temperature C 70.00 30.00 60.00 30.00
Pressure bar 1.00 1.00 1.70 1.60
Mass Vapor Fraction 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00
Mass Flows kg/hr 336247.78 326160.23 326160.23 323705.74
Mass Fractions
N2 0.71 0.73 0.73 0.73
O2 0.13 0.13 0.13 0.13
CO2 0.11 0.12 0.12 0.12
H2O 0.05 0.02 0.02 0.01

Emission source Time period Energy Emission footprint (g

consumed/exported CO2 per 1 g CO2
(per 1 kg CO2 delivered)
delivered)
Biomass plant night Night 1.0000
time emission
Electricity exported to Day 701 Wh -0.7811
grid Night 862 Wh
Electricity Used Day 161 Wh
Night 0 Wh
Biomass used Day 0.58 kg -1.8426
Night 0.58 kg
Total -1.6237
Case 11: Biomass gasification with carbon capture

System boundary
2
4
1 3

Units 1 2 3 4
Temperature C 70.00 30.00 35.00 30.00
Pressure bar 1.00 1.00 1.70 1.60
Mass Vapor Fraction 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00
Mass Flows kg/hr 336247.78 326160.22 34646.99 34621.62
Mass Fractions
N2 0.71 0.73 0.01 0.01
O2 0.13 0.13 0.00 0.00
CO2 0.11 0.12 0.98 0.98
H2O 0.05 0.02 0.01 0.01

Emission source Time period Energy Emission footprint (g

consumed/exported CO2 per 1 g CO2
(per 1 kg CO2 delivered)
delivered)
Biomass plant night Night 1.0000
time emission
CO2 losses from carbon Day 0.2487
capture unit Night
Electricity exported to Day 647 Wh -0.7379
grid Night 829 Wh
Electricity Used Day 181 Wh
Night 0 Wh
Biomass used Day 0.58 kg -2.0717
Night 0.58 kg
Total -1.5610
Case 12: Direct air capture (DAC) case

System boundary

Units 1 2 3 4
Temperature C 21.00 50.00 530.00 40.00
Pressure bar 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00
Molar Vapor Fraction 1.00 0.91 1.00 1.00
Mass Flows tonne/hr 251000.00 120.30 201.49 171.83
Mass Fractions
CO2 0.00 0.14 0.83 0.97
H2O 0.01 0.12 0.15 0.00
N2 0.76 0.73 0.01 0.01
O2 0.23 0.01 0.01 0.02

Emission source Time period Energy consumed Emission footprint (g

(per 1 kg CO2 CO2 per 1 g CO2
delivered) delivered)
CO2 intake from Day -0.6939
atmosphere
CO2 intake from power Day 0.0000
plant
Natural gas used Day 6.18 MJ 0.0865
Total -0.6073
Case Study

4
2 3

1 5

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Temperature C 30.00 30.00 30.00 60.00 30.00 60.00 60.00 30.00
Pressure bar 2.00 1.00 1.00 2.00 1.00 3.45 1.00 2.00
Mass Vapor
Fraction 1.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 1.00 0.00 1.00
kg/ 151279. 102216. 51108. 4161. 3111. 2375. 84244. 5065.
Mass Flows hr 35 21 10 85 81 58 13 34
Mass Fractions
H2 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
N2 0.73 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
O2 0.05 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
CO2 0.21 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.41 0.00 1.00
H2O 0.01 0.79 0.79 0.05 0.00 0.05 0.83 0.00
NH3 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.01 0.00
CH4 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.54 0.00 0.00
C2H6 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
C3H8 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
N-C4H10 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
N-PENTAN 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.01 0.00 0.00 0.00
HEXANE 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.01 0.00 0.00 0.00
NH4+ 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.01 0.00
H3O+ 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.03 0.00
HCO3- 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.12 0.00
C5H9NS 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.02 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
TOLUENE 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.02 0.03 0.00 0.00 0.00
RYRO3ETM 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.06 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
PHENO4M 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.01 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
AMIPHENO 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.06 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
INDOLE 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.03 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
2-PYTENE 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.11 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
C15OLEF 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.02 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
MC12AMID 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.05 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
C16AMIDE 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.10 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
C18AMIDE 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.05 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
C16:0FA 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.02 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
C18:1FA 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.01 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
C13H18 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.02 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
HEVOIL1 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.16 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
HEVOIL2 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.20 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
2MPENTA 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.01 0.00 0.00 0.00
CC5-METH 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.01 0.00 0.00 0.00
2MHEXAN 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.01 0.00 0.00 0.00
HEPTANE 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
CC6-METH 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.04 0.00 0.00 0.00
PIPERDIN 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
3MHEPTA 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.03 0.00 0.00 0.00
OCTANE 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.02 0.00 0.00 0.00
ETHCYC6 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.02 0.00 0.00 0.00
ETHBENZ 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.03 0.00 0.00 0.00
O-XYLENE 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.03 0.00 0.00 0.00
C9H20 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.02 0.00 0.00 0.00
CC6-PRO 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.02 0.00 0.00 0.00
C3BENZ 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.03 0.00 0.00 0.00
4MNONAN 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.02 0.00 0.00 0.00
C10H22 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.02 0.00 0.00 0.00
C4BENZ 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.05 0.00 0.00 0.00
C11H24 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.01 0.00 0.00 0.00
C10H12 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.03 0.00 0.00 0.00
C12H26 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.02 0.00 0.00 0.00
1234NA 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.03 0.00 0.00 0.00
CC6-HEX 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.02 0.00 0.00 0.00
14DMNAPH 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.03 0.00 0.00 0.00
C13H28 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.01 0.00 0.00 0.00
C7BENZ 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.02 0.00 0.00 0.00
C8BENZ 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.05 0.00 0.00 0.00
TETMC16 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.04 0.00 0.00 0.00
C22H42O4 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
C14H30 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.01 0.00 0.00 0.00
C15H32 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.02 0.00 0.00 0.00
C16H34 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.11 0.00 0.00 0.00
C17H36 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.05 0.00 0.00 0.00
C18H38 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.05 0.00 0.00 0.00
C19H40 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
C20H42 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.08 0.00 0.00 0.00
C22H46 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
C24H50 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
C28H58 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
C30H62 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
NH4HS 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.01 0.00 0.00 0.00
2*NH4CO3 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
ALGAE 0.00 0.21 0.21 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00