Microalgae For Biofuel Production Research Articles

Microalgae for biofuels production and environmental applications: A review

Microalgae can provide several different types of renewable biofuels. These include methane produced by anaerobic digestion of the algal biomass; biodiesel derived from microalgal oil and photobiologically produced biohydrogen. This review presents the current classification of biofuels, with special focus on microalgae and their applicability for the production of biodiesel. The paper considered issues related with the processing and culturing of microalgae, for not only those that are involved in biofuel production, but as well as the possibility of their utilization in environmental pollution control, especially with relation to greenhouse gas emissions and the process of sewage purification. The paper gives also a characterization of microalgae used in the production of biofuels and of their advantages relative to other raw materials used in fuel production. Keywords: Biodiesel, biofuels, microalgae, photobioreactors, environmental applications.

A dynamic temperature model of mine water-fed raceways used for microalgae biofuel production

The mining industry is an extremely high consumer of energy, much of which is sourced from fossil fuels. The industry also generates outflows of “waste” energy in discharged gas, air, and water streams. Both the dependence on, and the environmental impacts of, fossil fuels could be reduced by on-site energy recovery schemes that make use of both waste energy and the large tracts of the otherwise marginal or nonproductive land that mines sites create and occupy. One such possibility lies in the potential for on-site use of the warm mine water from dewatering in raceways to support microalgae growth for biodiesel production. Mines are, however, often located in remote regions that can experience a significant range in seasonal ambient temperatures. In this article, a model that can be used to estimate the dynamic impact of a wide range of annual climatic conditions on the temperature of a specific volume of mine water flowing along a microalgae raceway is reported. © 2010 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 2010

Microalgae cultivation in a wastewater dominated by carpet mill effluents for biofuel applications

Industrial and municipal wastewaters are potential resources for production of microalgae biofuels. Dalton – the Carpet Capital of the World generates 100–115 million L of wastewater d −1. A study was conducted using a wastewater containing 85–90% carpet industry effluents with 10–15% municipal sewage, to evaluate the feasibility of algal biomass and biodiesel production. Native algal strains were isolated from carpet wastewater. Preliminary growth studies indicated both fresh water and marine algae showed good growth in wastewaters. A consortium of 15 native algal isolates showed >96% nutrient removal in treated wastewater. Biomass production potential and lipid content of this consortium cultivated in treated wastewater were ∼9.2–17.8 tons ha −1 year −1 and 6.82%, respectively. About 63.9% of algal oil obtained from the consortium could be converted into biodiesel. However further studies on anaerobic digestion and thermochemical liquefaction are required to make this consortium approach economically viable for producing algae biofuels.