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Related Concept Videos

Biofuels01:25

Biofuels

The microbial conversion of organic matter into biofuels holds potential as a renewable energy source. Among biofuel sources, microalgae are recognized as a highly efficient and adaptable feedstock for biodiesel production, owing to their rapid biomass accumulation, elevated lipid productivity, and capacity to proliferate in diverse aquatic systems, including freshwater, marine, and wastewater habitats. Unlike terrestrial crops, microalgae do not compete for land and can achieve significantly...
Green Algae01:21

Green Algae

Green algae, also referred to as chlorophytes, are different from red algae in having the chloroplasts containing chlorophylls a and b, which give them their distinct green hue. However, they lack phycobiliproteins, preventing them from developing the red or blue-green pigmentation seen in red algae. In terms of photosynthetic pigment composition, green algae closely resemble plants and share a close evolutionary relationship with them. Taxonomically Green algae belong to Phylum Chlorophyta in...
Overview of Algae01:28

Overview of Algae

The kingdom Archaeplastida encompasses red and green algae, along with land plants. Unlike other protists with chloroplasts that arose through secondary endosymbiosis, only red and green algae originated from primary endosymbiotic events. This diverse group of eukaryotic organisms contains chlorophyll and performs oxygenic photosynthesis.Algae exist in various forms, from large brown kelp in coastal waters to green scum in puddles and stains on rocks or soil. Some species are responsible for...
Microbial Bioremediation of Hydrocarbons01:26

Microbial Bioremediation of Hydrocarbons

Bioremediation is an environmentally sustainable process that employs living organisms—primarily microorganisms—to degrade or neutralize pollutants from contaminated environments. In oil spills and hydrocarbon pollution, bioremediation involves the use of hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria to transform toxic compounds into less harmful substances. This approach leverages natural microbial metabolic processes and is considered both cost-effective and ecologically favorable compared to physical or...
Other Algae01:19

Other Algae

The group Stramenopiles include some phototrophic microorganisms. Members of this group possess flagella covered in numerous short, hairlike extensions, a feature that inspired the group's name, derived from the Latin words for "straw" and "hair." Some of the main categories of Stramenopiles include diatoms, golden algae, and brown algae.Diatoms are unicellular, photosynthetic eukaryotes, with over 200 known genera. They play a key role in the planktonic communities of both marine and...
Lipid Catabolism01:25

Lipid Catabolism

Triglycerides serve as crucial long-term energy storage molecules in microorganisms, providing a dense source of metabolic energy. Their breakdown is mediated by lipases, which hydrolyze triglycerides into glycerol and free fatty acids. Each of these components follows distinct metabolic pathways, ultimately contributing to ATP synthesis and cellular energy homeostasis.Glycerol MetabolismGlycerol, released from triglyceride hydrolysis, is phosphorylated by glycerol kinase to form...

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Quantification of Heavy Metals and Other Inorganic Contaminants on the Productivity of Microalgae
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Quantification of Heavy Metals and Other Inorganic Contaminants on the Productivity of Microalgae

Published on: July 10, 2015

Algae biodiesel life cycle assessment using current commercial data.

Howard Passell1, Harnoor Dhaliwal, Marissa Reno

  • 1Sandia National Laboratories, Box 5800, MS 1137 Albuquerque, NM, USA.

Journal of Environmental Management
|August 1, 2013
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Life cycle assessments of microalgae biodiesel show mixed results. Scaling up production significantly improves energy return and reduces greenhouse gas emissions, but higher oil yields are needed for competitiveness.

Keywords:
BiodieselEnvironmental impactsLCALife cycle assessmentMicroalgae

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Area of Science:

  • Bioenergy and Renewable Fuels
  • Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)
  • Algal Biotechnology

Background:

  • Microalgae are a potential sustainable feedstock for transportation fuels.
  • Previous life cycle assessments (LCAs) using laboratory or theoretical data yielded inconsistent results.
  • Bridging the gap between lab-scale and commercial-scale algae biodiesel production is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To conduct a comprehensive life cycle assessment (LCA) of microalgae biodiesel production.
  • To compare environmental impacts between a commercial-scale (base case) and a hypothetical scaled-up (future case) facility.
  • To evaluate the 'pond-to-wheels' environmental performance, including energy return and global warming potential.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized cultivation and harvesting data from a commercial algae producer (1000 m²).
  • Modeled a hypothetical scaled-up facility (101,000 m²) for comparison.
  • Employed data from Solution Recovery Services, Inc. for extraction/separation and the GREET model for conversion/combustion.

Main Results:

  • The future case facility showed a Net Energy Ratio (NER) of 1.37 and Global Warming Potential (GWP) of 0.18 kg CO2-equivalent/MJ, significantly better than the base case (NER 33.4, GWP 2.9).
  • The commercial producer's low algal productivity (3 g/m²/day) impacted results.
  • Sensitivity analysis indicated that an oil yield of 0.75 kg oil/kg dry biomass could make the future case NER (0.64) comparable to petroleum diesel and soy biodiesel.

Conclusions:

  • Scaling up microalgae cultivation facilities is critical for improving energy return and reducing environmental impacts.
  • Achieving higher algal oil yields is essential for microalgae biodiesel to become competitive with fossil fuels and soy biodiesel.
  • The study assumed co-located processes, eliminating the need for intermediate product transportation.