Re: Algae to biodisel

From: Bob Eldred (nsmontassoc_at_yahoo.com)
Date: 09/15/04 

Date: Wed, 15 Sep 2004 08:31:25 -0700

"cyril" <meynier.cyril@(antispam)wanadoo.fr> wrote in message
news:4mvfk0dlks5vq70jqd82pdkvrfebhb6ppm@4ax.com...
> I read a few documents about biodiesel production from microalgae.
>
> Microalgae capture sunlight with a much higher efficiency than any
> terrestrialk plant, and produce 15-30 fold more natural oils per acre
> than canola.
>
>
> An algae cultivation pool would provide algaes, of course, that
> contains :
> - Natural oils, that can be used for biodiesel production
> - Proteins, that can be used as cattle feed
> - Other organic matter, that can be fermented to make biogas.
>
> It would need :
> - Saltwater
> - CO2 to be dissolved into the water. This carbon is recycled by the
> algae.
> - As much sunlight as possible.
> - An alcohol to convert oil into biodisel.
>
>
> Now, let's look at an ethanol plant.
> It needs :
> - Any glucose-rich organic input, like corn.
> - Some fuel for distillation
>
> It provides :
> - Ethanol, of course.
> - A concentrated stream of CO2, byproduct from the alcoholic
> fermentation. A plant that produces 50 millions gallons EtOH a year
> also provides 130 000 tons of CO2.
> - Corn residues, rich in proteins, that are sold as cattle feed.
>
>
> So, why not build algae pools together with ethanol plants, at least
> in sunny areas?
>
> The CO2 stream from the ethanol plant would be dissolved into the
> water, while a fraction of the EtOH would be used in the
> oil-to-biodiesel reation.
> Biogas from the algae would be used to partly fuel the distillation
> process.
>
> Overall, this would be more energy-efficient than a stand alone
> ethanol plant. The EtOH producer would be glad to have a market for
> its CO2 (most plants just vent it).
>
> And such a complex would provide renewables alternatives for both
> gasoline and diesel fuel.

It's been postulated that a desert area about 100 miles on a side fed with
seawater could produce most of our energy needs using algae as you propose.
I like the basic idea and think it has enough merit to warrant further study
and perhaps a pilot project to demonstrate the feasibility. Thermal
depolymerization may be a better route to convert the algae into oil and
other fuels. It may be more efficient with higher yields than fermentation
and direct oil extraction, but these are minor details to be worked out.
Bob

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