Micro-algae are the fastest growing photosynthesizing organisms. They can complete an entire growing cycle every few days.
More reference articles on
algal oil: Visitors may kindly have a look at the Oilgae Blog Directory for
relevant blog articles.
See also:
- A Look-back at the US Dept of Energys Aquatic Species Program (PDF)
- Future of Algal Culture & Algal Biodiesel
- Algae for Bio-diesel Slide Presentation from Veggie Van
- Biodiesel from Algae in Sewage
- Bio-engineered Algae Bringing Hydrogen Fuel-cells Closer?
- Algae-based Fuel from Green Fuel Online (PDF)
- Commodities of the Future How about Algae & Manure?
- More Good News about Biodiesel Dymaxion World
- Pond Scum to the Rescue Salon Magazine
- Oil Substitutes from Biomass - FAO
- Culturing Algae for Carbon-di-oxide Bioremediation (PDF) see page 13 of this report
- Biohydrocarbons from Algae Impact of Sunlight, Temperature & Salinity on Algae Growth
- Concentration of Chlorophyll, Proteins, Carbohydrates & Lipids in 16 Species of Micro-algae
- Role of Lipids & Fatty Acids in Stress Tolerance in Cyanobacteria (PDF) (Cyanobacteria are also known as blue-green algae)
- Tests of Biogas Productivity from Algae Using Flue Gas CO2 (PDF)
- Roadmap for Biofixation of CO2 & Greenhouse Gas Abatement with Microalgae (PDF) ( see also Proposal to Establish International Network for Biofixation & Greenhouse Gas Reduction with Microalgae - PDF)
- Approach for Screening Marine Micro-algae for Maximum Gas CO2 Biofixation Potential (PDF)
- Photo Bioreactors Production Systems for Phototropic Microorganisms (PDF)
- Solar Lighting for Growth of Algae in a Photobioreactor
- CellPharm Tubular Reactors
- Greefield Bioreactor Photo News.com
- Valuable Products from Microalgae (Microsoft Word File)
- Algal Production from FAO
- Quick Tour of Ecogenics Research Center, Tennessee
- Algal Cultivation Products from CellPharm Aquaculture
- Chlorella vulgaris Made in Germany
- The Culture Collection of Algae at University of Texas @ Austin
- Oil from Algae Yahoogroup
- Algae Culture Source Biodiesel Now Forums
- Micro-algal Mass Cultures for Co-production of Fine Chemicals & Biofuels (PDF)
- Biodiesel from Algae is Here from Sydney Biodiesel Users Group
- CEE Algae Blog
- Sunlight + Algae = Hydrogen Fuel - Slashdot
- Use of Botryococcous braunii for Hydrocarbon Production & CO2 Mitigation (PDF)
- Culivating Algae for Liquid Fuel Production Thomas Riesing
- Using Microalgae for CO2 Utilization & Agricultural Fertiliser Recycling (PDF)
- Biotechnology of Algae A Bibliography
- Hydrogen from Algae ZDNet Article (Original Paper Molecular Dynamics & Experimental Investigation of H2 and O2 Diffusion in [Fe]-Hydrogenase PDF)
- Algae as a Biomass Source Energy Bulletin
- Energy Resources Group
- Biodiesel from Algae Compared with Ethanol from Crops
- R & D Project on Microalgae Bio-fixation of CO2 (PDF)
- An Algae-based Fuel Green Fuel Online (PDF)
- Yahoo Group Messages This,
this
Appendix A - Biodiesel from Algae Fed on Coal-fired
Power Station Exhausts
- The idea is that carbon dioxide from coal fired power station is used to produce algae, which is used to make biodiesel and natural gas.
- If the carbon dioxide from a coal fired power station is
pumped directly through a pipeline to a near by algae farm, then the
amount of carbon dioxide absorbed into the algae is around 30%. The
reason the value is so low is that the algae does not grow at night
hence all carbon dioxide pumped then, goes straight into the atmosphere.
In addition, the algae grow faster in summer than in winter. The other
method is to concentrate the carbon dioxide and pressurize it and truck
it to the Algae Farm and then release the carbon dioxide into the ponds
as and when it is needed. It is hoped that >95% of the carbon dioxide
can be consumed by this method. A paddle wheel would move the water at a
steady flow. The ponds would be unlined, that is made of compact clay,
with gravel in the bottom to ensure no soil becomes agitated into the
water.
Some estimates of biodiesel
production from algae using CO2 from coal-fired power stations
- Algae yield 100 tonnes/ha.
- 2.2 tonnes carbon dioxide needed / 1 tonnes algae
- Water needed 4m3/m2. Most of the water is lost due to evaporation, some is consumed by the algae, and some is lost in the harvesting of the algae.
- A 500 MW coal fired power station produces 3.67x106 tonnes of carbon dioxide
- 3.5 barrels of biodiesel per tonne algae produced
- 6 MJ methane per tonne algae generated
- Energy density of LNG is 15.2 kWh/kg and density is 448
kg/m3
Appendix B Diatoms
One of the more well-researched species of
algae are the diatoms. In the context of Oil Yield for biodiesel, previous
research has also indicated that Diatoms are one of the more promising
species of algae. We hence provide you more inputs on diatoms in this
Appendix.
Biotechnological applications of
diatoms are still in development. Because of the photoautotrophic status of
the majority of diatoms, microalgal cultures suffer from the limitation of
light diffusion, which requires the development of suitable photobioreactors.
Thus, genetically engineered Microalgae that may be cultivated in
heterotrophic conditions present a new opportunity. Most of the time,
metabolic stress conditions lead to an overproduction of the products of
interest, with a decrease in biomass production as a consequence. Outdoor
cultures in open ponds are usually devoted to Aquaculture for the feeding of
shrimps and bivalve molluscs (commercial production), while closed axenic
indoor/outdoor photobioreactors are used for biotechnological compounds of
homogeneous composition (still at the laboratory scale). In addition to the
optimum culture conditions that have to be taken into account for
Photobioreactor design, the localisation of produced metabolites (intra- or
extracellular) may also be taken into account when choosing the design.
Microalgal cell immobilisation may be a suitable technique for application to
benthic diatoms, which are usually sensitive to bioturbation and/or
metabolites which may be overexpressed.
Currently diatoms (an algae) are
being investigated for biodiesel and other things, including medicine. It
appears more basic research about them is needed to be able to manage large
scale diatom farms economically. Diatom study includes species that like to
attach themselves to coral, sea weed, or strip of plastic. Thus harvesting
diatoms is more complicated than pumping them from the sea, or a pond.
Other Related Sections
Blue
Green Algae, Red Algae,
Green
Algae, Marine
Algae, String
Algae, Pond
Algae, Pond
Algae Control, Algae Control
See also: For all aspects of Biodiesel
production, uses, research and case studies, please refer to our Biodiesel Section
@ Oilgae Energy Portal






