1 / 32

2012 Advisory Panel The Challenge of Algal Fuel: Monetizing the Entire Algal Biomass

2012 Advisory Panel The Challenge of Algal Fuel: Monetizing the Entire Algal Biomass. Rhykka Connelly Center for Electromechanics The University of Texas at Austin 12/4/2012. Timeline of the Biomass Program. Sugar Cane. 2005. 2007. 2009. 2012. 2014. Sugar Cane Production.

eshana
Download Presentation

2012 Advisory Panel The Challenge of Algal Fuel: Monetizing the Entire Algal Biomass

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. 2012 Advisory Panel The Challenge of Algal Fuel: Monetizing the Entire Algal Biomass Rhykka Connelly Center for Electromechanics The University of Texas at Austin 12/4/2012

  2. Timeline of the Biomass Program Sugar Cane 2005 2007 2009 2012 2014

  3. Sugar Cane Production • The extraction rate should be at ≥ 9% to reach ethanol producing targets • In reality, the conventional extraction rate ranges only between 5-6% • Need extraction to improve by 33-45%

  4. The CEM Solution Marx Bank High Voltage Generator

  5. The CEM Solution • Electroporationof sugar cane cell walls • Extraction improved by 37% on average

  6. Algae Sugar Cane Algae 2005 2007

  7. Algae

  8. Algae Chlorella sp. lipid bodies

  9. Algae Structure and Products

  10. The CEM Solution:Breaking Algae with Electric Fields • Convenient, adjustable voltage source • Does not provide optimum wave shape • Not efficient or practical for field use

  11. The CEM Solution:Multidisciplinary Approach • Algae Group • ≈50 faculty, researchers, and students • Plus larger group of researchers in associated, related fields • Multidisciplinary • Biologists, biochemists, physicists, mechanical engineers, electrical engineers, chemical engineers, and environmental engineers • Focused on Fuel – But Working on Cash Flow from Co-Products along the Way • Complete Process • Algae selection – key driver of economics • Growth—as needed • Harvesting • Dewatering • Lysing • Separation • Metrology – without good process measurements, there is no process control • Life cycle analysis – program focus, regulatory acceptance

  12. Algae Processing Options concentrate algae centrifuge drum drier pH-driven flocculation chemical flocculation bioflocculation dissolved air flotation mixotrophic growth break algae solvent extraction expeller press electric field sonication supercritical fluid bead-milling product recovery centrifugation hollow fiber membrane direct transesterification solvent phase partitioning carbohydrates omega 3-6-9 fatty acids clean biomass for fertilizer/animal feed lipids/oils for fuel carotenoids

  13. Algae Processing Options concentrate algae centrifuge drum drier pH-driven flocculation chemical flocculation bioflocculation dissolved air flotation mixotrophic growth break algae solvent extraction expeller press electric field sonication supercritical fluid bead-milling product recovery centrifugation hollow fiber membrane direct transesterification solvent phase partitioning carbohydrates omega 3-6-9 fatty acids clean biomass for fertilizer/animal feed lipids/oils for fuel carotenoids

  14. The CEM Solution concentrate algae centrifuge drum drier pH-driven flocculation chemical flocculation bioflocculation dissolved air flotation mixotrophic growth break algae solvent extraction expeller press electric field sonication supercritical fluid bead-milling product recovery centrifugation hollow fiber membrane direct transesterification solvent phase partitioning carbohydrates omega 3-6-9 fatty acids clean biomass for fertilizer/animal feed lipids/oils for fuel carotenoids

  15. Algae Processing Development Solid State Lysing Power Supply • Patents filed • Paper* published * S. Bae, A. Kwasinski, M. M. Flynn, and R. E. Hebner, “High-Power Pulse Generator with Flexible Output Pattern,” IEEE Trans. Power Electronics, 25(7): 1675-1684.

  16. Algae Processing Development: Creating Analytical Tools for the Industry Simultaneous detection of lipids by ELSD and mass spectrometer • Nile Red • Industry standard for measuring lipids in total • Non-specific for non-polar lipids (hydrocarbons, some carotenoids, triacyglycerols, diglycerides, some lipoproteins), thus cannot render an accurate profile of lipids to determine downstream processing Identification of lipids by NMR C. M. Beal, M. E. Webber, R. S. Ruoff, and R. E. Hebner, “Lipid Analysis of Neochlorisoleoabundans by Liquid State NMR,” 2010, Biotechnology and Bioengineering, 106:4. Jones, J., Manning, S., Montoya, M., Keller, K., & Poenie, M. Extraction of algal lipids and their analysis by HPLC and mass spectrometry. Journal of the American Oil Chemists' Society, 2012, 89, 1371–1381.

  17. Algae Processing Development: Creating Analytical Tools for the Industry Mass and Energy Balance Processing Flowchart Samples are collected before and after each processing step. Volume, biomass, and lipid content are measured. Cellular morphologies are monitored. Cultivation Batch Record (AC) CEM Harvest: Batch Record (AH) EWRE Lysing: Batch Record (AL) CEM effluent recycled back to pond • * Beal CM, Hebner RE, Romanovicz DK, Connelly RL. “Progression of lipid profile and cell structure in a research-scale production pathway for algal biocrude,” Renewable Energy. 2012, 50:86-93. * Beal C, Smith C, Webber M, Ruoff R, Hebner R (2011) A framework to report the production of renewable diesel from algae. BioEnergy Res 4:36–60 Extraction: Batch Record (AE) SRP • * Beal CM, Stillwell AS, King CW, Cohen S, Berberoglu H, Bhattarai RP; Connelly RL, Webber ME, Hebner RE. “Energy return on investment for algal biofuel production coupled with wastewater treatment,” Water Environment Research. 2012, 84(9):692-710. final oil final biomass

  18. CEM Algae Processing Technologies concentration/dewatering unit • cell breaking unit oil/product recovery unit Growth and Processing Analysis via UT Technologies C.M. Beal, R.E. Hebner, M.E. Webber, R.S. Ruoff, A.F. Seibert. The energy return on investment for algal biocrude: results for a research production facility. BioEnergy Research. 2011, pp. 1–22

  19. Transfer of CEM Algae Processing Technologies to Industry Assembled Mobile Biomass Processing Unit

  20. Algae Program Publications • C.M. Beal, R.E. Hebner, M.E. Webber, “Thermodynamic analysis of algal biocrude production,” Energy. 2012, 44(1):925-943. • C.M. Beal, M.E. Webber, R.S. Ruoff, R.E. Hebner, “Lipid Analysis of Neochlorisoleoabundans by Liquid State NMR,” Biotechnology and Bioengineering, 2010, 106(4). • S. Bae, A. Kwasinski, M.M. Flynn, R.E. Hebner, “High-Power Pulse Generator with Flexible Output Pattern,” IEEE Trans. Power Electronics, 2010, 25(7):1675-1684. • C.M. Beal, R.E. Hebner, D.K. Romanovicz, R.L. Connelly, “Progression of lipid profile and cell structure in a research-scale production pathway for algal biocrude,” Renewable Energy. 2012, 50:86-93. • C. Beal, C. Smith, M. Webber, R. Ruoff, R. Hebner, “A framework to report the production of renewable diesel from algae,” BioEnergy Res. 2011, 4:36–60. • C.M. Beal, A.S. Stillwell, C.W. King, S. Cohen, H. Berberoglu, R.P. Bhattarai, R.L. Connelly, M.E. Webber, R.E. Hebner, “Energy return on investment for algal biofuel production coupled with wastewater treatment,” Water Environment Research. 2012, 84(9):692-710. • R.V. Pearsall, R.L. Connelly, M.E. Fountain, C.S. Hearn, M.D. Werst, R.E. Hebner, E.F. Kelley EF, “Electrically dewatering microalgae,” IEEE Trans. Dielectrics and Electrical Insulation, 2011,18(5): 1578-1583. • J. Jones, C.-H. Lee, J. Wang, M. Poenie, “Use of anion exchange resins for one-step processing of algae from harvest to biofuel,” Energies, 2012, 5(7):2608-2625. • J. Jones, S. Manning, M. Montoya, K. Keller, M. Poenie, ”Extraction of algal lipids and their analysis by HPLC and mass spectrometry,” Journal of the American Oil Chemists' Society, 2012, 89, 1371–1381. • A. Ozkan, K. Kinney, H. Berberoglu, “Reduction of water and energy requirement of algae cultivation using an algae biofilmphotobioreactor,”Bioresour. Technol., 2012, 114:542-548.

  21. Algae Program Publications • A. Wileman, A. Ozkan, H. Berberoglu, “Rheological properties of algae slurries for minimizing harvesting energy requirements in biofuel production,” • Bioresour. Technol., 104 (2012), pp. 432-439. • H. Berberoglu, J. Jay, L. Pilon, “Effect of nutrient media on photobiological hydrogen production by Anabaena variabilisATCC 29413,” Int. J. Hydrogen Energy, 33 (2008), pp. 1172-1184. • Murphy T., Berberoglu H., “Temperature fluctuation and evaporative loss Rate in an algae biofilmphotobioreactor,” ASME J. Solar Energy Engineering, 2012, vol. 134, pp. 011002-1-9.  • Murphy T., Berberoglu H.,“Effect of algae pigmentation on photobioreactor productivity and scale-up: a light transfer perspective,”J. Quantitative Spectroscopy and RadiativeTransfer, 2011, vol.112,  pp. 2826-2834. • Berberoglu H., Pilon L.,“Maximizing the solar to H2 energy conversion efficiency of outdoor photobioreactors using mixed cultures,” International J. of Hydrogen Energy, 2010, vol. 35, pp. 500-510.  • Berberoglu H., Gomez P., Pilon L., 2009, “Radiation characteristics of Botryococcusbraunii, Chorococcumlittoraleand Chlorella sp. used for CO2 fixation and biofuel production,J. Quantitative Spectroscopy and Radiative Transfer, vol. 110, pp. 1879-1893. • Berberoglu H., Pilon L., Melis A., 2008, “Radiation characteristics of Chlamydomonasreinhardtii and its truncated chlorophyll antenna transformants,” International J. Hydrogen Energy, vol. 33, pp 6467-6483. • Berberoglu H., Pilon L., Jay J., 2008, “Effect of nutrient media on photobiological hydrogen production of Anabaena variabilis ATCC 29413,”International J. Hydrogen Energy, vol. 33, pp. 1172-1184.  • Berberoglu H., Barra N., Jay J., Pilon L., 2008, “Growth, CO2 consumption H2 production of Anabaena variabilis ATCC 29413-U under different irradiances and CO2 concentrations,”J. Applied Microbiology, vol. 104, pp. 105-121.

  22. Algae Program Intellectual Property • OzkanA, Kinney K, Katz, K. Novel, “Algae biofilmphotobiotreactor for reduced energy and water usage,” Energy Systems Analysis. 2010, 5:75-80. • R.L. Connelly, R.V. Pearsall, R. Enhkbaatar, “Algal extracts as a wound healing agent,” UTID 5935-CON disclosure submitted Oct. 2012. • P. Kipp, R.L. Connelly, F. Siebert, “Non-dispersive process for insoluble oil recovery from aqueous solutions,” submitted Jan. 2012, 20120184759. • A.F. Seibert, M. Poenie, P. Kipp, R.L. Connelly, R.E. Hebner, M.D. Werst, L.E. Katz, K.A. Kinney, “Continuous oil recovery from growth environments,” UTID 5623-SEI CIP submitted Oct. 2011, provisional 61/006,342, filed Nov. 2011. • P. Kipp, R.L. Connelly, F. Siebert, M. Poenie, R.E. Hebner, M.D. Werst, L.E. Katz, K.A. Kinney, “Non-dispersive process for insoluble oil recovery from aqueous solutions,” submitted Oct. 2011, 20120208247. • R.E. Hebner, K.R. Davey, M.D. Werst, R.L. Connelly, “Electromechanical lysing of algae cells,” submitted July 2011, 20120021481. • R.E. Hebner, M.D. Werst, A.F. Seibert, L.E. Katz, K.A. Kinney, M. Poenie, C.M. Beal, R.L. Connelly, “On-line test equipment and analysis procedure to determine material balance in algal processing for biofuel production,” provisional 61/471,597. • R.L. Connelly, R.V. Pearsall, P. Enhkbaatar, B.J. Morrison, R.E. Hebner, M.D. Werst, A.F. Seibert, L.E. Katz, K.A. Kinney, M. Poenie, “Organic fertilizer derived from processed algal biomass,” UTID 5936-CON submitted Jan. 2011. • R.L. Connelly, R.V. Pearsall, D. Schmid, “A method to extract and stably maintain carotenoids from algae, fungi, or bacteria,” UTID 5910-CON submitted Nov. 2010. • R.E. Hebner, M.D. Werst, A.F. Seibert, L.E. Katz, K.A. Kinney, M. Poenie, R.L. Connelly, R.V. Pearsall, T.A. Beets, “A continuous process to concentrate, lyse, and extract chemicals of interest, including omega fatty acids, from algae or cyanobacteria grown phototrophically or heterotrophically,” UTID 5886-HEB submitted Sept. 2010. • R.L. Connelly, R.V. Pearsall, “TLC lipid quantification kit,” UTID 5835-CON submitted Aug. 2010.

  23. Focus for the Future – Leveraging UT Expertise and Resources Sugar Cane Algae Education and Development of Industry Standards 2005 2007 2012

  24. Focus for the Future – Leveraging UT Expertise and Resources Sugar Cane Algae Education and Services 2005 2007 2012 - 2013 • Establishment of the UT-Science and Technology Facility • MonthlyIndustrial Recovery & Analysis of Biomass Oils Workshops • In collaboration with the UTEX Algae Culture Collection Workshop series • students to start-ups to established companies • Analytical Service Center • Provide innovative analytical support to the industry

  25. Educating the Algae Industry • Industrial Recovery & Analysis of Biomass Oils Workshop • Tour of the UT-ASTF facility • Presentations detailing current and cutting-edge processing technologies • Biochemistry of algae and popular and cutting-edge lipid analysis techniques • Hands-on laboratory instruction to extract algal products and perform detailing analyses

  26. Providing Innovative Analytical Services to the Algae Industry UT-ASTF Analytical Service Center • Lipid Extraction • HPLC/MS and GC/MS lipid profiling • Spectroscopy • high resolution microscopy • R & D services to optimize growth and processing relative to target lipids Website: algaebiofuels.utexas.org Email: r.connelly@cem.utexas.edu Office: 512.232.1633 1 University Station R7000 10100 Burnet Rd, EME133 Austin, TX 78758

  27. Focus for the Future – Leveraging UT Expertise and Resources Sugar Cane Algae Education and Services + 2005 2007 2013 - 2015 • Establish Industry Analytical Standards for measuring algal biomass and products • Discussed with the international community • Follow-up expected with NIST, DOE, and EU • Industrial Consortium • Proposed by current sponsors • Assessing feasibility • Processing R & D • Collaborative with Industrial Sponsors

  28. Algae – Providing Analytical Protocols and Measurement Standards to the Algae Industry • With $ millions invested and 100’s of developers, why is a positive EROI always 5 years away? • Non-standardized measurements of virtually every parameter – each method can produce wildly different results on the same culture • Cell density • Cell count • Gravity settling • Dry weight with and without centrifugation to remove salts • Filtering

  29. Algae – Providing Analytical Protocols and Measurement Standards to the Algae Industry With $ millions invested and 100’s of developers, why is a positive EROI always 5 years away? • Total oil content measurement challenges • Nile red (non-specifically binds to a variety of neutral lipid compounds) • Gravimetric (anything recovered in a particular solvent – non-specific to fuel or high value products) • HPLC/MS – detailed quantitative lipid profiling of specific lipid classes and species of interest • GC/MS – detailed quantification of fatty acids • Because UT has developed and published advanced analytical tools that define and quantify specific algae products for the industry, UT is in a unique position to help define analytical measurement standards that the industry can adopt

  30. Algae – Providing Analytical Protocols and Measurement Standards to the Algae Industry With $ millions invested and 100’s of developers, why is a positive EROI always 5 years away? • Incomplete knowledge of membrane and cell wall electrical and mechanical properties • Many inefficient cell breaking approaches are utilized in the industry instead of an optimized approach • Oil-in-water emulsions form from broken algae debris – affects recovery of the oil/products • Because UT/CEM has 40+ years expertise in assessing electrical and mechanical properties of materials, UT is in a unique position to characterize algal membrane and cell wall dynamics during processing to optimize recovery of algal products

  31. The UT Approach to Define Analytical Protocols and Measurement Standards for the Algae Industry • Understand cell structures and physiology • Tensile strength and electromechanical properties of cell membranes and walls • Physiological defense mechanisms against predators • Impediments to oil extraction • Standards for oil content and growth • Government-industry-university metrology consortium • International participation beneficial • Standard reference “algae cell” to validate metrology

  32. Summary • Algae represent a viable source of alternative fuels, plus high-value products • CEM has developed and transferred to industry cost-effective processing technologies and continues to develop additional processing capabilities • CEM is educating the algae industry • CEM is in a unique position to lead the effort to drive the industry into profitability by developing measurement standards for the industry

More Related