1. Does algae hold much promise as an energy source?
Kris Tjornhom | Tony Marcincavage | Rob Pecorelli | Chad Pruner

2. Introduction
Oil is the lifeblood that holds the world together and keeps us moving forward
However oil is unfortunately not renewable and take millions of years to replenish.
Major push for alternative energy sources
But what if we didn’t have to give up oil itself, just the way that we have been harvesting it?
That’s where algae biofuel comes in
Does algae biofuel Pros outweigh the Cons?

3. How Algae is converted into fuel
Can be extracted mechanically or physically
Four main types of extraction
Expression (Mechanical)
Ultrasonic (Mechanical)
Using Benzene (Chemical)
Using Hexane (Chemically)

4. How Algae is converted into fuel
Expression (Mechanical)
Oil is pressed out of the algae
Example: Olives made into olive oil
Screw, expeller and piston presses
Depends on the algae strain
Able to extract 80% of the algae’s oil
Chemical processes are used to further extract

5. How Algae is converted into fuel
Ultrasonic (Mechanical)
Faster process than pressing
Uses ultrasonic waves to create bubbles
Ultimately leads to the release of the oil

6. How Algae is converted into fuel
Benzene (Chemical)
Inexpensive solvent
Classified as carcinogenic
May pose the danger of explosion

7. How Algae is converted into fuel
Hexane (Chemical)
Can be used by itself or in a combination
Can be used with the pressing method
Can extract nearly 95 percent of algae’s oils content

8. Main Uses of Algae
Algae is one of the most efficient sources for creating biofuels
Food
Fertilizer
Plastics
Animal Feed

9. Other Uses Cosmetics Wastewater treatment facilities
In those facilities with using algae, you won’t need so much toxic chemicals
Used by power plants to reduce Co2 emissions
Health Reasons

10. What is Algae used for

12. Benefits Bio-based fuel with a carbon neutral cycle
Replacement for petroleum-based liquid fuels
Renewable

13. Benefits Absorbs carbon dioxide as it grows
Both waste CO2 and wastewater can be used as nutrients
Higher energy per-acre than other bio-fuels

14. Benefits
Can be grown on land unsuitable for other types of agriculture
Study found that 17 percent of U.S. oil imports could be met with algae
Investments are being made to make the process better
Production is presently scaling up (Navy buying 100,000 gallons this year)
Research has been underway for 50 years

16. The Cons of Algae use for energy
Main problems with Algae
High cost of production
Uses large amounts of water
Warm temperatures needed
Technology underdeveloped
High fertilizer use
Profit potential not known

17. Oil properties\Cost
Oils derived from algae degrade easier than other biofuels
Oil contains more fatty acids which restrict flow at low temperatures
The profitability is unknown
Start up cost for algae factories and very expensive
Investors are not sure about investing because of high initial costs

18. Building cost Initial infrastructure costs are very expensive
Algae Process is more expensive because additional research needs to be done
Infrastructure can be very large as seen below

19. Conclusion
The technology and amount of research required is simply out of our reach currently
There is a good deal of research money going into this as production is beginning to scale up.
Issues can be fixed:
Using land surrounding power plants or land unsuitable for any other type of crop
Water can be recycled in reactors.
Cold flow issues can be resolved by blended biofuels with other fuels
Fertilizer issues could be addressed using waste streams
The technology and cost is not currently where it needs to be to consider algae biofuels a serious replacement for petroleum based fuels
There is great promise for the use of algae biofuels in the very near future.

20. Works Cited
“Von Witsch Archives.” Fuel Freedom Foundation, 21 May 2014, Web
DOE. “Energy 101: Algae-to-Fuel.” Energy.gov, Web
Wesoff, Eric. “Hard Lessons From the Great Algae Biofuel Bubble.” Gtm, Greentech Media, Apr. 2017, Web
Wocken, Chad. “The Power of Algae BiomassMagazine.” Biomassmagazine.com, Web
RP Siegel. “Algae-Based Biofuel: Pros And Cons.” Triple Pundit: People, Planet, Profit, 12 Apr , Web
Cassidy, Susan. “How can algae be converted into biofuel?” HowStuffWorks, HowStuffWorks, Dec. 2010, Web
Sawahel, Wagdy. “Biofuels from algae plagued with problems, says review.” SciDev.Net, 5 July , Web
“Five amazing and unusual uses for algae”. Naturalnews.com, Web November 2012