Process Design and Economics for the Conversion of Algal Biomass to Biofuels: Algal Biomass Fractionation to Lipid- and Carbohydrate-Derived Fuel Products

Davis, Ryan W.; Kinchin, Christopher; Markham, Jennifer; Tan, Eric; Laurens, Lieve M.L.; Sexton, Danielle; Knorr, D.; Schoen, P.; Lukas, John C.

doi:10.2172/1159351

Cited by 78 publications

(156 citation statements)

References 52 publications

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“…Following this, the mixture was centrifuged. This is based on an NREL algal purification process for product upgrading, and removes any polar lipids (such as phospholipids) present in the unrefined lipid mixture. Phosphoric acid was then neutralized using sodium hydroxide (2.5 wt%), removing free fatty acids from the process stream.…”

Section: Methodology and Process Descriptionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Following fermentation, the stream left the fermentation vessels passing through an adsorption column which removed 2‐phenylethanol from the process stream. Hexane extraction was assumed to be via a wet hexane extraction . This negated both a prior homogenization and drying step.…”

Section: Methodology and Process Descriptionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For this process, a conservative 5% hexane loss was assumed. Electricity usage also was calculated based on Davis et al …”

Section: Methodology and Process Descriptionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These methods have varying potential for industrial scalability . Wet extraction using hexane has been modelled in detail on an industrial scale . The model obtains a lipid yield of 99.7% (95% fatty acid lipids), with a hexane recovery rate of 99.4%.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Techno‐economic analysis (TEA) of microbial oil production from waste resources as part of a biorefinery concept: assessment at multiple scales under uncertainty

Parsons

Abeln

McManus

et al. 2018

J of Chemical Tech & Biotech

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BACKGROUND: Microbial oils -often termed single cell oils (SCOs) -offer an alternative to terrestrial oil crops across the energy, food and chemical industries. In addition to oils, a range of secondary metabolites can be produced from the heterotrophic organisms as part of a biorefinery system. Techno-economic analysis (TEA) is an important tool for evaluating economic viability, and although TEA is subject to high uncertainties where production is still at the laboratory scale, the tool can play a significant role in directing further research to evaluate suitability of scale-up.RESULTS: SCO production from the oleaginous yeast Metschnikowia pulcherrima using sucrose, wheat straw and distillery waste feedstocks was evaluated at two production scales. At a scale of 100 t year −1 oil production a minimum estimated selling price (MESP) of €14 000 t -1 was determined for sucrose. This reduced to €4-8000 t -1 on scaling to 10 000 t year −1 , with sucrose and wheat straw yielding the lowest MESP. CONCLUSIONS: Feedstock price and lipid yield had the greatest impact on overall economic return, though the valorization of co-products also had a large effect, and further play between feedstock and system productivity strategies could bring the price down to be competitive with terrestrial oils in the future. The novel approach demonstrated here for the first time integrates uncertainty into economic analysis whilst facilitating decision-support at an early technology development stage.(2) Discounted cash flow analysis was used to obtain a minimum estimated selling price (MESP) based on a net present value (NPV) J Chem Technol Biotechnol 2019; 94: 701-711

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Section: Methodology and Process Descriptionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodology and Process Descriptionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For this process, a conservative 5% hexane loss was assumed. Electricity usage also was calculated based on Davis et al …”

Section: Methodology and Process Descriptionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Techno‐economic analysis (TEA) of microbial oil production from waste resources as part of a biorefinery concept: assessment at multiple scales under uncertainty

Parsons

Abeln

McManus

et al. 2018

J of Chemical Tech & Biotech

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“…Following this step, the algae may need to be dried, milled or pretreated in some other way such as microwaving, chemical treatment or milling to improve lipid extraction . After harvesting a 20 wt% solids biomass is generally considered ready for most downstream processing steps (Davis et al 2014). Flocculation may be a cost-effective method .…”

Section: Harvestingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Integration of biology, ecology and engineering for sustainable algal-based biofuel and bioproduct biorefinery

Allen

Unlu

Demi̇rel

et al. 2018

Bioresour. Bioprocess.

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Despite years of concerted research efforts, an industrial-scale technology has yet to emerge for production and conversion of algal biomass into biofuels and bioproducts. The objective of this review is to explore the ways of possible integration of biology, ecology and engineering for sustainable large algal cultivation and biofuel production systems. Beside the costs of nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorous, and fresh water, upstream technologies which are not ready for commercialization both impede economic feasibility and conflict with the ecological benefits in the sector. Focusing mainly on the engineering side of chemical conversion of algae to biodiesel has also become obstacle. However, to reduce the costs, one potential strategy has been progressing steadily to synergistically link algal aquaculture to the governmentally mandated reduction of nitrogen and phosphorous concentrations in municipal wastewater. Recent research also supports the suppositions of scalability and cost reduction. Noticeably, less is known of the economic impact of conversion of the whole algae-based biorefinery sector with additional biochemical and thermochemical processes and integration with ecological constraints. This review finds that a biorefinery approach with integrated biology, ecology, and engineering could lead to a feasible algal-based technology for variety of biofuels and bioproducts. which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made.

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Microalgae for Energy

Razeghifard

2016

Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology

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Algae are capable of switching their metabolism that is integrated with photosynthesis under certain conditions to produce H2gas and substrates for fuels such as biodiesel. H2is produced by microalgae under anaerobic conditions induced by sulfur deprivation as the most commonly applied treatment. Under these conditions, the demand for reducing electrons by the CO2fixation process is decreased making them available for H2production by algal O2‐senstive hydrogenase enzymes. The electrons are generated from water oxidation by the photosynthetic linear electron transfer and the oxidation of stored organic compounds such as starch. Biodiesel as fatty acid methyl esters can be produced from algal triacylglycerides by a transesterification process. The triacylglyceride synthesis in microalgae can be induced under stress conditions such as nitrogen (N) deprivation. Proteomic studies have shown that N stress can cause a shift in metabolism in favor of directing carbon skeletons toward fatty acid biosynthesis for triacylglyceride production. Several important factors limiting the potential of microalgae for biofuel production and their possible solutions, including the production of other fuels such as bioethanol and biomethane from algal biomass are also presented.

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Process Design and Economics for the Conversion of Algal Biomass to Biofuels: Algal Biomass Fractionation to Lipid- and Carbohydrate-Derived Fuel Products

Cited by 78 publications

References 52 publications

Techno‐economic analysis (TEA) of microbial oil production from waste resources as part of a biorefinery concept: assessment at multiple scales under uncertainty

Techno‐economic analysis (TEA) of microbial oil production from waste resources as part of a biorefinery concept: assessment at multiple scales under uncertainty

Integration of biology, ecology and engineering for sustainable algal-based biofuel and bioproduct biorefinery

Microalgae for Energy

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