Presenter : Dr. Lata Shukla Assistant Professor

1. Sustainable biofuels from large scale algal culture by
using bioprocess technology
Department of Biotechnology,
School of Life Sciences, Pondicherry University, Pondicherry
Dr. Lata Shukla
Assistant Professor
http://www.pondiuni.edu.in/profile/dr-lata-shukla

2. INTRODUCTION
• The sustainable solution for power generation
using biofuels generated by light harvesting algae
by clubbing plug flow reactor with airlift
fermenters have been experimentally proved on
large scale.
• This could provide sustainable solution for
generation of biofuels.
• The continuous fermentation and separation of the
biomass generated and only sparging as
requirement could generate algal biomass in self
sustaining air lift fermenter.
• Also, the designing of the plug flow reactor could
also provide the reduction of light intensity and
could be used for generation of green house.
C.M. Beal, et al. 2012, Gressel J. 2008, L. Gouveia et al. 2009

3. • The microalgae are efficient biological producer of oil,
a versatile biomass source and important renewable
fuel.
• Their photosynthetic efficiency- Highest
• Higher biomass productivities
• Faster growth rate than higher plants. .
• Growth conditions: requires liquid medium ,
• Could grow in treated waste water, cheap fertilizers
could be used to provide nitrogen source.
• Either very productive or only productive in variable
climates.
• Can use non-arable land (unsuitable for agricultural
purposes e.g. desert and seashore lands) production is
not seasonal and can be harvested daily.

4. • Algae cells have a strong and biochemically complex
cell wall designed to protect the cells from
hydrodynamic stress (This tough cell wall must be
disrupted to liberate the oil that accumulates inside the
cell).
• Energy return on investment for algal biofuel
production coupled with waste water treatment and the
thermodynamic analysis of algal biocrude production is
known.
• Biotechnological advancements includes transcriptome
sequencing and annotation of the microalgae Dunaliella
tertiolecta. Pathway description and gene discovery for
production of next-generation biofuels leading to a new
dawn for industrial photosynthesis. The green light for
engineered algae: Redirecting metabolism to fuel a
biotechnology revolution is available.

5. Fig. 1: Real view of the tubular photobioreactor at the experimental
station.
Fernandez et al. 2014

6. Fig.2: Tubular photobioreactor scheme.
Fernandez et al. 2014

7. Fig.3: Calibration results: simulated and experimental data of dissolved
oxygen concentration (DO), pH, and biomass concentration as a function
of CO2 injection and solar radiation (Feb 3–5, 2014).
Fernandez et al. 2014

8. Fig.4: Calibration results: simulated and experimental data of temperature as a
function of ambient temperature, medium temperature, water inlet temperature,
volumetric flow rate of both water and medium inputs, and solar radiation (Oct
27–29, 2013).
Fernandez et al. 2014

9. Fig.5: Enlarged view of calibration results.
Fernandez et al. 2014

10. Fig.6: Validation results: simulated and experimental data of dissolved oxygen
concentration (DO), pH, and biomass concentration as a function of CO2
injection and solar radiation (Feb 25 and 26, 2014).
Fernandez et al. 2014

11. Fig.7: Validation results: simulated and experimental data of temperature as a
function of ambient temperature, medium temperature, water inlet temperature,
volumetric flow rate of both water and medium inputs, and solar radiation (Nov
19 and 20, 2013).
Fernandez et al. 2014

12. Fig.8: Scenario 1: pH responses under winter conditions.
Fernandez et al. 2014

13. Fig.9: Scenario 2: temperature responses under summer conditions.
Fernandez et al. 2014

14. Fig.10: Scenario 2: pH responses under summer conditions.
Fernandez et al. 2014

15. Table 1: Lipid content of some microalgae
(% dry matter)
SPECIES LIPIDS
Scenedesmus obliquus 11–22/35–55
Scenedesmus dimorphus 6–7/16–40
Chlorella vulgaris 14–40/56
Chlorella emersonii 63
Chlorella protothecoides 23/55
Chlorella sorokiana 22
Chlorella minutissima 57
Dunaliella bioculata 8
Dunaliella salina 14–20
Neochloris oleoabundans 35–65
Spirulina maxima 4–9
Gouveia, L. et al. 2009

16. Down stream processing

17. “Dry Process”
Separate Water
and Algae
Feed:
Concentrated
Algae Slurry
Water
Algae Paste or
Powder
Solvent
Lysing and
Oil Recovery
Separate algae
and solvent
(and water)
Separate oil
and solvent
Lysing and
Oil Recovery
Separate oil
and solvent
Separate water
and algae
Solvent
“Wet Process”
www.openalgae.com

18. OpenAlgae Mobile Algae Processing
www.openalgae.com

19. Lysing
chamber &
power supply
Concentration
skid
Oil Recovery
skid
OpenAlgae Mobile Algae Processing
www.openalgae.com

20. Oil Concentration in Water = 0.5 g oil/L
(No Solids)
Large Module
Oil Recovery Using Solventless Process
www.openalgae.com

21. Comparisons with other biofuel show algae are best
• Other Biofuels
• Edible oil
• Non edible oil of plant origin

22. Links for comparisons
• http://www.bioenergy.wa.gov/OilSeed.aspx
• http://jatropha.pro/PDF%20bestanden/INTA.p
df

23. Plant Yield (seed)
lbs/acre
Biodiesel
gal/acre
Plant Yield (seed)
lbs/acre
Biodiesel
gal/acre
Corn 7800 18 Safflower 1500 83
Oats 3600 23 Rice 6600 88
Cotton 1000 35 Sunflower 1200 100
Soybean 2000 48 Peanut 2800 113
Mustard 1400 61 Rapeseed 2000 127
Camelina 1500 62 Coconut** 3600 287
Crambe 1000 65 Oil palm** 6251 635
Biofuel Variety Trials Factsheet, USDA-ARS and WSU, Prosser, WA

24. CONCLUSIONS
• Algal photobioreactor can provide continuous biomass.
• Advanced technology for isolation of oil from biomass
is available.
• Tubular bioreactor design could also be used to reduce
light intensity and temperature and hence could provide
canopy for green houses, go down in rural system and
surveillance and upkeep is easy.
• It has 3 merits:
- waste water treatment,
- carbon dioxide fixation,
- oxygen generation.

25. • Aesthetically beautiful.
• It has much higher yield than other biodiesel
feedstocks, less spatial requirements and lack of
competition for human consumption.
• For all these reasons microalgae are considered as
one of the main biodiesel feedstocks for the
future.
• However, for being competitive in bioenergy
market, the cost and production capacity must be
better than the rest of the biodiesel feedstocks.

26. REFERENCES
• I. Fernandez et al. (2014) First Principles Model of a Tubular
Photobioreactor for Microalgal Production. Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 53,
11121-11136.
• Gouveia, L. & Oliveira, A.C. J. Ind. Microbiol. Biotechnol. (2009) 36: 269.
doi:10.1007/s10295-008-0495-6.
• C.M. Beal, et al. (2012) Water Environ. Res. , 84: 692-710. C.M. Beal, R.E.
Hebner, M.E. Webber,2012 "Thermodynamic analysis of algal biocrude
production," Energy, 44: 925-943.
• Gressel J. (2008) Plant Science 174: 246–263.
• H. Rismani-Yazdi (2011) BMC Genomics 12: 148–165.
• D E Robertson (2011)Photosynthetic Research 107: 269–277.
• Rosenburg JM (2008) Current Opinion in Biotechnology 19: 430–436.
• http://www.openalgae.com/

27. Thank You