Oilgae

Rural Poor as Energy Producers - A Critique

September 29, 2006

The rural poor as energy producers - a critique of the "bottom of the pyramid" development discourse

This lively discussion at Biopact highlights an important topic currently going on in the field of development economics, which sheds light on why the authors think biofuels production in the South makes sense from the perspective of development, social justice and poverty alleviation. The discussion is about how relevant is the concept of the rural poor being energy producers - often, in a micro-energy-generation framework.

Read the full discussion from here @ Biopact

Oilgae - Oil & Biodiesel from Algae
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algOS - Biodiesel from Algae Open Source

Oilgae - Oil & Biodiesel from Algae provides links, directory, web links resources for algae-based biofuels & biodiesel. Intended to be useful for research, information, inputs, news for buyers, sellers, manufacturers, traders, suppliers, producers, exporters / importers of algal oil and algal fuels. Will provide info on biofuel feedstock, algal feedstocks, algae oil and link details on fuel from algae, bio-fuel, bio-diesel, algal oils & bio-fuels production and uses, biofuels trade & market resources, price data, statistics, prices, demand-supply for buyer, seller, manufacturer, trader, supplier, exporter and producer

http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/14.09/posts.html?pg=4

Biofuels Come of Age as the Demand Rises

By SUSAN MORAN, September 12, 2006

Senator Barack Obama, Democrat from Illinois, spoke last month at an event to celebrate plans for a new biodiesel plant in Cairo, Ill. His presence was a welcome endorsement for a budding industry.

On the day that Mr. Obama joined the Renewable Energy Group in announcing that it would build a 60-million-gallon-a-year refinery, the company said it had garnered $100 million in financing, the largest equity investment in biofuels so far.

The investment underscores how the biodiesel industry is coming of age as demand for renewable fuels increases.

Read the full report from here @ NY Times

Oilgae - Oil & Biodiesel from Algae
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algOS - Biodiesel from Algae Open Source

Oilgae - Oil & Biodiesel from Algae provides links, directory, web links resources for algae-based biofuels & biodiesel. Intended to be useful for research, information, inputs, news for buyers, sellers, manufacturers, traders, suppliers, producers, exporters / importers of algal oil and algal fuels. Will provide info on biofuel feedstock, algal feedstocks, algae oil and link details on fuel from algae, bio-fuel, bio-diesel, algal oils & bio-fuels production and uses, biofuels trade & market resources, price data, statistics, prices, demand-supply for buyer, seller, manufacturer, trader, supplier, exporter and producer

You are at: Oilgae Blog (Oilgae - Oil & Biodiesel from Algae Home Page)

See also: Oilgae Blog Article Directory for a complete listing of all Oilgae blog posts - covering news, research and updates on biodiesel from algae & other plant feedstock, ethanol, and other renewable energy such as wind energy, hydrogen, hydro-energy, tidal/wave energy, geothermal, solar energy & nuclear energy

Ethanol from Wine - Wired report

Excerpts

1. An Italian company wishes to make ethanol-based fuel from wine.
2. Grape skins, like all plant matter, contain carbohydrates that can be broken down into sugar and fermented. And enough ethyl alcohol can be distilled from the skins to make a decent source of biofuel or gas additive.
3. The ethanol fuel made from wines is currently sold throughout Europe - but almost none of it in Italy, because of some confusing Italian regulations.
4. Few Italians want to imagine their sacred Sangiovese or Montepulciano grape going into something as unromantic as alternative fuel!
5. In a move known as "crisis distillation," the European Union last year tried to stem the plummeting price of European wine by allowing most member states to sell surplus wine to distilleries at reduced prices, and these were converted to ethanol!
6. European ethanol market is expected to triple in 2006.

Personalities mentioned: Giovanni Marani, chief engineer of the Caviro Distillery in Faenza, Italy.

Full article here

Oilgae - Oil & Biodiesel from Algae
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algOS - Biodiesel from Algae Open Source

Oilgae - Oil & Biodiesel from Algae provides links, directory, web links resources for algae-based biofuels & biodiesel. Intended to be useful for research, information, inputs, news for buyers, sellers, manufacturers, traders, suppliers, producers, exporters / importers of algal oil and algal fuels. Will provide info on biofuel feedstock, algal feedstocks, algae oil and link details on fuel from algae, bio-fuel, bio-diesel, algal oils & bio-fuels production and uses, biofuels trade & market resources, price data, statistics, prices, demand-supply for buyer, seller, manufacturer, trader, supplier, exporter and producer

Mitsubishi Accelerates Electric Vehicle Work, Announces New Research Vehicle and Testing Partners

12 October 2006

Mitsubishi Motors (MMC) has unveiled a new, single-motor research electric car based on its i minicar. The new Mitsubishi innovative Electric Vehicle (i MiEV) will be used for joint research programs with Japanese power companies beginning this year, and in fleet tests in 2007. Mitsubishi had earlier planned to begin selling electric cars in Japan in 2010. (Earlier post.)

Read the full report from here @ Green Car Congress

Oilgae - Oil & Biodiesel from Algae
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algOS - Biodiesel from Algae Open Source

Oilgae - Oil & Biodiesel from Algae provides links, directory, web links resources for algae-based biofuels & biodiesel. Intended to be useful for research, information, inputs, news for buyers, sellers, manufacturers, traders, suppliers, producers, exporters / importers of algal oil and algal fuels. Will provide info on biofuel feedstock, algal feedstocks, algae oil and link details on fuel from algae, bio-fuel, bio-diesel, algal oils & bio-fuels production and uses, biofuels trade & market resources, price data, statistics, prices, demand-supply for buyer, seller, manufacturer, trader, supplier, exporter and producer

You are at: Oilgae Blog, see also: Oilgae Home - Oil & Biodiesel from Algae Resources

FTA to Fund $12 Million in Fuel-Cell Bus Projects

12 October 2006 GreenCongress.com

Excerpts:
1. The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announced today that it will provide $12 million in funding for several major advanced fuel-cell bus projects to CALSTART, the California operating division of WestStart-CALSTART.
2. UTC Power will provide the fuel cell for the SunLine and AC Transit buses. New Flyer Industries will develop a purpose-built bus specifically designed for fuel-cell applications for the SunLine project.
3. The program provided targeted funding for the fuel-cell bus industry because it’s seen as a likely early adopter of the technology. Hydrogen is more viable in a mass transit application because it doesn’t require a widespread re-fueling infrastructure and the large fuel-storage cylinders can be placed on the roof of the buses.
4. BAE Systems will provide the hybrid propulsion system and do the systems integration on the bus.

Full report here

Oilgae - Oil & Biodiesel from Algae
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algOS - Biodiesel from Algae Open Source

Oilgae - Oil & Biodiesel from Algae provides links, directory, web links resources for algae-based biofuels & biodiesel. Intended to be useful for research, information, inputs, news for buyers, sellers, manufacturers, traders, suppliers, producers, exporters / importers of algal oil and algal fuels. Will provide info on biofuel feedstock, algal feedstocks, algae oil and link details on fuel from algae, bio-fuel, bio-diesel, algal oils & bio-fuels production and uses, biofuels trade & market resources, price data, statistics, prices, demand-supply for buyer, seller, manufacturer, trader, supplier, exporter and producer

You are at: Oilgae Blog (Oilgae - Oil & Biodiesel from Algae Home Page)

See also: Oilgae Blog Article Directory for a complete listing of all Oilgae blog posts - covering news, research and updates on biodiesel from algae & other plant feedstock, ethanol, and other renewable energy such as wind energy, hydrogen, hydro-energy, tidal/wave energy, geothermal, solar energy & nuclear energy

Microdiesel - Eschericia coli Engineered for Fuel Production

Abstract

Biodiesel is an alternative energy source and a substitute for petroleum-based diesel fuel. It is produced from renewable biomass by transesterification of triacylglycerols from plant oils, yielding monoalkyl esters of long-chain fatty acids with short-chain alcohols such as fatty acid methyl esters and fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEEs). Despite numerous environmental benefits, a broader use of biodiesel is hampered by the extensive acreage required for sufficient production of oilseed crops. Therefore, processes are urgently needed to enable biodiesel production from more readily available bulk plant materials like sugars or cellulose. Toward this goal, the authors established biosynthesis of biodiesel-adequate FAEEs, referred to as Microdiesel, in metabolically engineered Escherichia coli. This was achieved by heterologous expression in E. coli of the Zymomonas mobilis pyruvate decarboxylase and alcohol dehydrogenase and the unspecific acyltransferase from Acinetobacter baylyi strain ADP1. By this approach, ethanol formation was combined with subsequent esterification of the ethanol with the acyl moieties of coenzyme A thioesters of fatty acids if the cells were cultivated under aerobic conditions in the presence of glucose and oleic acid. Ethyl oleate was the major constituent of these FAEEs, with minor amounts of ethyl palmitate and ethyl palmitoleate. FAEE concentrations of 1.28 g l–1 and a FAEE content of the cells of 26 % of the cellular dry mass were achieved by fed-batch fermentation using renewable carbon sources. This novel approach might pave the way for industrial production of biodiesel equivalents from renewable resources by employing engineered micro-organisms, enabling a broader use of biodiesel-like fuels in the future.

Full paper here

Oilgae - Oil & Biodiesel from Algae
Oilgae Blog
algOS - Biodiesel from Algae Open Source

Oilgae - Oil & Biodiesel from Algae provides links, directory, web links resources for algae-based biofuels & biodiesel. Intended to be useful for research, information, inputs, news for buyers, sellers, manufacturers, traders, suppliers, producers, exporters / importers of algal oil and algal fuels. Will provide info on biofuel feedstock, algal feedstocks, algae oil and link details on fuel from algae, bio-fuel, bio-diesel, algal oils & bio-fuels production and uses, biofuels trade & market resources, price data, statistics, prices, demand-supply for buyer, seller, manufacturer, trader, supplier, exporter and producer

You are at: Oilgae Blog (Oilgae - Oil & Biodiesel from Algae Home Page)

See also: Oilgae Blog Article Directory for a complete listing of all Oilgae blog posts - covering news, research and updates on biodiesel from algae & other plant feedstock, ethanol, and other renewable energy such as wind energy, hydrogen, hydro-energy, tidal/wave energy, geothermal, solar energy & nuclear energy

Micro-biorefineries: nanotechnology and bioenergy meet

The article whose excerpt is provided below was brought to my note by this Biopact Blog article

Excerpts:

1. Two different tendencies are emerging in the bioenergy sector.

2. On the one hand, green fuels like ethanol, biodiesel, biogas or solid biomass are seen as world 'commodities' that can be traded on a global market, and shipped over oceans across the planet in huge vessels, or pumped through biofuel pipelines a thousand kilometres

3. But there is another vision, one in which local communities become owners of their own energy infrastructure, resources and politics. It is within this paradigm that some are working towards the development of 'micro-biorefineries' that use locally produced biomass feedstocks and turn them into fuels, electricity, heat, and green specialty chemicals at a local scale. The project combines nanotechnology with biotechnology to get there

4. The idea is to integrate different bioconversion processes, and to scale them down radically ('Process Intensification and Miniaturisation'). Three conversion steps are integrated, each using the residues of the precedent step: (a) a first conversion and pretreatment of the base biomass through bacterial breakdown into a 'bio-sludge' with a high energy density, (b) conversion of the biomass residues that result from this process into ethanol through fermentation, (c) gasification of the residues that remain from this fermentation process into a synthesis gas. Production of green specialty chemicals from the syngas and its residues is envisaged.

5. Key to the integration of the steps is the control of the behavior of bacteria. In order to control bacteria in a way that does not rely on manipulating their genetic properties, porous nano-structures are being designed on a molecular scale. These nanostructures work by applying different levels of 'physiological stress' on the bacteria, which makes the bacteria change their behavior accordingly.

6. One type of bacterium lets several kinds of biomass grow much quicker and allows it to grow on marginal and even dry land. This way, the quantity of biomass that will be used in the local biorefinery can be managed and predicted much better

Full paper here

Organisations mentioned: University of Newcastle's spin-off Intensified Technologies Inc (ITI)

Oilgae - Oil & Biodiesel from Algae
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algOS - Biodiesel from Algae Open Source

Oilgae - Oil & Biodiesel from Algae provides links, directory, web links resources for algae-based biofuels & biodiesel. Intended to be useful for research, information, inputs, news for buyers, sellers, manufacturers, traders, suppliers, producers, exporters / importers of algal oil and algal fuels. Will provide info on biofuel feedstock, algal feedstocks, algae oil and link details on fuel from algae, bio-fuel, bio-diesel, algal oils & bio-fuels production and uses, biofuels trade & market resources, price data, statistics, prices, demand-supply for buyer, seller, manufacturer, trader, supplier, exporter and producer

You are at: Oilgae Blog (Oilgae - Oil & Biodiesel from Algae Home Page)

See also: Oilgae Blog Article Directory for a complete listing of all Oilgae blog posts - covering news, research and updates on biodiesel from algae & other plant feedstock, ethanol, and other renewable energy such as wind energy, hydrogen, hydro-energy, tidal/wave energy, geothermal, solar energy & nuclear energy

Microdiesel - Biodiesel Production from Bacteria

Got to know about Microdiesel from the Biopact link (I find the biopact blog to be having a number of interesting updates on biodiesel & related biofuels...do hv a look at it)

Excerpts:

1. After breakthroughs in cellulosic ethanol production processes, a new breakthrough has now been achieved on the front of biodiesel production: a new and highly efficient process in the production of biodiesel has been developed by scientists in Germany.

2. Research published in the September 2006 issue of Microbiology describes how specially engineered bacteria could be used to make biodiesel completely from food crops (or non-food oil crops), without relying on fossil fuels (as biodiesel does).

3. Ordinary biodiesel is made by replacing the glycerol in vegetable oils with toxic methanol which is derived from fossil resources. This biodiesel is therefore not 100% fossil fuel free.

4. The 'microdiesel' process avoids the use of methanol. Instead scientists engineered a specific form of the Escherichia coli bacterium. The result is that once the modified E. Coli is allowed to work on the vegetable oil, it produces its own ethanol which acts as a substitute for the toxic methanol.

The full article is produced below for reference (thanks again to Biopact blog for pointing it out)

Rainer Kalscheuer, Torsten Stölting and Alexander Steinbüchel, Microdiesel: Escherichia coli engineered for fuel production, Microbiology 152 (2006), 2529-2536

Institut für Molekulare Mikrobiologie und Biotechnologie, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität, Corrensstrasse 3, D-48149 Münster, Germany

ABSTRACT

Biodiesel is an alternative energy source and a substitute for petroleum-based diesel fuel. It is produced from renewable biomass by transesterification of triacylglycerols from plant oils, yielding monoalkyl esters of long-chain fatty acids with short-chain alcohols such as fatty acid methyl esters and fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEEs). Despite numerous environmental benefits, a broader use of biodiesel is hampered by the extensive acreage required for sufficient production of oilseed crops. Therefore, processes are urgently needed to enable biodiesel production from more readily available bulk plant materials like sugars or cellulose. Toward this goal, the authors established biosynthesis of biodiesel-adequate FAEEs, referred to as Microdiesel, in metabolically engineered Escherichia coli. This was achieved by heterologous expression in E. coli of the Zymomonas mobilis pyruvate decarboxylase and alcohol dehydrogenase and the unspecific acyltransferase from Acinetobacter baylyi strain ADP1. By this approach, ethanol formation was combined with subsequent esterification of the ethanol with the acyl moieties of coenzyme A thioesters of fatty acids if the cells were cultivated under aerobic conditions in the presence of glucose and oleic acid. Ethyl oleate was the major constituent of these FAEEs, with minor amounts of ethyl palmitate and ethyl palmitoleate. FAEE concentrations of 1.28 g l–1 and a FAEE content of the cells of 26 % of the cellular dry mass were achieved by fed-batch fermentation using renewable carbon sources. This novel approach might pave the way for industrial production of biodiesel equivalents from renewable resources by employing engineered micro-organisms, enabling a broader use of biodiesel-like fuels in the future.

Abbreviations: FAEE, fatty acid ethyl ester; FAME, fatty acid methyl ester; TAG, triacylglycerol; WS/DGAT, wax ester synthase/acyl-coenzyme A : diacylglycerol acyltransferase


INTRODUCTION

A major challenge mankind is facing in this century is the gradual and inescapable exhaustion of the earth's fossil energy resources. The combustion of those fossil energy materials lavishly used as heating or transportation fuel is one of the key factors responsible for global warming due to large-scale carbon dioxide emissions. In addition, local environmental pollution is caused. Thus, alternative energy sources based on sustainable, regenerative and ecologically friendly processes are urgently needed.

One of the most prominent alternative energy resources, attracting more and more interest in recent years with the price for crude oil reaching record heights, is biodiesel, which is a possible substitute for petroleum-based diesel fuel. Biodiesel is made from renewable biomass mainly by alkali-catalysed transesterification of triacylglycerols (TAGs) from plant oils (Ma & Hanna, 1999Down). It consists of monoalkyl esters of long-chain fatty acids with short-chain alcohols, primarily methanol and ethanol, resulting in fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) and fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEEs). Biodiesel offers a number of interesting and attractive beneficial properties compared to conventional petroleum-based diesel (for an overview see Krawczyk, 1996Down). Most important, the use of biodiesel maintains a balanced carbon dioxide cycle since it is based on renewable biological materials. Additional environmental benefits are reduced emissions (carbon monoxide, sulphur, aromatic hydrocarbons, soot particles) during combustion. Biodiesel is non-toxic and completely biodegradable. Due to its high flash point, it is of low flammability and thus its use is very safe and non-hazardous. Furthermore, it provides good lubrication properties, thereby reducing wear and tear on engines. Pure biodiesel or biodiesel mixed in any ratio with petroleum-based diesel can be used in conventional diesel engines with no or only marginal modifications, and it can be distributed using the existing infrastructure. Biodiesel is already produced in a growing number of countries on a large scale (e.g. 1 080 000 t biodiesel was produced in Germany in 2004: Bockey & von Schenck, 2005Down).

Despite these positive ecological aspects, however, biodiesel, as currently produced on a technical scale, has also numerous drawbacks and limitations. (1) Production is dependent on the availability of sufficient vegetable oil feedstocks, mainly rapeseed in Continental Europe, soybean in North America and palm oil in South East Asia. Therefore, industrial-scale biodiesel production will remain geographically and seasonally restricted to oilseed-producing areas. (2) Vegetable oils predominantly consisting of TAGs can not be used directly as diesel fuel substitute, mainly because of viscosity problems. Additional problems are the reliability of product quality in bulk quantities and filter plugging at low temperatures due to crystallization. Therefore, plant oils must be transesterified with short-chain alcohols like methanol or ethanol to yield the FAME and FAEE constituents of biodiesel. This transesterification process and the subsequent purification steps are cost intensive and energy consuming, thereby reducing the possible energy yield and increasing the price. (3) FAMEs and FAEEs have comparable chemical and physical fuel properties and engine performances (Peterson et al., 1995Down), but for economic reasons, only FAMEs are currently produced on an industrial scale due to the much lower price of methanol compared to ethanol. Methanol, however, is currently mainly produced from natural gas. Thus, FAME-based biodiesel is not a truly renewable product since the alcohol component is of fossil origin. Furthermore, methanol is highly toxic and hazardous, and its use requires special precautions. Use of bioethanol for production of FAEE-based biodiesel would result in a fully sustainable fuel, but only at the expense of much higher production costs. (4) The major limitation impeding a more widespread use of biodiesel is the extensive acreage needed for production of oilseed crops. The yield of biodiesel from rapeseed is only 1300 l ha–1, since only the seed oil is used for biodiesel production, whereas the other, major part of the plant biomass is not used for this purpose. Furthermore, oilseed crops like rapeseed and soybean are not self-compatible; therefore, their cultivation requires a frequent crop-rotation regime. In consequence, biodiesel based on oilseed crops will probably not be able to substitute more than 5–15 % of petroleum-based diesel in the future.

A recent study assessing the use of bioethanol for fuel came to the conclusion that large-scale use will require a cellulose-based technology (Farrell et al., 2006Down). A substantial increase of biodiesel production and a more significant substitution of petroleum-based diesel fuel in the future will probably only be feasible when processes are developed enabling biodiesel synthesis from bulk plant materials such as sugars and starch, and in particular cellulose and hemicellulose.

Intracytoplasmic storage lipid accumulation in the Gram-negative bacterium Acinetobacter baylyi strain ADP1 (formerly Acinetobacter sp. strain ADP1: Vaneechoutte et al., 2006Down) is mediated by the wax ester synthase/acyl-coenzyme A : diacylglycerol acyltransferase (WS/DGAT; the atfA gene product). This unspecific acyltransferase simultaneously synthesizes wax esters and TAGs by utilizing long-chain fatty alcohols or diacylglycerols and fatty acid coenzyme A thioesters (acyl-CoA) as substrates (Kalscheuer & Steinbüchel, 2003Down). Biochemical characterization of WS/DGAT revealed that this acyltransferase exhibits an extremely low acyl acceptor molecule specificity in vitro. The remarkably broad substrate range of WS/DGAT comprises short chain-length up to very long chain-length linear primary alkyl alcohols; cyclic, phenolic and secondary alkyl alcohols; diols and dithiols; mono- and diacylglycerols as well as sterols (Kalscheuer et al., 2003Down, 2004Down; Stöveken et al., 2005Down; Uthoff et al., 2005Down). By expression of WS/DGAT in different recombinant hosts, this substrate promiscuity has already been exploited to synthesize various fatty acid ester molecules in vivo. The type of fatty acid ester synthesized by WS/DGAT was determined by the physiological background of the expression host regarding the provision of substrates accomplished by natural metabolism, medium supplementation or genetic engineering. Examples of those recombinantly synthesized fatty acid ester derivatives are wax esters in recombinant Pseudomonas citronellolis (Kalscheuer & Steinbüchel, 2003Down), wax esters and fatty acid butyl esters (FABEs) in recombinant Escherichia coli (Kalscheuer et al., 2006Down), wax diesters and wax thioesters in the mutant A. baylyi strain ADP1acr1{Omega}Km (Kalscheuer et al., 2003Down; Uthoff et al., 2005Down), and TAGs, FAEEs and fatty acid isoamyl esters (FAIEs) in recombinant Saccharomyces cerevisiae (Kalscheuer et al., 2004Down). Although only trace amounts were produced, recombinant biosynthesis of FAEEs and FAIEs in yeast as well as FABEs in E. coli indicated that production of biodiesel-appropriate fatty acid monoalkyl esters might in principle be feasible by using recombinant WS/DGAT-expressing micro-organisms. The objective of our present study was thus the development of a microbial process for the production of FAEEs for use as biodiesel from simple and renewable carbon sources. For this approach, the natural WS/DGAT host A. baylyi strain ADP1 was not a suitable candidate since it is a strictly aerobic bacterium not able to form ethanol. We therefore established FAEE biosynthesis in recombinant E. coli by coexpression of the ethanol production genes from the ethanol-producing fermentative bacterium Zymomonas mobilis in combination with the WS/DGAT gene from A. baylyi strain ADP1.


METHODS

Strains, plasmids and cultivation conditions.
Escherichia coli TOP10 (Invitrogen) was used in this study. The plasmids used are pLOI297 harbouring the Zymomonas mobilis genes for pyruvate decarboxylase (pdc) and alcohol dehydrogenase (adhB) cloned in pUC18 collinear to the lacZ promoter (Alterthum & Ingram, 1989Down), and pKS : : atfA and pBBR1MCS-2 : : atfA harbouring the WS/DGAT gene from A. baylyi strain ADP1 collinear to the lacZ promoter in pBluescript KS– or pBBR1MCS-2, respectively (Kalscheuer & Steinbüchel, 2003Down). The construction of plasmid pMicrodiesel is described in Results.

Recombinant strains of E. coli were cultivated in LB medium (0.5 %, w/v, yeast extract, 1 %, w/v, tryptone and 1 %, w/v, NaCl) containing 1 mM IPTG and 2 % (w/v) glucose at 37 °C in the presence of ampicillin (75 mg l–1) and kanamycin (50 mg l–1) for selection of pLOI297, pKS : : atfA and pMicrodiesel or pBBR1MCS-2 : : atfA, respectively. Where indicated, sodium oleate was added from a 10 % (w/v) stock solution in H2O to a final concentration of 0.1 or 0.2 % (w/v). Cells were grown aerobically in 300 ml baffled Erlenmeyer flasks containing 50 ml medium on an orbital shaker (130 r.p.m.).

Bioreactor cultivation.
Fermentation experiments were done in a 2 litre stirred bioreactor (B. Braun Biotech International) with an initial volume of 1.5 l LB medium containing 0.2 % (w/v) sodium oleate, 2 % (w/v) glucose, 1 mM IPTG and appropriate antibiotics for plasmid selection (see above). Cultivations were done at 37 °C and at a stirring rate of 200 r.p.m. If not stated otherwise, the pH was controlled at 7.0 by automated addition of 4 M HCl or NaOH. Cells were cultivated either aerobically (aeration rate 3 vvm), under restricted oxygen conditions (aeration rate 0.75 vvm), or anaerobically. Inoculum was 5 % (v/v) of saturated overnight cultures.

Thin-layer chromatography.
TLC analysis of lipid extracts from whole cells was done as described previously (Kalscheuer & Steinbüchel, 2003Down) using the solvent system hexane/diethyl ether/acetic acid (90 : 7.5 : 1, by vol.). Lipids were visualized by spraying with 40 % (v/v) sulfuric acid and charring. Ethyl oleate was purchased from Sigma-Aldrich Chemie and used as reference substance for FAEEs.

GC and GC/MS analysis of FAEEs.
For quantification of FAEEs, 5 ml culture broth was extracted with 5 ml chloroform/methanol (2 : 1, v/v) by vigorous vortexing for 5 min. After phase separation, the organic phase was withdrawn, evaporated to dryness, and redissolved in 1 ml chloroform/methanol (2 : 1, v/v). FAEEs were analysed by GC on an Agilent 6850 GC (Agilent Technologies) equipped with a BP21 capillary column (50 mx0.22 mm, film thickness 250 nm; SGE) and a flame-ionization detector (Agilent Technologies). A 2 µl portion of the organic phase was analysed after split injection (1 : 20); hydrogen (constant flow 0.6 ml min–1) was used as carrier gas. The temperatures of the injector and detector were 250 and 275 °C, respectively. The following temperature programme was applied: 120 °C for 5 min, increase of 3 °C min–1 to 180 °C, increase of 10 °C min–1 to 220 °C, 220 °C for 31 min. Identification and quantification were done by using authentic FAEE standards.

For coupled GC/MS analysis, FAEEs were purified by preparative TLC. GC/MS analysis of FAEEs dissolved in chloroform was done on a Series 6890 GC system equipped with a Series 5973 EI MSD mass-selective detector (Hewlett Packard). A 3 µl portion of the organic phase was analysed after splitless injection on a BP21 capillary column (50 mx0.22 mm, film thickness 250 nm; SGE). Helium (constant flow 0.6 ml min–1) was used as carrier gas. The temperatures of the injector and detector were 250 °C and 240 °C, respectively. The same temperature programme as described for GC analysis was applied. Data were evaluated by using the NIST-Mass Spectral Search Program (Stein et al., 1998Down).

Ethanol quantification.
Ethanol in cell-free aqueous culture supernatants was determined by GC essentially as described above for FAEE quantification, but applying a modified temperature programme: 70 °C for 20 min, increase of 10 °C min–1 to 180 °C, increase of 10 °C min–1 to 220 °C, 220 °C for 25 min.

General molecular biological techniques.
Standard molecular biological techniques were applied according to Sambrook et al. (1989)Down.


RESULTS

Establishment of FAEE biosynthesis in recombinant E. coli TOP10 by metabolic engineering
The unspecific acyltransferase WS/DGAT from A. baylyi strain ADP1 has been shown to be capable of utilizing ethanol to some extent as an acyl acceptor substrate (Kalscheuer et al., 2004Down; Stöveken et al., 2005Down). However, heterologous expression of the WS/DGAT-encoding atfA gene alone from pBBR1MCS-2 : : atfA did not result in FAEE formation in E. coli TOP10 during cultivation in LB medium containing 2 % (w/v) glucose, 1 mM IPTG and 0.1 % (w/v) sodium oleate under either aerobic or anaerobic conditions (data not shown). Although E. coli is known to form ethanol during mixed acid fermentation, obviously ethanol synthesis and/or uptake of oleic acid from the medium and activation to the acyl-CoA thioester were too inefficient to support detectable FAEE formation under anaerobic conditions. However, increased ethanol production has been achieved in E. coli upon heterologous expression of pyruvate decarboxylase (the pdc gene product) and alcohol dehydrogenase (the adhB gene product) from the strictly anaerobic ethanologenic Gram-negative bacterium Zymomonas mobilis. Using this system, efficient ethanol biosynthesis was achieved from glucose via the glycolysis product pyruvate even under aerobic conditions (Ingram et al., 1987Down; Alterthum & Ingram, 1989Down).

We therefore attempted to establish FAEE biosynthesis in a recombinant E. coli by combining expression of the Z. mobilis genes pdc and adhB and of the atfA gene from A. baylyi strain ADP (Fig. 1Down) using plasmids pLOI297 (pdc and adhB) and pBBR1MCS-2 : : atfA. Recombinant strains carrying either plasmid alone did not exhibit FAEE levels detectable by TLC (Fig. 2aDown, lanes 1 and 2). However, coexpression of all three relevant genes in a strain carrying both plasmids resulted in significant FAEE formation (Fig. 2aDown, lane 3). FAEE biosynthesis was strictly dependent on the presence of sodium oleate in the medium (data not shown). Growth of strains harbouring plasmid pLOI297 was very poor in LB medium without glucose addition, and FAEE synthesis was not observable in E. coli TOP10 harbouring both plasmids under these conditions (data not shown). The FAEEs formed were accumulated intracellularly, and no significant extracellular lipids were found in cell-free culture supernatants (data not shown).




Fig. 1. Pathway of FAEE biosynthesis in recombinant E. coli. FAEE formation was achieved by coexpression of the ethanolic enzymes pyruvate decarboxylase (Pdc) and alcohol dehydrogenase (AdhB) from Z. mobilis and the unspecific acyltransferase WS/DGAT from A. baylyi strain ADP1.



Fig. 2. Chemical analysis of FAEEs produced by recombinant E. coli TOP10. (a) TLC analysis of intracellular lipids accumulated by recombinant E. coli TOP10. Cells were cultivated aerobically in shake flasks for 24 h at 37 °C in LB medium containing 2 % (w/v) glucose, 0.1 % (w/v) sodium oleate, 1 mM IPTG and appropriate antibiotics as described in Methods. A,oleic acid; B, ethyl oleate; C, oleyl oleate; 1, E. coli TOP10(pLOI297); 2, E. coli TOP10(pBBR1MCS-2 : : atfA); 3, E. coli TOP10(pBBR1MCS-2 : : atfA+pLOI297). Total lipid extracts each obtained from 1.5 mg lyophilized cells were applied in lanes 1–3. (b) Total ion profile of GC/MS analysis of FAEEs isolated from E. coli TOP10(pBBR1MCS-2 : : atfA+pLOI297). Cells were cultivated as described above. FAEEs were purified by preparative TLC. Identified substances: 1, ethyl palmitate (C16 : 0-ethyl ester, m/z=284 [C18H36O2]+); 2, ethyl palmitoleate (C16 : 1-ethyl ester, m/z=282 [C18H34O2]+); 3, ethyl oleate (C18 : 1-ethyl ester, m/z=310 [C20H38O2]+).



GC/MS analysis of FAEE isolated from E. coli TOP10(pBBR1MCS-2 : : atfA+pLOI297) cultivated in medium supplemented with sodium oleate revealed a mixture of esters mainly consisting of ethyl oleate plus minor amounts of ethyl palmitate and ethyl palmitoleate (Fig. 2bUp). The presence of ethyl palmitate indicated that also some fatty acids derived from de novo fatty acid biosynthesis were channelled into FAEE production. When technical-grade sodium oleate (content ~80 %) was used for cultivations at a larger scale, low amounts of ethyl myristate (C14 : 0-ethyl ester, m/z=256 [C16H32O2]+), ethyl myristoleate (C14 : 1-ethyl ester, m/z=254 [C16H30O2]+) and ethyl linoleate (C18 : 2-ethyl ester, m/z=308 [C20H36O2]+) were also observed due to the presence of the corresponding fatty acid impurities (data not shown).

Batch fermentations of E. coli TOP10(pBBR1MCS-2 : : atfA+pLOI297) for FAEE production
The shake-flask experiments under aerobic conditions described above clearly proved the concept that FAEE biosynthesis is feasible in recombinant E. coli. Oxygen availability might have a great influence on the ethanol synthesis rate in this recombinant system, with low-oxygen conditions supposed to favour ethanol formation, and thus might also have a profound impact on the FAEE biosynthesis rate. We therefore cultivated E. coli TOP10(pBBR1MCS-2 : : atfA+pLOI297) under conditions permissive for FAEE formation with different controlled oxygen conditions (Fig. 3Down). Although ethanol production was slightly higher under anaerobic conditions (maximal 4.39 g l–1 after 17 h), only a very low FAEE content was observed, plateauing already after 18 h at a concentration of 0.05–0.07 g l–1 (Fig. 3bDown). In contrast, FAEE biosynthesis was significantly higher under aerobic conditions (aeration rate 3 vvm). FAEE formation was not restricted to a certain growth phase but continued throughout the cultivation period, finally reaching 0.26 g l–1 after 48 h (Fig. 3aDown). With a final cellular dry biomass of 4.3 g l–1 obtained by aerobic cultivation this corresponds to a cellular FAEE content of 6.1 % (w/w). When the cells were cultivated under oxygen-restricted conditions (aeration rate 0.75 vvm) a final FAEE concentration of 0.16 g l–1 was obtained after 48 h (data not shown). Under all three cultivation conditions ethanol concentration reached a maximum after 15–20 h cultivation, after which a rapid decrease was unexpectedly observed (Fig. 3a, bDown), which has not to our knowledge been described before for ethanologenic E. coli strains employing the Z. mobilis pdc and adhB genes for recombinant ethanol synthesis.


Fig. 3. FAEE production during batch fermentations of E. coli TOP10(pBBR1MCS-2 : : atfA+pLOI297). Cultivations were done in a 2 litre stirred bioreactor initially filled with 1.5 l LB medium containing 0.2 % (w/v) sodium oleate, 2 % (w/v) glucose, 1 mM IPTG, 75 mg ampicillin l–1 and 50 mg kanamycin l–1 as described in Methods. Sodium oleate causes turbidity of the medium, explaining the high initial optical densities. {blacksquare}, OD600; {blacktriangleup}, ethanol concentration; bullet, FAEE concentration. (a) Cultivation under aerobic conditions (aeration rate 3 vvm). (b) Cultivation under anaerobic conditions.


Construction of plasmid pMicrodiesel
To simplify the process by reducing the number of antibiotics required for plasmid stabilization and to potentially increase FAEE yield by providing all three relevant genes on a high-copy-number vector, plasmid pMicrodiesel was constructed. For this, a 3.2 kbp DNA fragment was amplified from plasmid pLOI297 by tailored PCR using the oligonucleotides 5'-AAAGGATCCGCGCAACGTAATTAATGTGAGTT-3' (forward primer) and 5'-TTTGGATCCCCAAATGGCAAATTATT-3' (reverse primer) introducing BamHI restriction sites (underlined). This 3.2 kbp BamHI fragment, which comprised the Z. mobilis genes pdc and adhB and the upstream lacZ promoter region, was cloned into BamHI-linearized pKS : : atfA, a derivative of the high-copy-number plasmid pBluescript KS– (Kalscheuer & Steinbüchel, 2003Down), yielding pMicrodiesel (Fig. 4Down). The orientation of atfA, pdc and adhB was determined by EcoRI restriction and DNA sequence analysis. Plasmid pMicrodiesel carried all three genes relevant for FAEE synthesis in a collinear orientation, with atfA driven by a lacZ promoter and with pdc and adhB controlled by a second lacZ promoter, thereby ensuring effective transcription of all three genes.


Fig. 4. Map of plasmid pMicrodiesel. Relevant characteristics: rep, origin of replication; AmpR, ampicillin-resistance gene; PlacZ, lacZ promoter; pdc, pyruvate decarboxylase gene from Z.mobilis; adhB, alcohol dehydrogenase gene from Z. mobilis; atfA, WS/DGAT gene from A. baylyi strain ADP1.


Fed-batch fermentation of E. coli TOP10(pMicrodiesel) for FAEE production
Shake-flask experiments with E. coli TOP10 harbouring either pMicrodiesel alone or pLOI297 plus pBBR1MCS-2 : : atfA revealed a more than twofold higher FAEE production using the newly constructed plasmid pMicrodiesel (0.64 g l–1 compared to 0.26 g l–1) whereas ethanol concentrations were similar. This indicated the positive influence of provision of all three relevant genes on a high copy-number vector and, as consequence, potentially higher expression rates on FAEE yield.

We then aspired to further optimize FAEE production by E. coli TOP10(pMicrodiesel), employing an aerobic fed-batch fermentation regime. Initial optimization experiments revealed that no regulation of medium pH during cultivation, resulting in a slightly acidic pH of 6.0–6.5 at the end, rather than a strict regulation at pH 7.0, might be favourable for FAEE biosynthesis (data not shown). Thus, the pH value was only roughly regulated automatically between 6.0 and 8.5 during the following fed-batch fermentation experiment (Fig. 5Down). To avoid carbon limitation, glucose was fed several times during the cultivation period. FAEE concentration continuously increased throughout the fermentation process, whereas its composition remained relatively constant (similar to the results shown in Fig. 2bUp). Employing this fed-batch strategy, a final FAEE content of 1.28 g l–1 was achieved after 72 h, which was about five times higher compared to aerobic batch fermentation of the E. coli TOP10 strain harbouring pLOI297 plus pBBR1MCS-2 : : atfA (Fig. 3aUp). With a final cellular dry biomass of 4.9 g l–1 this corresponds to an impressive cellular FAEE content of 26 % (w/w). Referred to the initial amount of 2 g l–1 present in the medium at the beginning of the cultivation, sodium oleate was converted to FAEEs with an efficiency of 62.7 % on a molar basis.


Fig. 5. FAEE production during fed-batch fermentation of E. coli TOP10(pMicrodiesel). Cultivation was done in a 2 litre stirred bioreactor initially filled with 1.5 l LB medium containing 0.2 % (w/v) sodium oleate, 2 % (w/v) glucose, 1 mM IPTG and 75 mg ampicillin l–1 under aerobic conditions (aeration rate 3 vvm) as described in Methods. The pH was kept between 6.0 and 8.5 by automated addition of 4 M HCl or NaOH. To prevent carbon limitation, 1 g glucose l–1 was fed several times during cultivation (indicated by arrows). Sodium oleate causes turbidity of the medium, explaining the high initial optical density. {blacksquare}, OD600; {blacktriangleup}, ethanol concentration; bullet, FAEE concentration.



DISCUSSION

Biodiesel is an interesting alternative energy source and is used as substitute for petroleum-based diesel. Offering numerous environmental benefits, it has attracted broad public interest and is being produced in increasing amounts (see Introduction). However, a broader use of biodiesel and a more significant substitution of petroleum-based fuels in the future will only be possible if production processes are developed that are not solely based on oilseed crops but on more bulk plant materials like cellulose. Toward this goal, we report here on a novel approach to establish biotechnological production of biodiesel using metabolically engineered micro-organisms, which we refer to as Microdiesel. The early optimization studies described here revealed FAEE yields of up to 26 % of the bacterial dry biomass. Although these yields are still far below the needs for an industrial process, this study has clearly proved the feasibility, in principle, of this novel approach. Therefore, the present study might open new avenues potentially enabling microbial production of fuel equivalents from cheap and readily available renewable bulk plant materials like sugars, starch, cellulose or hemicellulose in the future.

Microbial FAEE biosynthesis for Microdiesel production is based on the exploitation of the extraordinarily low substrate specificity of the acyltransferase (WS/DGAT) of A. baylyi strain ADP1, which in its natural host mediates wax ester and TAG biosynthesis from acyl-CoA thioesters plus long chain-length fatty alcohols or diacylglycerols (Kalscheuer & Steinbüchel, 2003Down). E. coli does not produce such substances by its natural metabolism; however, recombinant strains enabled to produce large amounts of ethanol and simultaneously expressing WS/DGAT provided an unusual, alternative substrate for this acyltranferase. This resulted in production of substantial amounts of FAEEs utilizing WS/DGAT's substrate promiscuity.

E. coli forms ethanol, among other fermentation products, during mixed acid fermentation under anaerobic conditions from acetyl-CoA via two sequential NADH-dependent reductions catalysed by a multifunctional alcohol dehydrogenase (the adhE gene product) (Goodlove et al., 1989Down; Kessler et al., 1992Down). However, ethanol levels naturally occurring in E. coli under anaerobic conditions are probably not sufficient to support formation of significant amounts of FAEE. In addition, several other fermentation products besides ethanol occur in substantial amounts. By using a recombinant system employing Z. mobilis pyruvate decarboxylase and alcohol dehydrogenase, this limitation was circumvented, resulting in substantial amounts of ethanol under aerobic conditions, which is in accordance with previous reports (Ingram et al., 1987Down; Alterthum & Ingram, 1989Down). In fed-batch fermentations conducted under controlled aeration rates, the highest FAEE levels were observed in recombinant E. coli under aerobic conditions (approximately five times higher compared to anaerobic conditions) although ethanol levels were similar. This indicates that uptake of exogenous fatty acids from the medium and their activation to the corresponding acyl-CoA thioesters is probably another factor limiting Microdiesel production in E. coli under anaerobic conditions.

Although an impressive FAEE content as high as 26 % of the cellular dry weight was finally obtained, E. coli is not ideal for Microdiesel production for various reasons. Although the occurrence of ethyl palmitate as a minor constituent indicated that fatty acids derived from de novo fatty acid biosynthesis were channelled into FAEE production, substantial FAEE biosynthesis was strictly dependent on supplementation of exogenous fatty acids. This indicates that de novo fatty acid biosynthesis, in contrast to fatty acid beta-oxidation, can not provide sufficient intracellular acyl substrates for WS/DGAT-mediated FAEE synthesis. Therefore, it will be challenging to establish Microdiesel production solely from simple bulk plant materials like sugars, cellulose or hemicellulose in the future using E. coli as a production platform. As an alternative, storage-lipid-accumulating bacteria, in particular those of the actinomycete group, may be used; these bacteria are capable of synthesizing from simple carbon sources like glucose under growth-restricted conditions remarkably high amounts of fatty acids (up to ~70 % of the cellular dry weight) and accumulate them intracellularly as TAGs (Alvarez & Steinbüchel, 2002Down). If the flux of fatty acids could be directed from TAG towards FAEE biosynthesis by genetic manipulation, storage-lipid-accumulating bacteria might be promising candidates for more simplified Microdiesel production processes in the future. Establishment of recombinant ethanol biosynthesis in these aerobic, non-fermentative bacteria would be a prerequisite for this purpose. In this regard, a recently developed heterologous ethanol production system for Gram-positive bacteria could become of great value and utility (Talarico et al., 2005Down). Future optimization of biotechnological Microdiesel production will also benefit from the progress made in recent years in lignocellulose utilization as feedstock for bioethanol production by recombinant micro-organisms (Dien et al., 2003Down; Zaldivar et al., 2001Down).

A further bottleneck in the path towards optimized FAEE levels is the relatively low reaction rate of WS/DGAT with ethanol in comparison with longer chain-length fatty alcohols (C10–C18) (Kalscheuer et al., 2004Down; Stöveken et al., 2005Down). Numerous genes encoding WS/DGAT homologues have been identified in several other bacteria (Kalscheuer & Steinbüchel, 2003Down). One of those acyltransferases might be more suitable for FAEE production since it may exhibit a higher specificity for ethanol. Alternatively, increase of the reaction rate of WS/DGATs with ethanol may be achieved by enzyme engineering.

Optimized Microdiesel production by engineered micro-organisms could finally offer some major advantages over established conventional production processes. Biotechnological Microdiesel production could be significantly less expensive than conventional biodiesel production if plant products like starch or lignocellulose are used for its production. These plant polymers are not only much cheaper than plant oils, but are also much more abundant, and Microdiesel production will not be restricted to oilseed-producing regions of the world. In contrast to conventional FAME-based biodiesel, Microdiesel is a fully sustainable biofuel completely derived from renewable materials, also avoiding the use of highly toxic methanol. In conclusion, this study provides a basis to achieve more competitive production costs, and therefore a more substantial substitution of petroleum-derived fuels by biofuels in the future.


ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The authors would like to thank Nicole Tessmer for skilful technical assistance in fermentation experiments.


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Oilgae - Oil & Biodiesel from Algae
Oilgae Blog
algOS - Biodiesel from Algae Open Source

Oilgae - Oil & Biodiesel from Algae provides links, directory, web links resources for algae-based biofuels & biodiesel. Intended to be useful for research, information, inputs, news for buyers, sellers, manufacturers, traders, suppliers, producers, exporters / importers of algal oil and algal fuels. Will provide info on biofuel feedstock, algal feedstocks, algae oil and link details on fuel from algae, bio-fuel, bio-diesel, algal oils & bio-fuels production and uses, biofuels trade & market resources, price data, statistics, prices, demand-supply for buyer, seller, manufacturer, trader, supplier, exporter and producer

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Ethanol Stocks: Survival of the Fittest

Read an interesting blog article Ethanol Stocks - Survival of the Fittest from the Bioconversion Blog

Some excerpts:
1. Every drop in the price of oil affects the speculative value of ethanol related stocks.

2. Venture capitalists are betting big on the future of ethanol.

3. The first phase is based on the deployment of corn and sugar fermentation refineries. The second phase involving cellulosic feedstock conversion to ethanol has yet to officially begin with the construction of commercial-scale facilities.

4. The article mentions some top ethanol plays such as Archer Daniels Midland, Pacific Ethanol & Green Plains Renewable Energy

Interesting read...

Oilgae - Oil & Biodiesel from Algae
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algOS - Biodiesel from Algae Open Source

Oilgae - Oil & Biodiesel from Algae provides links, directory, web links resources for algae-based biofuels & biodiesel. Intended to be useful for research, information, inputs, news for buyers, sellers, manufacturers, traders, suppliers, producers, exporters / importers of algal oil and algal fuels. Will provide info on biofuel feedstock, algal feedstocks, algae oil and link details on fuel from algae, bio-fuel, bio-diesel, algal oils & bio-fuels production and uses, biofuels trade & market resources, price data, statistics, prices, demand-supply for buyer, seller, manufacturer, trader, supplier, exporter and producer

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The Israeli Energy Alternative

(Aug 2006)

Excerpts:

1. Industry experts predict oil production's peak out in 2007 and the race to find affordable alternative energy solutions sprints forward for scientists

2. The ongoing ISRAEL21c series 'The Israeli Energy Alternative,' profiles some of the most promising projects and initiatives currently underway in Israel to address growing US and global energy changes.

3. Algae as a Fuel Source - Algatech in the southern Negev is turning a collective focus towards algae-derived bio-fuel.

4. Over 150 species of algae are currently used commercially to provide food for humans and livestock, serve as thickening agents in ice cream and shampoo, and ward off disease in pharmaceutical drug form. Unaltered, algae encompass different groups of living organisms that capture energy through photosynthesis, converting inorganic substances into simple sugars.

5. Algatech was founded in 1999 to develop and commercialize micro-algae-derived products for the nutraceutical and cosmeceutical industries

6. Will soon begin collaborating with Israeli-US start-up GreenFuel Technologies Corporation to work towards a common goal: developing cost effective, energy efficient fuel made from micro-algae feeding off of carbon dioxide emissions.

7. The Israel-US Bi-National Industrial Research and Development Foundation (BIRD) recently issued the parties a collective co-research grant.

8. The algae is a micro or single cell alga cultivated by Algatech using an optimization and screening process.

9. Made up of lipids, starches and carbs -- nature's basic building blocks or the stuff we eat - algae goes from starch or sugar form through fermentation to alcohol and protein where it can be eaten or burned.

10. The major tasks facing Algatech and GreenFuel are culturing the algae, optimizing the process and keeping costs low as compared with conventional fuel or other bio-fuels already on the market.

11. According to a GreenFuel exec, there is a fair amount of power plant land in Australia, the US and Western Europe ideal for bio-diesel and ethanol production

12. Israel has been at the forefront of algae research for years, cultivating, developing and studying different strains of microalgae under ideal climate conditions.

13. The Negev desert setting is ideal for algae growth.

14. There are about 30,000 species of micro-algae - mostly unexplored

Personalities mentioned: Algatech Research and Development head Dr. Amir Drory, BIRD Executive Director Eitan Yudilevich, GreenFuel CEO Cary Bullock

Complete article can be found here

Oilgae - Oil & Biodiesel from Algae
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algOS - Biodiesel from Algae Open Source

Oilgae - Oil & Biodiesel from Algae provides links, directory, web links resources for algae-based biofuels & biodiesel. Intended to be useful for research, information, inputs, news for buyers, sellers, manufacturers, traders, suppliers, producers, exporters / importers of algal oil and algal fuels. Will provide info on biofuel feedstock, algal feedstocks, algae oil and link details on fuel from algae, bio-fuel, bio-diesel, algal oils & bio-fuels production and uses, biofuels trade & market resources, price data, statistics, prices, demand-supply for buyer, seller, manufacturer, trader, supplier, exporter and producer

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GS CleanTech Releases Process Demonstration of CO2 Bioreactor Technology

(Sept. 6, 2006)

Excerpts:

1. GS CleanTech Corporation announced its release of a process demonstration of GS CleanTech's patented carbon dioxide bioreactor technology.
2. GS CleanTech's CO2 Bioreactor efficiently converts a concentrated supply of CO2 into oxygen and biomass. The biomass output of the bioreactor can be harvested and converted into ethanol, biodiesel and/or biomass-derived synthetic fuels through an enzymatic process or, preferably, gasification followed by catalytic conversion into liquid fuels.
3. The oxygen output of the bioreactor has value for on-site power generation and gasification processes
4. A standard coal gasification facility converts coal into a hydrogen rich synthesis gas (syngas), which is combusted and converted into electricity in a gas-fired generator. The gasification process generates carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions which are usually compressed and sequestered underground. The carbon capture and sequestration stage of this process increases operating costs by more than 20% as compared to standard coal-fired gasification.
5. GS CleanTech's bioreactor consumes exhaust carbon dioxide and has the potential to offset the substantial operating and capital costs associated with conventional oxygen production while producing a valuable biomass co-product that can be used to enhance the plant's power output and/or add new revenues arising from the production and sale of biomass-derived fuels.
6. Impact on Ethanol Facilities - Ethanol production facilities consume corn and about one third of the mass exits at the fermentation stage in the form of carbon dioxide. GS CleanTech's bioreactor can be applied in ethanol plants as well.
7. GS CleanTech is currently deploying its first commercial scale pilot bioreactor system for ethanol facilities.
8. About GS CleanTech - provides applied engineering and technology transfer services based on clean technologies and process innovations for cost-effectiveness recyclability / re-usability.

Personalities mentioned: David Winsness, GS CleanTech's president and chief operating officer.

The process demonstration, as well additional technical and other information on GS CleanTech's CO2 Bioreactor technology, is available online at www.gs-cleantech.com.

The complete news item can be found here.


Oilgae - Oil & Biodiesel from Algae
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Oilgae - Oil & Biodiesel from Algae provides links, directory, web links resources for algae-based biofuels & biodiesel. Intended to be useful for research, information, inputs, news for buyers, sellers, manufacturers, traders, suppliers, producers, exporters / importers of algal oil and algal fuels. Will provide info on biofuel feedstock, algal feedstocks, algae oil and link details on fuel from algae, bio-fuel, bio-diesel, algal oils & bio-fuels production and uses, biofuels trade & market resources, price data, statistics, prices, demand-supply for buyer, seller, manufacturer, trader, supplier, exporter and producer

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GreenFuel Technologies Receives 2006 Frost & Sullivan ''Technology Innovation of the Year'' Award
(Sep 2006 news item)

Excerpts:

1. GreenFuel Technologies Corporation has been awarded the Frost & Sullivan 2006 Technology Innovation of the Year Award in the emerging field of bio-based fuels (biofuels).
2. The award recognized the introduction of GreenFuel's unique algal bioreactor technology known as Emissions-to-Biofuels(TM) (E2B(TM)). This eco friendly technology uses algal cultivation along with a photosynthesis bioreactor system to generate biofuel by recycling the carbon dioxide in flue gases that emanate from industrial power plants and other CO2 sources.
3. The key three elements of the GreenFuel's approach are adaptive evolution of algae, photomodulation (controlling light and dark cycles), and a customizable field bioreactor.
4. CO2 - rich flue gases are passed via the algae bioreactor to create algal biomass (and carbon is sequestered).
5. GreenFuel is already having projects in Arizona, Massachusetts and New York.
6. The company is looking to fully commercialize the technology within the next two years.
7. About GreenFuel Technologies Corporation - a leading developer of systems for recycling rich CO2 streams from power and/or manufacturing plant flue gases to produce biofuels such as biodiesel, ethanol or methane. Founded in 2001, is headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts. ( www.greenfuelonline.com )

Personalities mentioned: Rebecca Bright, research analyst at Frost & Sullivan, Cary Bullock, CEO of GreenFuel Technologies Corporation

See full news item here (sep 2006)

Oilgae - Oil & Biodiesel from Algae
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Oilgae - Oil & Biodiesel from Algae provides links, directory, web links resources for algae-based biofuels & biodiesel. Intended to be useful for research, information, inputs, news for buyers, sellers, manufacturers, traders, suppliers, producers, exporters / importers of algal oil and algal fuels. Will provide info on biofuel feedstock, algal feedstocks, algae oil and link details on fuel from algae, bio-fuel, bio-diesel, algal oils & bio-fuels production and uses, biofuels trade & market resources, price data, statistics, prices, demand-supply for buyer, seller, manufacturer, trader, supplier, exporter and producer

You are at: Oilgae Blog (Oilgae - Oil & Biodiesel from Algae Home Page)

See also: Oilgae Blog Article Directory for a complete listing of all Oilgae blog posts - covering news, research and updates on biodiesel from algae & other plant feedstock, ethanol, and other renewable energy such as wind energy, hydrogen, hydro-energy, tidal/wave energy, geothermal, solar energy & nuclear energy

Biodiesel Market Survey - Emerging Markets

Excerpts:

1. Europe currently represents 90% of global biodiesel consumption and production, the U.S. is now ramping up production at a faster rate than Europe
2. Brazil is expected to surpass U.S. and Europe by the year 2015.
3. Biodiesel is a natural fit in Europe, Asia and Brazil where diesel fuel is more common than in the U.S.
4. Currently, the U.S. is the fastest growing biodiesel market in the world. From 2004 to 2005, biodiesel consumption in the U.S. grew from 25 million gallons per year to 78 million gallons in 2005.
5. In Europe, biodiesel represents 2% of total on-road fuel consumption and is expected to reach 6% by 2010.
6. The total biodiesel being sold in the U.S. amounts to less than 1/2 of 1% of all petro-diesel on-road.
7. By the year 2020, Brazil is expected to produce the largest volume of biodiesel in the world
8. China could eventually become the largest consumer of biodiesel in the world.

Report details:

This survey is designed to help financiers, producers, developers, distributors, consultants and analysts with a fact-filled market guide detailing medium and long-term trends and developments in the global Biodiesel sector. This study focuses on market fundamentals, emerging trends, long-term forecasts and scenarios, and case studies of existing and emerging biodiesel producers.

Biodiesel 2020: A Global Market Survey will be published September 20, 2006. For a prospectus of this study, visit http://www.emerging-markets.com/biodiesel/press.htm or email a request to info@emerging-markets.com

Personalities mentioned: William Thurmond, Author of Biodiesel 2020 and Director of Management Consulting at Emerging Markets Online.

Complete article can be found here


Oilgae - Oil & Biodiesel from Algae
Oilgae Blog
algOS - Biodiesel from Algae Open Source

Oilgae - Oil & Biodiesel from Algae provides links, directory, web links resources for algae-based biofuels & biodiesel. Intended to be useful for research, information, inputs, news for buyers, sellers, manufacturers, traders, suppliers, producers, exporters / importers of algal oil and algal fuels. Will provide info on biofuel feedstock, algal feedstocks, algae oil and link details on fuel from algae, bio-fuel, bio-diesel, algal oils & bio-fuels production and uses, biofuels trade & market resources, price data, statistics, prices, demand-supply for buyer, seller, manufacturer, trader, supplier, exporter and producer

You are at: Oilgae Blog (Oilgae - Oil & Biodiesel from Algae Home Page)

See also: Oilgae Blog Article Directory for a complete listing of all Oilgae blog posts - covering news, research and updates on biodiesel from algae & other plant feedstock, ethanol, and other renewable energy such as wind energy, hydrogen, hydro-energy, tidal/wave energy, geothermal, solar energy & nuclear energy

Hydrogen Powered Cars A Fact or Delusion?

Excerpts:
1. Much of the general public and politicians fail to realize is that hydrogen cars are currently an unrealistic dream that will neither reduce our dependence on foreign oil nor improve the environment.
2. Hydrogen appears to provide tremendous advantages: burning hydrogen releases more energy per pound of fuel than any other material on earth.
3. Growth of interest in hydrogen fuel was spurred by the key invention of the fuel cell, which allows for a controlled consumption
4. Auto manufacturers have developed concepts for hydrogen-powered cars - General Motors recently announced that it will place 100 hydrogen-fueled cars on the road next year.
5. Burning hydrogen reduces neither demand for fossil fuels nor emissions of carbon dioxide, because almost all the hydrogen used today comes from natural gas - The most common technique for producing hydrogen is known steam reformation using natural gas in which natural gas is heated with water at high pressures, yielding hydrogen gas and carbon monoxide, which is converted to carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Thus hydrogen cars do produce greenhouse gas emissions!
7. More environmentally friendly methods of generating hydrogen, such as coaxing bacteria to turn water alone into hydrogen, are still largely in the exploratory phase.
8. Other technological hurdles for hydrogen vehicles include distribution of hydrogen, safety of hydrogen in cars, large sizes of fuel tanks etc.
9. Hydrogen, which is at best a troublesome way to store energy, is being touted as an energy source when the actual source of hydrogen is a fossil fuel.
10. We have some promising, but highly underdeveloped, ideas, from massive oceanic windmill farms to gasoline-oozing bioengineered algae to corn-derived ethanol...

See the full article here - from The Crimson, Sep 20, 2006

Oilgae - Oil & Biodiesel from Algae
Oilgae Blog
algOS - Biodiesel from Algae Open Source

Oilgae - Oil & Biodiesel from Algae provides links, directory, web links resources for algae-based biofuels & biodiesel. Intended to be useful for research, information, inputs, news for buyers, sellers, manufacturers, traders, suppliers, producers, exporters / importers of algal oil and algal fuels. Will provide info on biofuel feedstock, algal feedstocks, algae oil and link details on fuel from algae, bio-fuel, bio-diesel, algal oils & bio-fuels production and uses, biofuels trade & market resources, price data, statistics, prices, demand-supply for buyer, seller, manufacturer, trader, supplier, exporter and producer

You are at: Oilgae Blog (Oilgae - Oil & Biodiesel from Algae Home Page)

See also: Oilgae Blog Article Directory for a complete listing of all Oilgae blog posts - covering news, research and updates on biodiesel from algae & other plant feedstock, ethanol, and other renewable energy such as wind energy, hydrogen, hydro-energy, tidal/wave energy, geothermal, solar energy & nuclear energy


Boeing Says Biofuels Show Promise

Excerpts:

1. A Boeing executive says development of biofuels is gaining momentum as airlines and armed forces seek alternatives to expensive jet fuel.
2. Richard Branson last week committed $3 billion to help develop alternatives to fossil fuels.
3. Feedstock considered for airline biofuels are sugarcane, switchgrass, soybeans and algae
4. The U.S. Air Force flew a B-52 bomber recently with two of its eight engines using a 50/50 blend of jet fuel and a biofuel(?) alternative.
5. The U.S. Department of Defense’s technology development arm DARPA, in July 2006 asked for proposals on biofuel development.
6. Challenges posed by biofuels include the fact they are less stable when stored for long periods, and freeze at much higher temperatures than jet fuel.
7. More than 10,000 airliners in operation all using engines designed for jet fuel.

Personalities mentioned: Billy Glover, director of environmental performance strategy at Boeing Co.

Original news item here

Oilgae - Oil & Biodiesel from Algae
Oilgae Blog
algOS - Biodiesel from Algae Open Source

Oilgae - Oil & Biodiesel from Algae provides links, directory, web links resources for algae-based biofuels & biodiesel. Intended to be useful for research, information, inputs, news for buyers, sellers, manufacturers, traders, suppliers, producers, exporters / importers of algal oil and algal fuels. Will provide info on biofuel feedstock, algal feedstocks, algae oil and link details on fuel from algae, bio-fuel, bio-diesel, algal oils & bio-fuels production and uses, biofuels trade & market resources, price data, statistics, prices, demand-supply for buyer, seller, manufacturer, trader, supplier, exporter and producer

You are at: Oilgae Blog (Oilgae - Oil & Biodiesel from Algae Home Page)

See also: Oilgae Blog Article Directory for a complete listing of all Oilgae blog posts - covering news, research and updates on biodiesel from algae & other plant feedstock, ethanol, and other renewable energy such as wind energy, hydrogen, hydro-energy, tidal/wave energy, geothermal, solar energy & nuclear energy

Algae Cultivation in Sewage Can Solve Two Problems

Untreated sewage pouring into the world's seas and oceans is polluting their water and coastlines and endangering the health and welfare of the people and animals that inhabit them, according to a bleak new U.N. report released Wednesday on the threats to the world's marine environments.

As well as the growing problem of sewage, oceans also are suffering from rising levels of nutrients such as run-off from agricultural land triggering toxic algal blooms that deprive the water of oxygen, destruction of coastal ecosystems such as mangroves and a rising tide of ocean litter, says the State of the Marine Environment report drawn up by the U.N. Environment Program.

...."Usually the ones who are the source of pollution are not the ones who bear the brunt or the impact of pollution," Steiner said, citing the example of small fishing communities whose catches are devastated by algal blooms blamed on runoff from agriculture inland....

The reason for me to point out this excerpt is the note on toxic algal blooms in sewage...you might recall an earlier post where a news item from New Zealand (NZ) was provided where a company had successfully implemented biodiesel produced from algae grown in sewage...sewage could become a useful algae cultivation medium in future because algae can feed on the nutrients in sewage and hence "clean" it to some extent before the sewage is let into the sea, and of course the algae can produce oil...

Stay tuned for more developments on the algae cultivation in sewage for biodiesel

Oilgae - Oil & Biodiesel from Algae
Oilgae Blog
algOS - Biodiesel from Algae Open Source

Oilgae - Oil & Biodiesel from Algae provides links, directory, web links resources for algae-based biofuels & biodiesel. Intended to be useful for research, information, inputs, news for buyers, sellers, manufacturers, traders, suppliers, producers, exporters / importers of algal oil and algal fuels. Will provide info on biofuel feedstock, algal feedstocks, algae oil and link details on fuel from algae, bio-fuel, bio-diesel, algal oils & bio-fuels production and uses, biofuels trade & market resources, price data, statistics, prices, demand-supply for buyer, seller, manufacturer, trader, supplier, exporter and producer

You are at: Oilgae Blog (Oilgae - Oil & Biodiesel from Algae Home Page)

See also: Oilgae Blog Article Directory for a complete listing of all Oilgae blog posts - covering news, research and updates on biodiesel from algae & other plant feedstock, ethanol, and other renewable energy such as wind energy, hydrogen, hydro-energy, tidal/wave energy, geothermal, solar energy & nuclear energy

New flocculants for micro-algae Harvest for Bio-diesel

Nanoforce, Inc. Press Release

I'm providing only a small excerpt of the PR that is of relevance to this blog.

1. Nanoforce, Inc., a developer of nano-materials, new refining processes, and equipment for use in the alternative and conventional energy sectors announces the successful demonstration of STEEL SILK(tm) at the NanoTX '06 Conference in Dallas, Texas last week.
2. Licensing and co-development opportunities included NNFC's proprietary Nano-Cat(tm) petroleum catalyst line, the Poly-Web line of flocculants used to harvest micro-algae for bio-diesel, and Steel Silk, a self-assembling nano-material and one of the toughest fibers ever demonstrated worldwide.
3. Refinery Science Corp., a subsidiary of Nanoforce, is a material science-based petroleum technology business. The company intends to apply the benefits of its latest developments in material science and nanotechnology to provide solutions to issues associated with the production and transportation of extra heavy crude, and increase profits from refining heavy crude and residual bottoms. The Company's unique nano-materials may enable companies to profitably refine low quality crude oil, such as that from shale and oil sands that are difficult and expensive to process.

Not exactly a very relevant post, except for the flocculants for harvesting the microalgae part...

Oilgae - Oil & Biodiesel from Algae
Oilgae Blog
algOS - Biodiesel from Algae Open Source

Oilgae - Oil & Biodiesel from Algae provides links, directory, web links resources for algae-based biofuels & biodiesel. Intended to be useful for research, information, inputs, news for buyers, sellers, manufacturers, traders, suppliers, producers, exporters / importers of algal oil and algal fuels. Will provide info on biofuel feedstock, algal feedstocks, algae oil and link details on fuel from algae, bio-fuel, bio-diesel, algal oils & bio-fuels production and uses, biofuels trade & market resources, price data, statistics, prices, demand-supply for buyer, seller, manufacturer, trader, supplier, exporter and producer

You are at: Oilgae Blog (Oilgae - Oil & Biodiesel from Algae Home Page)

See also: Oilgae Blog Article Directory for a complete listing of all Oilgae blog posts - covering news, research and updates on biodiesel from algae & other plant feedstock, ethanol, and other renewable energy such as wind energy, hydrogen, hydro-energy, tidal/wave energy, geothermal, solar energy & nuclear energy

We must wean ourselves from the fossil-fuel habit

This is an excerpt of an article by Thad Box.

Edited for brevity...

"
...I studied oil shale during the 1970s. President Nixon appointed me to the Oil Shale Advisory Committee...We observed many attempts to extract oil from shale...

...I concluded we were lucky kerogen was tightly bound in rock. Otherwise, we would just burn it.

...With the high price of gasoline, people lust again after the 3.3 trillion tons of oil shale in the West. Past promoters created ephemeral booms and devastating busts in the West...

..."oil" in shale is not what we normally think of as oil. It is kerogen, a complex and waxy substance formed primarily from prehistoric algae. To convert it to fuel, shale has to be mined, kerogen extracted and then converted to oil.

...When gasoline reaches about $3 a gallon, the process is marginally profitable.

...Energy efficiency is one of the two major issues arguing against oil from shale. The other is environmental damage.

...The shale processing process gives a net energy loss, would take large amounts of water from agriculture, and also increase air pollution.

The greatest long-term societal cost is probably environmental damage. A close second is loss of a valuable future resource - kerogen. The complex chemical structure of kerogen makes it an ideal candidate for material that scientists could use in making useful products such as shoes, automobile bodies, airframes, floor coverings, skin-protection films etc...

...Instead of subsidizing any use of fossil fuel, we should move full speed ahead in a "Manhattan-type" effort for alternate energy sources.

...Maybe we're fortunate we cannot easily extract oil from shale.
"

Oilgae - Oil & Biodiesel from Algae
Oilgae Blog
algOS - Biodiesel from Algae Open Source

Oilgae - Oil & Biodiesel from Algae provides links, directory, web links resources for algae-based biofuels & biodiesel. Intended to be useful for research, information, inputs, news for buyers, sellers, manufacturers, traders, suppliers, producers, exporters / importers of algal oil and algal fuels. Will provide info on biofuel feedstock, algal feedstocks, algae oil and link details on fuel from algae, bio-fuel, bio-diesel, algal oils & bio-fuels production and uses, biofuels trade & market resources, price data, statistics, prices, demand-supply for buyer, seller, manufacturer, trader, supplier, exporter and producer

You are at: Oilgae Blog; see also: Oilgae - Oil & Biodiesel from Algae


Matt @ Biodiesel in the News, in this article on the future prediction for ethanol and biodiesel, provides a nice summary of another (guess longer) article on the future predictions of production volumes of biodiesel and ethanol..

This is indeed an interesting topic...All across the world, the growth rates of biodiesel are stupendous...which is not unusual for any good product in its initial stages...what is of concern is that many companies seem to rushing in with feedstock such as corn and soy, when there is still a raging debate on whether these are the optimal feedstock...for instance, it is well-known that soybean oil's yield is much lower than that for palm oil...similarly for the ethanol side, there is a view among scientists that cellulosic ethanol (such as the ones from switchgrass etc) will be more suitable for a sustainable future...

And amongst all these chaos, folks such as us @ Oilgae are doing some research on the viability of using algae as feedstock to produce biodiesel (and perhaps even ethanol - a less likely one though)...

When this is the case, many watchers of the biodiesel & ethanol industry can be excused for comparing this with the dot com boom...though the parameters and objectives/motivations are entirely different, the speed with which companies are moving in with various feedstock without doing their homework should mean that investors have to be more wary...else they might face the same fate as many dot com investors did...sit with a feedstock which simply cannot grow into the future


Oilgae - Oil & Biodiesel from Algae
Oilgae Blog
algOS - Biodiesel from Algae Open Source

Oilgae - Oil & Biodiesel from Algae provides links, directory, web links resources for algae-based biofuels & biodiesel. Intended to be useful for research, information, inputs, news for buyers, sellers, manufacturers, traders, suppliers, producers, exporters / importers of algal oil and algal fuels. Will provide info on biofuel feedstock, algal feedstocks, algae oil and link details on fuel from algae, bio-fuel, bio-diesel, algal oils & bio-fuels production and uses, biofuels trade & market resources, price data, statistics, prices, demand-supply for buyer, seller, manufacturer, trader, supplier, exporter and producer

You are at: Oilgae Blog; see also: Oilgae - Oil & Biodiesel from Algae

I was reading a long, well-researched and interesting post on America's sudden fascination ( at least some part of America) with coal as a feedstock to produce oil @ Alternative Energy Blog.

Rising oil prices have made many in the coal industry sit up and take note of the fact that diesel can be derived from coal, through coal liquefaction; though it is a costly process, it can be done (in fact South Africa has been doing it for the past many years).

The article at Alternative Energy Blog discusses this trend at length and provides arguments against the widespread use of coal for diesel.

One of the reasons for America's fascination is easy to understand. The USA sits on 25% of world's coal deposit. The USA is the Saudi Arabia of Coal!

While there possibly are coal deposits that can last 200 years or more, it does appear that it makes more sense to start slogging it out in engineering the right form of alternate / alternative energy instead of trying to plunder the earth of what little it still has, and that too pretty dirty stuff.

Oilgae - Oil & Biodiesel from Algae
Oilgae Blog
algOS - Biodiesel from Algae Open Source

Oilgae - Oil & Biodiesel from Algae provides links, directory, web links resources for algae-based biofuels & biodiesel. Intended to be useful for research, information, inputs, news for buyers, sellers, manufacturers, traders, suppliers, producers, exporters / importers of algal oil and algal fuels. Will provide info on biofuel feedstock, algal feedstocks, algae oil and link details on fuel from algae, bio-fuel, bio-diesel, algal oils & bio-fuels production and uses, biofuels trade & market resources, price data, statistics, prices, demand-supply for buyer, seller, manufacturer, trader, supplier, exporter and producer

You are at: Oilgae Blog; see also: Oilgae - Oil & Biodiesel from Algae


Vestas Wind Systems, the world's top wind turbine maker, plans to establish a research base in Singapore to meet Asia's growing appetite for wind energy.

The Denmark-based company will over the next 10 years set up the wind technology research and development centre. Its objective is to develop better wind turbines, which are three- bladed towers that turn gusts into electricity.

Vestas is convinced that the future for wind energy in Asia is phenomenal.

Of the 30,000 turbines it has sold worldwide, more than 5,000 are installed in wind farms in India, China, Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, Australia and New Zealand.

Oilgae - Oil & Biodiesel from Algae
Oilgae Blog
algOS - Biodiesel from Algae Open Source

Oilgae - Oil & Biodiesel from Algae provides links, directory, web links resources for algae-based biofuels & biodiesel. Intended to be useful for research, information, inputs, news for buyers, sellers, manufacturers, traders, suppliers, producers, exporters / importers of algal oil and algal fuels. Will provide info on biofuel feedstock, algal feedstocks, algae oil and link details on fuel from algae