The Suitability of Algae Protein Residue as an Effective Biofuel By Alexis Barragan

Non-Renewable Energy Non-renewable resource is any natural resource that cannot be naturally replenish- ed in a human time scale. Fossil Fuels Coal Oil Natural Gas Radioactive Uranium

Renewable Energy A renewable resource is a natural resource that can be be replenished naturally at the same rate as human consumption so to not be completely depleted. Biomass Soil Forests Plants Other Solar Geothermal Hydro

Pyrolysis Pyrolysis is the thermochemical decomposition of a organic substance at high temperatures without oxygen. Products of pyrolysis include: Main Products Bio-oil Charcoal Intermediate products Syngas By-products Electricity Thermal energy

The Advantages of Algae Habitats: algae can grow on arable, non-arable land, saltwater, freshwater, waste water. Sanitation: grows better in waste water and cleans the water as well. Photosynthesis: When given CO2 the algae grows better and produces more oxygen. Oil production: produces 15 times more oil than other plants like corn, rapeseed, or switchgrass.

Algal Biodiesel Process Both the oil press and the hexane solvent method produce leftover protein residue.

Question & Hypothesis Question Can the protein residue found after lipid extraction be used as a fuel source? Hypothesis Algae will be found to be a viable source of fuel when compared to other currently used fuel sources.

Can this “waste” product be used as an energy source?

Samples 2 Samples: Algae with lipids extracted Algae with lipids still intact

TGA Thermogravimetric Analyzer (TGA) is used to determine the amounts of bio-oils and boigas that are released at different temperatures. Can also be used to determine a target temperature in an industrial system.

TGA graph of algae with lipids.

TGA graph of algae without lipids

Bomb Calorimeter Heat of combustion of a particular reaction.

Test 1 Time (mins and secs) Temperature (°C) 0: : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : Test 2 Time (mins and secs)Temperature (°C) 0: : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : Calorimeter data of algae with lipids. Calorimeter data of algae without lipids.

Lowest temperature of algae with lipids: 25.20°C (T0) Highest temperature of algae with lipids: 25.31°C (T1) T1 – T0 = 0.11°C Lowest temperature of algae without lipids: 25.03°C (T0) Highest temperature of algae without lipids: 25.10°C (T1) T1 – T0 =.07°C Essential in calculations.

Calculations Awl= Algae with lipids ΔU = C calorimeter X ΔT was the initial formula ΔU = -10.7kJ/°C X 0.11°C ΔU = kJ for the algae with lipids sample ΔU = kJ = ΔU Awl X (Mass Awl ) + ΔU Fe X (Mass Fe ) ΔU = kJ = ΔU Awl X (0.0761g) kg … kJ/g = ΔU Awl

Calculations cont. Awol= Algae without lipids ΔU = -10.7kJ/°C X 0.07°C ΔU = kJ for the algae with lipids sample ΔU = kJ = ΔU Awol X (Mass Awol ) + ΔU Fe X (Mass Fe ) ΔU = kJ = ΔU Awol X (0.0761g) kg … kJ/g = ΔU Awol

Algae with lipids: kJ/g Algae without lipids: kJ/g Approximately 5 kJ/g difference. These values can be used to compare to other data from other sources of fuel.

Statistically Compare Common Feedstocks: Bamboo Switchgrass Bagasse Corn Husks Organic Waste

Conclusion Initial data seems to support my hypothesis, although additional data will be required for a more conclusive answer Future Investigations Compare Algae data to more fuels Other?

Significance Algae biofuel firms: GreenFuel Technologies: $92 million on fuel plant Solazyme: makes deals with Chevron and Imperium Renewables Blue Marble Energy: finds and cleans algae infested polluted water and turns the algae into biofuels Inventure Chemical: algae-to-jet-fuel Live Fuels: open-pond algae bioreactors Solix Biofuels: biocrude closed-tank bioreactor Aurora Biofuels: uses genetics to isolate specific algae strains to efficiently create biofuels Aquaflow Bonimics: economically produces biofuel from wild algae Petro Sun: 1,100 acres of ponds to produce 4.4 million gallons of algae oil.

Acknowledgements Dr. Kevin Whitty, Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Utah Alonzo Martinez, Chemistry Department, University of Utah Professors Ashley Budd, Mentor Academy for Math, Engineering, & Science

Thank You!