Making Ethanol from Algae By Kerri Cobb

Abstract Algenol has won a 2015 Presidential Green Chemistry Award for Climate Change. They developed a technology that uses algae to produce ethanol, gasoline, and jet and diesel fuel. The purpose of developing this technology was to help the environment. Their technology benefits the environment by using saltwater instead of fresh water, using land that is not suitable for farming instead of valuable farmland, and consuming and recycling carbon dioxide from industrial sources.

Purpose The purpose of developing this technology that converts algae to ethanol was to help the environment. Algenol achieved this by: Using saltwater instead of freshwater Using land that is not suitable for farming instead of valuable farmland Consuming and recycling carbon dioxide from industrial sources

Introduction Algenol is a global, industrial biotechnology company that patented a technology that makes ethanol from algae. Their process is called DIRECT TO ETHANOL® DIRECT TO ETHANOL® technology uses algae, sunlight, recycled carbon dioxide and saltwater to make ethanol. Algenol uses its patented photobioreactors and proprietary downstream separation techniques for low-cost fuel production. The fuel that is made with algae cost about $1.30 a gallon.

Ethanol

Results According to the official EPA pathway approval, Algenol’s technology reduces Greenhouse Gas Emissions by about 69% compared to gasoline Ethanol is usually made from the fermentation of sugars produced by plants such as corn and sugar cane. Using algae instead of corn, the yields are 20 times greater. The carbon footprint of Algenol Ethanol is 80% than gasoline.

Discussion Algenol’s technology uses blue-green algae (or cyanobacteria) and photosynthesis to convert CO2 and seawater into sugar (pyruvate) and then into ethanol. Cyanobacteria are among the most photosynthetic organisms, and exhibit exceptionally effective carbon fixation capabilities Algenol uses a patented flexible plastic film photobioreactor that facilitates production, creation, and collection. The carbon dioxide and nutrients go in and the ethanol comes out. Then, their patented Vapor Compression Steam Stripping technology further purifies the ethanol into fuel grade ethanol by standard distillation. Algenol’s technology relates to green chemistry because they have created a greener way to produce ethanol. Making ethanol from algae relates to organic chemistry because ethanol is an organic compound.

Discussion Continued Algenol’s process takes in carbon dioxide from industrial sources and recycles it This greenhouse gas would otherwise be emitted into the atmosphere It is converted into valuable transportation fuel in a way that is energy-efficient.

Algae to Ethanol Process Step 1: The algae uses photosynthesis to convert CO2 and seawater into sugar and then the sugar is fermented into ethanol Step 2: Gravity facilitates the collection of the ethanol and spent algae from the photobioreactor Step 3: Vapor Compression Steam Stripping technology further purifies the ethanol by standard distillation The product is fuel grade ethanol

When will ethanol made from algae be possible at a significant commercial scale? ExxonMobil and Synthetic Genomics, Inc. (SGI) are currently doing research related to this topic. They are doing research to find a way to make biofuel production from algae possible at a significant commercial scale. The challenge is that algae harvest more light than they can convert to biofuels. The goal is for the algae to use this light as efficiently as possible. They’re conducting research to decrease the amount of wasted sunlight and increase biomass productivity. This can be achieved by improving the photosynthetic efficiency of individual algae cells. In order to make this happen, SGI is working to engineer algae cells that will absorb only the amount of light that they can effectively use.

References Adams, Stacy. (2015, July 14). Algenol Tackles Global Crisis; Wins 2015 Presidential Award for Climate Change [Press release]. Retrieved from http://www.algenol.com/sites/default/files/press_releases/ALGENOL%20WINS%202 015%20PRESIDENTIAL%20GREEN%20CHEMISTRY%20AWARD.pdf Algenol. (2011). Retrieved November 19, 2015, from http://www.algenol.com Learn more about ExxonMobil advanced biofuels research and development initiatives. (2003). Retrieved December 2, 2015, from http://corporate.exxonmobil.com/en/company/multimedia/energy-lives- here/energy-investments-advanced-biofuels 2015 Specific Environmental Benefit: Climate Change Award. (2015, July 24). Retrieved November 29, 2015, from http://www2.epa.gov/greenchemistry/2015-specific- environmental-benefit-climate-change-award