Outlook for microbiological production of biofuels in Armenia

1. Outlook for microbiological production of biofuelsin Armenia A.A.Vardanyan1,L.G. Antonyan2, R.A. Mnatsakanyan2, K.A. Darbinyan2, V.B. Goginyan2, A.E. Harutyunyan2, E.G.Afrikian2 1Viasphere Technopark CJSC, Yerevan 2 Center of Microbiology and Microbial Depository, NAS of Armenia

2. Microbiological potential for production of biofuels • Accumulation and take off electricity (Electric ray: 15-20 KV) • Methane, anaerobic fermentation (Biogas) • Bioconversion of CO, CO2 and H2 to methane • Bioethanol from lignocellulosics (Program Topinambur) • Biohydrogen production from water • Microbial biosynthesis of biodiesel and hydrocarbones

3. Electric ray (flattened cartilaginous fish)

4. Main stages of anaerobic (methane) fermentation

5. Biogas plants of German “Agrogas” AG company in Denmark

6. Bioconversion of exhaust gases to methane Conversion up to 60% Methanogenesis: methanobacteria, clostridia (anaerobics) Bioreactor: immobilized cells, replacement 6-12 months Requirments: Mass transfer, non-corrosive reactor, 40-55°

7. Cellulose ↓ Hemicellulose ↓ Cellobiose ↓ Glucose ↓ Ethanol Pre-treatment of raw material Objects:entomophilic bacteria (termites, bark beetles, etc) producers of cellulases and ligninases Technology:aerobic and anaerobic fermentations хSelf-cost of alcohol  20 cents/liter Types of alcohol fermentation Yeast growth→EtOH ~50%+CO2 + biomass Glucose Immobilized cells→ no growth→EtOH~80%+CO2 Bioconversion of lignocelluloses to alcohol

8. Integrated scheme for wasteless treatment of topinambur tubers Yield of tubers ~ 40 tons / hectare Inulin content~ 20% Fructose yield ~ 7 tons / hectare Ethanol yield ~ 4 tons / hectare

9. Biodiesel potential of plants and microalgae(Yusuf Chisti, 2007) a 70% oil (by wt) in biomass b 30% oil (by wt) in biomass.

10. Characteristics of some algae for biodiesel (S. Mayfield, San Diego, USA; Yu. Chisti, Massey U-ty, New Zealand)

11. SUN h CO2 algae POND CH3OH BIODIESEL glycerol + fatty acids catalyst Biodiesel production from microalgae

13. Costs for algae pond and production of biodiesel (Ararat valley, Armenia) Surface area 1 km2 & productivity 3 000 000 gallons / km2 year in USD • Construction costs for algae ponds 80 000 000 • Full operating costs 1 200 000 • Full operating costs for 20 years 1 200 000 x 20 = 24 000 000 • Total expenses for 20 years 80 000 000 + 24 000 000 = 104 000 000 • Total biodiesel for 20 years 3 000 000 g x 20 = 60 000 000 gallons _______________________________________________________________ First cost of biodiesel $104 000 000/ 60 000 000 gallons = $ 1.73/gallon Today price of oil diesel in Armenia is = $ 3.00/gallon We used US building price list – in Armenia it should be incomparably cheaper

14. Center of Microbiology and Microbial Depository, NAS of Armenia (Dept: Microbial Depository Center, MDC) The Center is located in Abovyan city, the vicinity of Yerevan, the capital of Armenia. The campus occupies 17 acres, including administrative, research and technological buildings with working space of about 15000 sqm. The priority areas: general, applied microbiology and biotechnology. The MDC maintains the vast National Culture Collection of microorganisms with databases of scientific and industrial importance. The pilot-scale and technological installations are available for process-engineering and production of microbial preparations and products.

15. Thanks for attention