Algal Biofuels with thanks to: Chris Reddy Director, Coastal Ocean Institute Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and in collaboration with: Scott Lindell (MBL, WHOI)

Emily Peacock

History Rudolph Diesel ( ); died likely of suicide. He developed the idea of an engine using high compression to ignite the fuel, eliminating the spark plug. Patent awarded in He was interested in using coal dust or vegetable oil as fuel with a special interest in helping farmers.

History (continued) A diesel engine runs on straight peanut oil in 1900 at Paris Exposition (wins prize) Lots of failures using straight vegetable oils (SVOs). It was recognized that it was best to modify fuels and not engines. Led to biodiesel (as we know it) Interest fluctuates with oil prices in US

Background One of the most promising fuel alternatives is biodiesel, which is derived from animal and vegetable fats. Many tout its ability to enhance engine lubrication, decrease harmful emissions, and minimize the dependence on foreign oil imports. It is formulated in a variety of mixtures from B2 (2% biodiesel mixed with 98% diesel derived from fossil fuels) to B100 (100% biodiesel). Almost any diesel engine can be run on B2 though B20.

Distributors of biodiesel in the US (

Fats from vegetable oil 18 18:2 18:1 glycerin fatty acids Some use this in diesel engines; called straight vegetable oil (SVO) Generally liquids at room temperature

Fats from animals 18 Solids at room temperature

What is biodiesel? They are the fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) that result from the chemical breakdown of glycerides. C 16 FAME

Biodiesel Production: 3 Step Trans-Esterification Reaction

Comparison of Properties ☺

Gas chromatography

inlet detector 60-m long column

Typical gas chromatogram –components vary in some molecular property that can be used by a GC stationary phase to separate them from one another FID Signal Time (min) C 10 C 20 C 18 C 16 C 14 C 12 (n-alkanes)

Hill et al (2006) PNAS “Devoting all US soybean production would have an offset of 6% on diesel demand…… “However, because of the fossil energy required to produce biodiesel, this change would provide a net energy gain to just 2.9% of US diesel consumption…..”

Algae-based bidiesel –Grow algae and press or extract the oil from them. –Algal oil can be transformed with simple chemical reactions to biodiesel. –Many consider it the “biofuel of the future”

Algal Biodiesel No “food for fuel” issues. Harvest almost daily. By products: Glycerine (food and other industries); Protein (fish farms); etc Lower emissions when burnt.

One study published in 2007 entitled, “Biodiesel from Microalgae” in Biotechnology Advances, indicated that algal-based biodiesel is the only biological source capable of replacing fossil-fuel diesel. US Energy Department study says that if algal biofuels replaced petroleum in the US market, an area 15,000 square miles would suffice (like Maryland!)

Got algae?

Possible Biofuels “farm”

Photo Bioreactors

Raceway Pond Product

Algal Concentrate

algal oilbiodiesel chemical reaction (algal oil is too viscous to be used as a fuel alone and must be converted to biodiesel)

Got algae?

Be careful with the hype Take data from the “bench” and extrapolate to millions or even billions of gallons of water/algae. Problematic?

WHOI and MBL’s initial research Involved in a proposal for a one-acre sized marine biodiesel production site in Cape Cod. Motivated to identify the best algae for this region. Began a survey of local species this past summer.

Solix plant, CO

What about the cost? ex. Solix right now  $33/gallon paired w/ waste heat & CO2  $5.50/gallon selling by-products  $3.50/gallon (but) that’s still $150/barrel!! goal is to get down to $1.50 gallon (or $60-80/barrel)

Algal biofuels benefits home-grown (less imported oil) biological efficiency: algae create oils that can be harvested every 5-7 days energy density (they are 10-60% oil) no food-for-fuel problems (unlike ethanol) could use waste CO 2 and heat from coal and gas power plants

Algal biofuels problems Will take years to optimize technology. Cost still high Still dealing with hypothetical scaling. Biodiesel is likely short-lived. Green diesel and other green fuels are the future on the commercial scale (same chemical structure as traditional fossil fuels).