ALGAE FUEL
INTRODUCTION
Algae are simple organisms that typically produce their own food through photosynthesis.
The difficulties in efficient biodiesel production from algae lie in finding finding an algal algal strain with a high lipid content content and a costcosteffective cultivation system that is best suited to that strain.
There is also a need need to provide provide concentra concentrated ted CO 2 to turbo charge the production.
ALGAE FUEL
Algae fuel, also called algaeoleum or second-generation biofuell which which is deriv derived ed from from algae. algae. biofuel, is a biofue
During photosynthesis , algae and other photosynthetic
organisms capture CO2 and sunlight and convert it into oxygen and biomass.
The production of biofuels from algae does not reduce atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO 2), because any CO 2 taken out of the atmosphere by the algae is returned when the biofuels are burned.
PROCESS
APPLIED TO OB OBT TAIN ALGAE FUEL ALGAE ALGA E CUL C ULTIVA TIVATIO TION N
ALGAE HARVESTING
EXTRACTION OF ALGAE OIL
ALGAE CULTIVATION:Algae can grow 20 to 30 times faster than food crops. It takes only 1-10 days.
MAIN SOURCES OF ALGAE ARE: Open pond
Open-pond systems is a method for the cultivation of algae with high-oil content. Some open sewage ponds trial production has been done in Marlborough, New Zealand . Closed loop system
Closed system system require cheap source of CO2 as this is not open air.
exposed to
Thats why experts are thinking it would be more economical if the plant is situated next to the power plant.
ALGAE AL GAE HAR HARVE VEST STING ING WHAT IS HARVESTING? Separating algae from its growing medium is known as harvesting. As algae is of two types:1. MACROALGAE 2. MICROALG MI CROALGAE AE Macroalgae harvesting employs manpower whereas, microalgae can be harvested using filtration , centrifugation , flocculation or by froth flotation. Filtration:
It is carried out on membranes membranes of modified cellulose , with the aid of a suction pump. The greatest advantage of this method is that it is able to collect microalgae. However, concentration by filtration is limited to small volumes.
ALGAE OIL EXTRACTION 1.
Extraction of Algal Oil by Mechanical Methods a) Expression/Expeller press: is dried it retains its oil content content, which then can be "pressed" out with an oil press. Algae
Various press configurations work better for specific specif ic algae types as each algae has different physical attributes.
b) Ultrasonic-assisted Extraction: In this ultrasonic waves waves are used to create create cavitation cavitation bubbles in a solvent material which collapse near the cell walls, it creates shock waves and liquid jets that causes those cells walls to break and release their contents contents into the solvent.
Flocculation It is
a method of separating algae from the medium by using chemicals to force the algae to form lumps. Main disadvantage disadvantage of this is the additional chemicals are difficult
to remove from the separated algae.
Centrifugation
is a method of separating algae from the medium by using a centrifuge to cause the algae to settle to the bottom of a flask. C entrifugation entrifugation
Centrifugation Centrifugation is though though very expansive expansive but can be used for for industrial purposes.
2. Extraction of Algal Oil by Chemical Methods Algal oil can be extracted using chemicals like Benzene , ether and hexane. The downside to using solvents for oil extraction are the dangers involved in working with the chemicals. Hexane Solvent Method
which is relatively inexpensive than benzene and ether is as a solvent. Hexane,
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. solution. The oil and cyclohexane cyclohexane are separated separated by means of distillation.
ALGAE FUEL EXTRACTION
ADVANTAGES OF OIL EXTRACTION FROM ALGAE The potential of algae for fuel is tremendous as up to 10,000 gallons of oil may be produced on a single acre of land. Algae can can produce up to 300 times more oil per acre than conventional crops like soyabean , ground nut. Algae can grow 20 to 30 times faster than food crops. It takes only 1-10 days.
CHALLENGES FACED BY ALGAE FUEL VERY EXPENSIVE ONE of the greatest greatest challenges in creating biofuels from algae is that when you extract the oil from the algae, it kills the organisms, dramatically raising production costs.
CHALLENGES REMOVED BY NANOFARMING Developed by the U.S. Department of Energy's Ames
Laboratory . The process doesn't harm the algae , which helps reduce both production costs and the production cycle. Once the algal oil is extracted , a separate and proven solid catalyst will be used to produce AST M certified biodiesel.
CONCLUSION ALGAE FUEL can be a best alternative source of fuel as fossil fuels are depleting day by day. CO2 turbo charges the production of the algae and by the consumption consumption of the biodiesel the CO2 is back in the environment. environment. Thus, ecological balance is maintained.
REFERENCES www.wikipedia.com www.oilgae.com www.phyorg.com astern Daily Press. January "Green Dream Backed by MPs". E astern 2003. Retrieved 2008-06-10.
Friends of Ethanol.com biodegradable ethanol "Low Cost Algae Production System Introduced". EnergyArizona. 2007-08-28. Retrieved 2008-06-10. Dyer, Gwynne Gwynne (2008-06 (2008-06-17) -17).. "A replaceme replacement nt for oil oil..
"Biofuels from industrial/domestic wastewater". Retrieved 2008-06-11.
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