Producing crude oil from algae: Difference between revisions

no edit summary
No edit summary
No edit summary
Line 2: Line 2:


==History==
==History==
In 1942, European scientists Richard Harder and Hans von Witsch proposed the mass cultivation of diatoms to produce fat, which was urgently needed because of World War II.<ref name="r2">Liang, Y., Sarkany, N., Cui, Y. 2009. Biomass and lipid productivities of Chlorella vulgaris under autotrophic, heterotrophic and mixotrophic growth conditions. ''Biotechnology Letters'' '''31''' (7): 1043-1049.</ref> Government researchers began exploring algae as a source of fuel in 1978 and continued experiments through 1996.<ref name="r3">Wikipedia. 2015. Biofuel (25 January 2015 revision), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biofuel (accessed 2/3/2015).</ref>  
In 1942, European scientists Richard Harder and Hans von Witsch proposed the mass cultivation of diatoms to produce fat, which was urgently needed because of World War II.<ref name="r2">Liang, Y., Sarkany, N., Cui, Y. 2009. Biomass and lipid productivities of Chlorella vulgaris under autotrophic, heterotrophic and mixotrophic growth conditions. ''Biotechnology Letters'' '''31''' (7): 1043-1049.</ref> Government researchers began exploring algae as a source of fuel in 1978 and continued experiments through 1996.<ref name="r3">Wikipedia. 2015. Biofuel (25 January 2015 revision), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biofuel (accessed 2/3/2015).</ref>  
</references>


==Process==
==Process==
===Algae cultivation===
===Algae cultivation===


Line 13: Line 10:


===Converting the algae into crude===
===Converting the algae into crude===
====Fuel production====
====Fuel production====
Converting wet algal biomass into combustible fuel is a challenge. After the algae is harvested, the biomass is typically processed in a series of steps, which differs based on the species and desired end product. Often, the algae is dehydrated and then a solvent, like hexane, is used to extract energy-rich compounds, like triglycerides, from the dried material. Once extracted, the compounds can then be processed into fuel using standard industrial procedures. For example, the extracted triglycerides are reacted with methanol to create biodiesel via transesterification. Each species contains a unique composition of fatty acids that influences the quality of the resulting biodiesel and thus must be taken into account when selecting algal species for feedstock.
Converting wet algal biomass into combustible fuel is a challenge. After the algae is harvested, the biomass is typically processed in a series of steps, which differs based on the species and desired end product. Often, the algae is dehydrated and then a solvent, like hexane, is used to extract energy-rich compounds, like triglycerides, from the dried material. Once extracted, the compounds can then be processed into fuel using standard industrial procedures. For example, the extracted triglycerides are reacted with methanol to create biodiesel via transesterification. Each species contains a unique composition of fatty acids that influences the quality of the resulting biodiesel and thus must be taken into account when selecting algal species for feedstock.
Line 23: Line 19:


==Advantages==
==Advantages==
===Versus fossil fuels===
===Versus fossil fuels===
Algae fuel’s carbon footprint is smaller than that of fossil fuels and it is renewable, making it more eco-friendly. Additionally, wastewater is a possible nutrient source for algae, making the use of freshwater less necessary and decreasing, rather than increasing, pollution.
Algae fuel’s carbon footprint is smaller than that of fossil fuels and it is renewable, making it more eco-friendly. Additionally, wastewater is a possible nutrient source for algae, making the use of freshwater less necessary and decreasing, rather than increasing, pollution.
Line 31: Line 26:


==Disadvantages==
==Disadvantages==
===Commercial Viability===
===Commercial Viability===
Algae biodiesel is still a fairly new technology. Though United States government-funded research began over 30 years ago, it was put on hold during the mid-1990s, mainly due to a lapse in funding and a relatively low petroleum cost. For the next few years, algae biofuel saw little attention; it was not until the gas peak of the early 2000s that it eventually had revitalization in the search for alternative fuel sources. While the technology exists to harvest and convert algae into a usable source of biodiesel, it still hasn't been implemented into a large enough scale to support the current energy needs. Further research will be required to make the production of algae biofuels more efficient.
Algae biodiesel is still a fairly new technology. Though United States government-funded research began over 30 years ago, it was put on hold during the mid-1990s, mainly due to a lapse in funding and a relatively low petroleum cost. For the next few years, algae biofuel saw little attention; it was not until the gas peak of the early 2000s that it eventually had revitalization in the search for alternative fuel sources. While the technology exists to harvest and convert algae into a usable source of biodiesel, it still hasn't been implemented into a large enough scale to support the current energy needs. Further research will be required to make the production of algae biofuels more efficient.
industry, override, viewlinktolatest, wysiwyg
1,729

edits