1. Energy from Waste and Biomass
11 Mar 2009, IOM3, London, UK .
Energy from Algae
Steve Skill Plymouth Marine Laboratory

2. Plymouth Marine Laboratory
A Collaborative Centre of the
Plymouth Marine Laboratory
Multidisciplinary science
PML brings together:
100+ Professionals in biology, chemistry, maths and physics
using the latest approaches in:
novel technology, modelling,
earth observations, virology, biogeochemistry, ecotoxicology, microbiology and molecular science.
Innovation & Partnership
Delivering pioneering marine research for 30 years.

3. PML- Bioenergy Research Focus
IPCC advisers on Carbon Capture & Storage
Pioneers of ocean fertilisation experiments
Algal physiology and biochemistry
Photobioreactor design & engineering
Metabolomics, Biochemical Identification, Bio-refineries and healthcare products
Molecular Biology and Transgenics
Algal virology
Biogas analysis and identification
Marine Microbiology
Photosynthetic wastewater treatment system design
Supported by:

4. Why Microalgae ? - Superior productivity per hectare.

5. Bioenergy (& Fertiliser) from Photosynthetic Microbes

6. Bioenergy from Sewage
“The energy required to treat sewage is high and the water industry is the fourth most energy intensive sector in the UK”. (Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology, Postnote No. 282 April 2007).
A schematic diagram of the activated sludge process

7. What a waste! What a load of problems! Nutrients (N & P)
Fixed C component [oxidised to CO2]
Heavy metals (Au, Pt, Cu, Zn, Cd etc)
What a load of problems!
CO2 emissions
Nutrient discharges
Sewage sludge (hazardous waste)
Hormone disrupting chemicals (hermaphrodite fish!)

8. R. J. Diaz et al., Science 321, 926 -929 (2008)
Global distribution of 400-plus systems that have scientifically reported accounts of being eutrophication-associated dead zones
R. J. Diaz et al., Science 321, (2008)
Global Nature of Eutrophication-Induced Hypoxia

9. A: PHOTOSYNTHESIS (Algae)
How do you reduce CO2 emissions and energy use, and recover nutrients during sewage treatment?
A: PHOTOSYNTHESIS (Algae)

11. Algae/bacterial wastewater treatment- Current Practice
William J. Oswald
Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Emeritus
Professor of Public Health, Emeritus
Berkeley
1919 – 2005

12. Tertiary Treatment Biocoil PBR – Severn Trent, Stoke Bardolph, Nottingham (1993)

13. Wastewater treatment photobioreactors and direct fuelling of diesel engines with powdered algal biomass (1993)

14. Algal Biofilm wastewater treatment system applied to water recycling in intensive fish farming. (S. Skill 1999)

15. Algal Biofilm Wastewater Treatment

16. Advantages Drawbacks Algae Biofilm Sewage treatment
Low C footprint sewage treatment (Energy in v Sunlight)
Low carbon emission (oxidation v photosynthesis)
Single stage 2o, 3o & 4o treatment (inc.hormone degradation)
No sludge disposal
Not susceptible to biomass washout (flooding, extreme storm)
Simple dry biomass recovery (Biofuel + nutrient feedstock)
Drawbacks
Land area
Algal/bacterial ~0.25 – 0.4 kg/m2/day BOD
Activated Sludge ~3kg/m2/day BOD
Algal/bacterial/PBR systems will require 5-10 times the land area compared to activated sludge (excluding settling tanks). May be less!

17. Algal biomass conversion to fuels and chemicals
4 - 6kg of nitrogen per person per year.
Compared to fast pyrolysis oil: Lower oxygen conten, Higher heating value, Lower carbon in char, Easier to upgrade, Tolerate high moisture content, Tolerate high ash content

18. Bioenergy (& Fertiliser) from Algae

19. Photobioreactors Pond and raceway algae cultivation

20. Disadvantages
Ponds and raceways have lower productivity compared to closed PBRs.
Open to the atmosphere and therefore susceptible to contamination.
Successful cultivation limited to a few extremophile strains
Low culture density
Advantages
Low capital cost
Low running costs (paddle wheel or passive wind mixing
Atmospheric CO2

21. Closed Photobioreactors

24. Biocoil Photobioreactor 1993 (S. Skill)

25. Photobioreactor Engineering
R&D required
Photobioreactor Engineering
Technology Obstacles
Leakage
Fouling
Oxygen removal
Contamination
Temperature control
High Capital Cost
Operating costs
Gas Injection
Robustness
Biocoil
Photobioreactors
1994

26. Wanted! Algae strains with: >5 years R&D required Robustness
High Growth rate
Thermophilic capability
High Lipid content at max growth rate
Resistance to invasion
Self harvesting
NOx, SOx and High [CO2] tolerannce
Amenable to transgenics
>5 years R&D required

27. Algal Microbiology - Biochemistry
R&D Focus
Algal Microbiology - Biochemistry
Engineer strains to produce to produce and accumulate high levels of lipids during exponential growth.
Focus on non-oleagenous microalgal strains with high temp, NOx, SOX, High CO2 tolerant strains exhibiting autoflocculation.

28. R&D Focus Increasing Photosynthetic Efficiency Reduce heat dissipation
Low sunlight utilization efficiency due to light harvesting complexes
Modify photosynthetic antennae
Increase photosynthetic efficiency to > 10%

29. Commercially important metabolic pathways in microalgae.

30. PML Roof Mounted PBR

31. Thank you
Steve Skill
Non-commercial support by: