2. 𝐶𝑂2 Reduction
In recent years there has been an increase in
global effort to reduce humanity’s carbon
footprint
Governments are establishing new emission
reduction targets
European Union’s target of between 10 and 20%
by 2020
Germany’s suggestion of a 30% cut by 2020 if
matched by other nations
United States in the range of 26 to 28 percent
below the 2005 levels by 2025
3. Alternative Technologies
Transportation sector shown to have a total
greenhouse gas contribution of 78% to the
overall increase of emissions from 1979 to
2010
Production of crop-derived biodiesel and
bioethanol
Soybean
Corn
Oil palms
4. Microalgae
Water based micro-organisms with 40,000
species already identified
Convert fatty acids into lipids using a process
called esterification
Figure 1: Green algae
(Chlorophyceae) is
one of 40,000 species
of microalgae already
identified.
5. Optimal Microalgae Growth
Conditions
Lighting conditions with waves between 450
nm and 650 nm in length while also
incorporating a dark cycle where little to no
light is present
Temperature range of 25-35°C
Water pH range between 7 and 9
𝐶𝑂2 concentration of 350-1000 ppm with
adequate mixing
6. Current Growth Processes
Several processes are currently being used to
grow microalgae for biodiesel production
Utilize specific growth conditions to best
produce microalgae
Suspended culture set up
Immobilized cultures
Open pond system
7. Open Pond System
Shallow ponds which are uncovered and open
to the environment where microalgae is grown
High rate algal pond also known as a raceway
pond
Figure 2: Algal raceways
are shallow ponds with
a paddle wheel used to
distribute nutrients for
microalgae growth.
8. Optimizing Production
Possibility of genetically manipulating algae
through stress conditions in the growth
process
Nitrogen starvation
Produce microalgae at a maximum concentration
ranging between 2 g/L and 3.6 g/L
Two of the species (Nannochloropsis sp., and
Newchloris oleabundans) showing around a 50%
increase in oil quantity
9. Wastewater Treatment Facilities
Figure 3: The Logan Lagoon waste water treatment facility located in Logan, Utah.
Utah State’s biological engineering department conducts algae based research
utilizing the facility.
10. Harvesting Microalgae
There is no single best, current method used
to harvest microalgae
Existing methods
Flocculation
Micro screening
Centrifugation
Future processing systems must utilize cost
and energy efficient designs to allow for the
feasibility of biodiesel produced from
microalgae
11. The RABR
Figure 4: The Rotating Algal Biofilm
Reactor (RABR) designed at Utah State
University.
4000 ft of solid
braided cotton rope
wrapped around 74’’
diameter irrigation
wheels
Combination of both
algal growth and
water treatment
12. Conclusions
Microalgae has tremendous potential for future
production of biodiesel with hopes of reducing
the world’s dependence on fossil fuels
Several methods of growing and harvesting of
microalgae are available
Genetic manipulation of algae strains and the
development of efficient growing and
harvesting systems used to make microalgae
more economically feasible
13. References
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Journal 54.4 (2008): 621-39. Web. 11 Apr. 2015.
Li Y, Wan C (2011) Algae for Biofuels.
Christenson, Logan, and Ronald Sims, Dr. "Production and Harvesting of Microalgae for Wastewater Treatment,
Biofuels, and Bioproducts." Biotechnology Advances (2011): n. pag. Web. 11 Apr. 2015.
Gouveia, Luisa, and Ana C. Gouveia. "Microalgae as a Raw Material for Biofuels Production." Journal of Industrial
Microbiology & Biotechnology 36.2 (2009): 269-74. Springer Link. Web. 11 Apr. 2015.
Smith Terance, Sathish Ashik, Thompson Reese, Ronald Sims Dr. "Rotating Algal Biofilm Reactor (RABR) for
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