Derek Seymour

Table of Contents

Current Need for New Fuel Sources

Why Microalgae?

Current Status of Microalgae Oil Production

Understanding of Microalgae Oil Production

Other Research and Design Issues

What is the Path Forward?

Current Need for New Fuel Sources

The U.S. has consumed over 80% of its proven oil reserves.

The U.S. now imports over 60% of its oil, and will import over 80% of its oil within 20 years.

Total proven oil reserves worldwide is equivalent of 40 years of consumable oil.

CO2 and Global Climate Change

Fossil fuel combustion accounts for approx. 80% of global warming potential weighted CO2 in the U.S. since 1990.

Power plants emit 40% of the CO2 from fossil fuel combustion in the U.S.

Transportation activities account for 35% of CO2 emissions from fossil fuel combustion.

Feedstock for Biofuels

Currently available feedstocks for biofuels:

Corn Soybean Sunflower Canola

Rapeseed Peanut Palm Fruit

Feedstocks for Food and/or Fuel?

? ?

Why Microalgae?

Microalgae can produce large amounts of neutral lipids (oil), from 20 to 40% of dry weight.

Algae lipid production potential is far greater then any other biofuel feedstock.

Algae do not compete with food sources over land, therefore cropland can be devoted to feeding the population.

CO2 from power plants can be absorbed by microalgae, therefore reducing emissions.

Crop Plant and Algae Based Oil Production Potential

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Oil Production of Crop (gal/acre)

Current Status of Microalgae Oil Production

Currently in the beginning stages of research and testing.

More research has to be performed to determine possible future of microalgae.

Processing of oil from microalgae can be expensive and is heavily researched.

Some cultivation processes show promise but are still in the beginning stages of implementation.

Support and financing are low and need to increase for microalgae biofuels to have an opportunity to make an impact on the energy industry.

Understanding Microalgae Oil Production

Production of oil is a very complex process that is influenced by several factors including species of algae, temperature, CO2 concentration, nutrient concentration, water supply, and light presence. It is important to realize that every variation of these factors can

dramatically alter the oil production from the algae.

Additional methods exist, making matters even more complex. Instead of autotrophic growth, growth with CO2 and sunlight, there

have been proposals to grow via heterotrophic. This type of growth will involve no sun light and no CO2. Instead the algae are provided with a carbon substrate such as glucose or glycerin.

There are other proposals to grow the algae with a combination of autotrophic growth and heterotrophic growth as well.

Understanding Microalgae Oil Production

Every species of microalgae has an optimal growth range at certain temperatures, nutrient levels, sun light exposure, etc.

Some species of microalgae produce more oil then others species.

Heterotrophic growth normally, but not always, produces more oil in microalgae than autotrophic growth.

In conclusion, oil production in microalgae is very fickle and subtle changes can make dramatic changes in oil production. Therefore it is very important to conduct extensive research on these factors to determine the best species of microalgae and the best nutrition mode to optimize and increase oil production from microalgae. The table on the next slide shows the complex and fickle nature of oil production.

Understanding Microalgae Oil Production

Algae Species Cultural Method

Biomass Growth (g/L)

Lipid Content (%)

Oil Yield (mg/L*d)

C. sp-1 Autotrophic 0.46 30.05 17.28

Heterotrophic 1.72 35.00 75.25

Mixotrophic 2.17 37.78 102.48

2C. sp-2 Autotrophic 0.24 18.59 11.49

Heterotrophic 1.38 26.67 46.01

Mixotrophic 1.90 26.33 62.53

S. Obliquus Autotrophic 0.35 35.69 15.70

Heterotrophic 1.66 30.25 62.62

Mixotrophic 2.86 36.17 129.13

I. galbana Autotrophic 0.23 21.20 6.84

Mixotrophic 0.23 26.80 7.81

P. umtricornutum

Autotrophic 0.23 24.00 6.90

Mixotrophic 0.27 20.85 7.04

Other Research and Design Issues

Algal biomass dewatering and drying Sun-drying, waste heat drying, drum-drying, freeze-drying, etc.

Algae oil extraction and pre-treatment Solvents, mechanical, electrical, supercritical fluid extraction, etc.

Oil Conversion and refinement Transesterification, deoxygenation, cracking, isomerization, etc.

System integration Wastewater, flue gases, algae culture, biomass residues, system

scale-up feasibility, etc.

Carbon Sequestration

Wastewater Treatment

Concluding Thoughts/ Path Forward

Algae represent a promising opportunity for renewable and sustainable fuels.

Algal feedstock production can be coupled with removing carbon from the atmosphere (carbon sequestration) and wastewater treatment.

An engineered algae-based approach can represent a mid-, to long-term solution rather than an immediate fix.

Federal and state funding, along with university/industry collaborations are needed to capitalize on the opportunity at hand.

Additionally, support and investments from the general public would greatly increase the process of research and optimization.

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