Biofuel Research Research Articles

Carbon use efficiency diagnostics in Nannochloropsis salina

Carbon dioxide (CO2) can be a significant resource input affecting the cost of algae biomass production on an industrial scale. Improvements in biofuel productivity therefore require characterization of CO2 use efficiency (CUE). RuBisCO saturation with CO2 is an important factor influencing biomass productivity. During CO2 fixation by RuBisCO, fractionation of carbon isotopes occurs, with preferential fixation of 12CO2, resulting in assimilation of the lighter isotope in algae. This photosynthetic discrimination (ΔDIC-algae), approximated by the difference between the δ13C of external medium and that of algae, is a function of the proportion of CO2 fixed relative to supply. ΔDIC-algae has been applied to the study of photosynthesis in algae over the past few decades and we have adopted the tool to characterize improvements in conditions optimized for biofuel productivity, such as controlled photobioreactors. We report the use of ΔDIC-algae as a tool for characterizing CO2 dynamics and RuBisCO saturation in Nannochloropsis salina CCMP 1776, a benchmark strain in algal biofuels research. We use ΔDIC-algae to describe the conditions under which RuBisCO saturation can be achieved to maximize biomass productivity. Our results suggest that determination of ΔDIC-algae can provide important feedback to support engineering and cultural improvements that can impact carbon use efficiency and biomass productivity.

How do we make bioeconomy and biofuels research relevant and accessible to politicians, the public, industry, and the media?

How do we make bioeconomy and biofuels research relevant and accessible to politicians, the public, industry, and the media?

Research Outputs as Vehicles of Knowledge Exchange in a Quintuple Helix Context: The Case of Biofuels Research Outputs

In this study, we draw on Triple/Quadruple/Quintuple Helix theory to analyze differences in perceptions of research outputs between researchers and users in the context of advanced biofuels research — a research environment heavily shaped by social and environmental forces. We present results based on qualitative empirical analysis, presenting the responses of both researchers and research users with regards to the uses of research outputs, users’ access to them, and the quality of research outputs. Results show that researchers have a nuanced conceptualization of characteristics that render research outputs useful to private sector users of research outputs, and they show considerable alignment in their assessment with private sector research users. Despite general awareness of policy uses of research, and despite the societal and environmental drivers for research and commercialization of advanced biofuels, these considerations were not as dominant in the assessment of research outputs. Our results imply that further work is needed to integrate the relatively recent concepts of Quadruple/Quintuple Helix and the underlying considerations of societal and environmental concerns into the practice of knowledge exchanges, and that additional theory and measurement development at the level of analysis of research results would be useful.

Life-cycle energy, GHG and cost comparison of camelina-based biodiesel and biojet fuel

ABSTRACTCamelina (Camelina sativa) can be used to make biodiesel or biojet fuel. This study compares life-cycle energy, environmental impact and economic performance of making biodiesel versus biojet fuel from camelina oil. The data for camelina field production was obtained from a grower in western Washington, USA. Camelina seeds were crushed, and biodiesel and biojet fuel were produced at the University of Idaho's advanced biofuel research lab. Biodiesel was made via a transesterification reaction, and biojet was made using a technology called hydroprocessed renewable jet fuel. This research found that for a base-case scenario, where transportation and fuel additives were not needed, the ratio of energy in produced biofuel to its life-cycle energy was 3.6 for biodiesel and 1.8 for biojet fuel. Biodiesel reduced life-cycle GHG emissions by 69% compared to conventional diesel. In contrast, camelina biojet reduced GHG emissions by 56.6% compared to jet-A fuel. The cost of ingredients and utilities to make biodiesel was US 75¢/L compared to $2.19/L for biojet fuel taking no credit for byproducts. Considering the potential demand for biodiesel, the price of diesel, and price of jet fuel, it was concluded that biojet fuel is unlikely to compete economically with biodiesel in the foreseeable future.

Biofuel Research Journal: a story of continuing success

Biofuel Research Journal: a story of continuing success

Biofuel research: perceptions of power and transition

Whether biofuels represent a sustainable innovation, a creative alternative, or a gold rush, very much depends on our perception of power and change with regard to sustainability. This article provides an overview of existing understandings of power in the research on biofuels, including positive perceptions that often lead to more optimistic evaluations of biofuels. It exposes the diversity with which one can understand power through three ideal type concepts: “power with,” “power to,” and “power over”. Integrating these concepts in one power framework allows for examining how the three dimensions interrelate with each other and developing the contours of a power lens on biofuel governance and research. With the 2007–2008 food price crisis, critics re-politicized the governance of biofuels. Several farmer associations have completely turned against biofuels. The article argues that this rejection of biofuels is due to a limited perception of power as a coercion and manipulation (power over). While the current governance of biofuels basically reproduces systems and positions, we should start to more seriously and intensively ask questions of where, when, and how the governance of biofuels may also allow for “green” resistance (power to) and collective empowerment (power with).

Sustainable Development Dilemmas of Biofuels Research and Production

Global warming due to greenhouse gas emissions and the growing energy needs of the world, has forced the world into thinking differently about energy sources and sustainable development, giving rise to the field of biofuels. Research and introduction of new technologies do, by their very nature, look to bring about positive change in society. Often though, changes result in unintended, unexpected, unforeseen, unforeseeable and unaddressed consequences. It often becomes the role of ethics protocols to militate against these negative consequences. In trying to establish the levels of awareness among South African researchers and producers of biofuels, to the sustainable development dilemmas brought about by their work; the “Five Capitals Framework” and a research ethics protocol, research was carried out at three South African businesses, generating data from interviews and collaborating with data from company publications. The study concluded that industry was indeed aware of the dilemmas that face their industry albeit that it was not in the context of a defined necessary framework.

Synthetic Genomics and ExxonMobil renew algae biofuels research agreement

To determine the non-inferiority of placebo Individualised Western Herbal Medicine (IWHM) tinctures compared with true IWHM tinctures.Randomised double blind comparability study.Pharmacy department of an NHS integrated medicine hospital.The IWHM intervention consisted of mixed tinctures of five herbs from a list of eleven herbs for which chronic knee pain is an established indication. Placebo IWHM tinctures contained food and colouring extracts, designed to mimic as closely as possible the taste, smell and appearance of true IWHM.The primary outcome of the study was the proportion of patients who indicated that they believed they were taking true IWHM. Secondary outcomes included the palatability of the true and placebo tinctures.64% of the placebo group indicated that they believed they had consumed true IWHM, compared with 60% of the true IWHM group. The palatability of the placebo IWHM was also acceptable to participants, and similar to the palatability of true IWHM.The findings from the present study indicate that the placebo tinctures were non-inferior to the true IWHM tinctures in terms of participants’ ability to correctly identify them as herbal tinctures by their taste, smell and appearance. The placebo tinctures could be utilised in future double blind, placebo controlled randomised trials of IWHM

The Coptotermes gestroi aldo\u2013keto reductase: a multipurpose enzyme for biorefinery applications

BackgroundIn nature, termites can be considered as a model biological system for biofuel research based on their remarkable efficiency for lignocellulosic biomass conversion. Redox enzymes are of interest in second-generation ethanol production because they promote synergic enzymatic activity with classical hydrolases for lignocellulose saccharification and inactivate fermentation inhibitory compounds produced after lignocellulose pretreatment steps.ResultsIn the present study, the biochemical and structural characteristics of the Coptotermes gestroi aldo–keto reductase (CgAKR-1) were comprehensively investigated. CgAKR-1 displayed major structural differences compared with others AKRs, including the differences in the amino acid composition of the substrate-binding site, providing basis for classification as a founding member of a new AKR subfamily (family AKR1 I). Immunolocalization assays with anti-CgAKR-1 antibodies resulted in strong fluorescence in the salivary gland, proventriculus, and foregut. CgAKR-1 supplementation caused a 32% reduction in phenolic aldehydes, such as furfural, which act as fermentation inhibitors of hemicellulosic hydrolysates, and improved ethanol fermentation by the xylose-fermenting yeast Scheffersomyces stipitis by 45%. We observed synergistic enzymatic interactions between CgAKR-1 and commercial cellulosic cocktail for sugarcane bagasse saccharification, with a maximum synergism degree of 2.17 for sugar release. Our data indicated that additive enzymatic activity could be mediated by reactive oxygen species because CgAKR-1 could produce hydrogen peroxide.ConclusionIn summary, we identified the founding member of an AKRI subfamily with a potential role in the termite digestome. CgAKR-1 was found to be a multipurpose enzyme with potential biotechnological applications. The present work provided a basis for the development and application of integrative and multipurpose enzymes in the bioethanol production chain.

Probing Chemical and Physical Properties of Poplar Tension Wood Using Confocal Raman Microscopy and Pulsed Force Mode Atomic Force Microscopy

ABSTRACTLignocellulosic biofuels have been identified as a possible solution to contribute to the world’s demands in energy and environmental sustainability. However, the fundamental understanding of the physical and chemical traits hindering key reactions during biomass to biofuel conversion processes has been limited by the lack of suitable tools and by the large natural variability in such systems. Reaction wood constitutes a good model system to study variations of cellulose content, given the increase in cellulose content in the cell walls of the region under tension in the plant during growth. In this work, we use confocal Raman mapping and Pulsed Force Mode Atomic Force Microscopy (PFM) to explore the effect of variation in cellulose content on the structure and composition of the plant cell wall at the nanoscale. Using statistical analysis on Raman datasets, the characteristic peaks for cellulose and lignin are examined to reveal changes in peak positions across the different scanned regions of the cross section. PFM is used to study local mechanical properties of the different layers of the cell wall. Our approach facilitates the correlation of structure-composition traits of the plant cell wall for a more fundamental understanding of processes involved in biofuel research.

Volatile Organic Compounds in Crude Coconut and Petroleum Oils in Nigeria

Analysis of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) in crude coconut and petroleum oils from Nigeria is reported. Using head-space gas chromatography with a flame ionization detector and mass spectrometer, 8 VOCs were found in crude coconut oil and 29 VOCs were identified in crude petroleum oil. Crude coconut oil contained two aromatic, two nitrogenated, and four oxygenated compounds. Alkane, alkene, alkyne, halogenated, and sulfur compounds were absent in crude coconut oil but not in crude petroleum oil. The same observation held true for naphthalene. Conversely, benzofuran was absent in crude petroleum oil but was present in crude coconut oil at a concentration of 1.38 part-per-billion (ppb). The most concentrated VOC in crude coconut oil was dodecanoic acid at 9.98 ppb and that of crude petroleum oil was toluene at 12.61 ppb. Total VOC concentrations in crude coconut and petroleum oils are 20.49 and 87.46 ppb, respectively. These results are helpful in characterizing the chemical signature of Nigerian crude coconut oil for potential forensics use or in biofuel research.

High-throughput time-stretch imaging flow cytometry for multi-class classification of phytoplankton.

Time-stretch imaging has been regarded as an attractive technique for high-throughput imaging flow cytometry primarily owing to its real-time, continuous ultrafast operation. Nevertheless, two key challenges remain: (1) sufficiently high time-stretch image resolution and contrast is needed for visualizing sub-cellular complexity of single cells, and (2) the ability to unravel the heterogeneity and complexity of the highly diverse population of cells - a central problem of single-cell analysis in life sciences - is required. We here demonstrate an optofluidic time-stretch imaging flow cytometer that enables these two features, in the context of high-throughput multi-class (up to 14 classes) phytoplantkton screening and classification. Based on the comprehensive feature extraction and selection procedures, we show that the intracellular texture/morphology, which is revealed by high-resolution time-stretch imaging, plays a critical role of improving the accuracy of phytoplankton classification, as high as 94.7%, based on multi-class support vector machine (SVM). We also demonstrate that high-resolution time-stretch images, which allows exploitation of various feature domains, e.g. Fourier space, enables further sub-population identification - paving the way toward deeper learning and classification based on large-scale single-cell images. Not only applicable to biomedical diagnostic, this work is anticipated to find immediate applications in marine and biofuel research.

Multi-species Identification of Polymorphic Peptide Variants via Propagation in Spectral Networks

Peptide and protein identification remains challenging in organisms with poorly annotated or rapidly evolving genomes, as are commonly encountered in environmental or biofuels research. Such limitations render tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) database search algorithms ineffective as they lack corresponding sequences required for peptide-spectrum matching. We address this challenge with the spectral networks approach to (1) match spectra of orthologous peptides across multiple related species and then (2) propagate peptide annotations from identified to unidentified spectra. We here present algorithms to assess the statistical significance of spectral alignments (Align-GF), reduce the impurity in spectral networks, and accurately estimate the error rate in propagated identifications. Analyzing three related Cyanothece species, a model organism for biohydrogen production, spectral networks identified peptides from highly divergent sequences from networks with dozens of variant peptides, including thousands of peptides in species lacking a sequenced genome. Our analysis further detected the presence of many novel putative peptides even in genomically characterized species, thus suggesting the possibility of gaps in our understanding of their proteomic and genomic expression. A web-based pipeline for spectral networks analysis is available at http://proteomics.ucsd.edu/software.

Recent Inventions and Trends in Algal Biofuels Research.

In recent times, when energy crisis compounded by global warming and climate change is receiving worldwide attention, the emergence of algae, as a better feedstock for third-generation biofuels than energy crops or plants, holds great promise. As compared to conventional biofuels feedstocks, algae offer several advantages and can alone produce a significant amount of biofuels sustainably in a shorter period to fulfill the rising demand for energy. Towards commercialisation, there have been numerous efforts put for- ward for the development of algae-derived biofuel. This article reviews and summarizes the recent inventions and the current trends that are reported and captured in relevant patents pertaining to the novel methods of algae biomass cultivation and processing for biofuels and value-added products. In addition, the recent advancement in techniques and technologies for microalgal biofuel production has been highlighted. Various steps involved in the production of algal biofuels have been considered in this article. Moreover, the work that advances to improve the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of the processes for the manufacture of biofuels has been presented. Our survey was conducted in the patent databases: WIPO, Spacenet and USPTO. There are still some technological bottlenecks that could be overcome by designing advanced photobioreactor and raceway ponds, developing new and low cost technologies for biomass cultivation, harvesting, drying and extraction. Recent advancement in algae biofuels methods is directed toward developing efficient and integrated systems to produce biofuels by overcoming the current challenges. However, further research effort is required to scale-up and improve the efficiency of these methods in the upstream and downstream technologies to make the cost of biofuels competitive with petroleum fuels.

The Origins of Political Party Identification and its Relationship to Political Orientations

Using an experiment embedded within a representative survey, this study examined the interactive effect of party identification and risk/benefit perception on public opinion about biofuels. Democrats tended to be more supportive of biofuels than Republicans. However, the effect of party identification on opinion about biofuels varied when individuals considered the risk/benefit of biofuels in different domains. Individuals who reported greater affiliation with the Democratic Party were likely to support funding biofuels research when primed with the economic risks or the social/ethical benefits of biofuels. For those who considered the social/ethical benefits of biofuels, more self-identified Democrats were likely to support biofuels production and use. However, more self-identified Democrats were less supportive of biofuels production and use when they considered the political risks of biofuels. Implications are discussed.

The Structure of LiuC, a 3-Hydroxy-3-Methylglutaconyl CoA Dehydratase Involved in Isovaleryl-CoA Biosynthesis in Myxococcus xanthus, Reveals Insights into Specificity and Catalysis.

Myxobacteria are able to produce the important metabolite isovaleryl coenzyme A by a route other than leucine degradation. The first step into this pathway is mediated by LiuC, a member of the 3-methylglutaconyl CoA hydratases (MGCH). Here we present crystal structures refined to 2.05 and 1.1 Å of LiuC in the apo form and bound to coenzyme A, respectively. By using simulated annealing we modeled the enzyme substrate complex and identified residues potentially involved in substrate binding, specificity, and catalysis. The dehydration of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaconyl CoA to 3-methylglutaconyl CoA catalyzed by LiuC involves Glu112 and Glu132 and likely employs the typical crotonase acid-base mechanism. In this, Tyr231 and Arg69 are key players in positioning the substrate to enable catalysis. Surprisingly, LiuC shows higher sequence and structural similarity to human MGCH than to bacterial forms, although they convert the same substrate. This study provides structural insights into the alternative isovaleryl coenzyme A biosynthesis pathway and might open a path for biofuel research, as isovaleryl-CoA is a source for isobutene, a precursor for renewable fuels and chemicals.

Progress and Challenges in Microalgal Biodiesel Production.

The last decade has witnessed a tremendous impetus on biofuel research due to the irreversible diminution of fossil fuel reserves for enormous demands of transportation vis-a-vis escalating emissions of green house gasses (GHGs) into the atmosphere. With an imperative need of CO2 reduction and considering the declining status of crude oil, governments in various countries have not only diverted substantial funds for biofuel projects but also have introduced incentives to vendors that produce biofuels. Currently, biodiesel production from microalgal biomass has drawn an immense importance with the potential to exclude high-quality agricultural land use and food safe-keeping issues. Moreover, microalgae can grow in seawater or wastewater and microalgal oil can exceed 50–60% (dry cell weight) as compared with some best agricultural oil crops of only 5–10% oil content. Globally, microalgae are the highest biomass producers and neutral lipid accumulators contending any other terrestrial oil crops. However, there remain many hurdles in each and every step, starting from strain selection and lipid accumulation/yield, algae mass cultivation followed by the downstream processes such as harvesting, drying, oil extraction, and biodiesel conversion (transesterification), and overall, the cost of production. Isolation and screening of oleaginous microalgae is one pivotal important upstream factor which should be addressed according to the need of freshwater or marine algae with a consideration that wild-type indigenous isolate can be the best suited for the laboratory to large scale exploitation. Nowadays, a large number of literature on microalgal biodiesel production are available, but none of those illustrate a detailed step-wise description with the pros and cons of the upstream and downstream processes of biodiesel production from microalgae. Specifically, harvesting and drying constitute more than 50% of the total production costs; however, there are quite a less number of detailed study reports available. In this review, a pragmatic and critical analysis was tried to put forward with the on-going researches on isolation and screening of oleaginous microalgae, microalgal large scale cultivation, biomass harvesting, drying, lipid extraction and finally biodiesel production.

A Novel Treatment Protects Chlorella at Commercial Scale from the Predatory Bacterium Vampirovibrio chlorellavorus.

The predatory bacterium, Vampirovibrio chlorellavorus, can destroy a Chlorella culture in just a few days, rendering an otherwise robust algal crop into a discolored suspension of empty cell walls. Chlorella is used as a benchmark for open pond cultivation due to its fast growth. In nature, V. chlorellavorus plays an ecological role by controlling this widespread terrestrial and freshwater microalga, but it can have a devastating effect when it attacks large commercial ponds. We discovered that V. chlorellavorus was associated with the collapse of four pilot commercial-scale (130,000 L volume) open-pond reactors. Routine microscopy revealed the distinctive pattern of V. chlorellavorus attachment to the algal cells, followed by algal cell clumping, culture discoloration and ultimately, growth decline. The “crash” of the algal culture coincided with increasing proportions of 16s rRNA sequencing reads assigned to V. chlorellavorus. We designed a qPCR assay to predict an impending culture crash and developed a novel treatment to control the bacterium. We found that (1) Chlorella growth was not affected by a 15 min exposure to pH 3.5 in the presence of 0.5 g/L acetate, when titrated with hydrochloric acid and (2) this treatment had a bactericidal effect on the culture (2-log decrease in aerobic counts). Therefore, when qPCR results indicated a rise in V. chlorellavorus amplicons, we found that the pH-shock treatment prevented the culture crash and doubled the productive longevity of the culture. Furthermore, the treatment could be repeatedly applied to the same culture, at the beginning of at least two sequential batch cycles. In this case, the treatment was applied preventively, further increasing the longevity of the open pond culture. In summary, the treatment reversed the infection of V. chlorellavorus as confirmed by observations of bacterial attachment to Chlorella cells and by detection of V. chlorellavorus by 16s rRNA sequencing and qPCR assay. The pH-shock treatment is highly selective against prokaryotes, and it is a cost-effective treatment that can be used throughout the scale up and production process. To our knowledge, the treatment described here is the first effective control of V. chlorellavorus and will be an important tool for the microalgal industry and biofuel research.

Biorefinery Developments for Advanced Biofuels from a Sustainable Array of Biomass Feedstocks: Survey of Recent Biomass Conversion Research from Agricultural Research Service

When the USA passed the Renewable Fuel Standards (RFS) of 2007 into law, it mandated that, by the year 2022, 36 billion gallons of biofuels be produced annually in the USA to displace petroleum. This targeted quota, which required that at least half of domestic transportation fuel be “advanced biofuels” either produced from lignocellulosic feedstocks or be a sustainable liquid fuel other than corn ethanol or biodiesel from vegetable oils, will not likely be met due to the difficulty in commercializing alternative biofuels. The number one cost to a biorefinery is the biomass feedstock cost. Thus, it is important that research into biorefinery strategies be closely coupled to advances in crop science that account for crop yield and crop quality. To reach the RFS targets, stepwise progress in biorefinery technology is needed, as the industry moves from corn ethanol toward utilizing a wider array of lignocellulose-based biomass feedstocks. In 2010, the US Department of Agriculture created five Regional Biomass Research Centers to optimize production, collection, and conversion of crops to bioenergy, thus building a network that fosters collaboration among researchers to improve the biorefinery industry. An important component of the five Regional Biomass Research Centers is the four USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) regional utilization laboratories located across the country. These USDA ARS labs were originally set up by their commodities, whereby, in broad terms, the Northern Lab, now NCAUR, focused on corn and soy; the Eastern Lab on oils, leather, dairy, and meats; the Southern Lab on cotton, sugars, and fibers; and the Western Lab on other grains, including wheat and specialty crops. Each lab’s traditional expertise in these respective core commodity crops has been maintained as biofuel research came to the fore, but with the addition of new crops and biotechnological expertise, these labs often collaborate with each other, as will be revealed below. This review outlines some of the recent advances from the ARS labs in developing new bioprocessing strategies required to develop bioenergy from new crop sources.

A bibliometric overview of Brazilian LCA research

We bibliometrically evaluated the scientific literature outlined around Brazilian life cycle assessment (LCA). Our aim is twofold: (1) Analyze the Brazilian scientific literature on LCA, forming a current view of how the LCA methodology is applied in the country; (2) within this view, trace the evolution of themes, characterize institution collaboration, and indicate major influences in Brazilian LCA community. Data were outlined around academic production and publications, from 1993 to 2015, indexed by the Institute for Scientific Information (ISI- SCIE and SSCI) through a specific group of keywords. Initially, a temporal evolution and projection of papers, PhD and Master Theses, were performed. In sequence, indexed papers were analyzed through performance indicators (i.e., number of authors, impact factor, among others) and content evaluation (for instance, major addressed themes). Finally, a mapping of science was performed, with the aid of Cite Space software application, where coword (and evolution), cocollaboration (and evolution), and cocitation maps were created. The survey identified 429 documents divided among international and national papers, PhD and Master Theses. From those documents, 165 were indexed. In terms of production and performance, the results indicate an undeniable evolution of the Brazilian LCA research, as affirmed by relations solidified through time. The main research field is “LCA application” with 84 % of papers, whereas “LCA methodology” completes the framework. In LCA applications, 25 % of publications are related to Biofuels—divided into bioethanol and biodiesel—which makes it the current dominant LCA research area in Brazil. The collaboration network demonstrates three main institution groups, whereas evolution through the years indicates that this situation may further improve. Influential authors are linked to LCA of biofuels, general LCA guidelines, and methodological LCA developments. Brazilian LCA research has been growing and more complex relations between themes and institutions denote that further developments can be expected. Cocollaboration indicates three main clusters, led by USP, Unicamp, and UFRJ. “Biofuels” is the main research area where sugarcane ethanol and biodiesel from different sources are the domain product systems. Cocitation analysis solidifies this statement, pointing to Isaias Macedo (and other biofuel researchers) as the main author in Brazilian LCA after ISO and Mark Goedkoop.