IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/appene/v179y2016icp136-145.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Solar biofuels production with microalgae

Author

Listed:
  • Hallenbeck, P.C.
  • Grogger, M.
  • Mraz, M.
  • Veverka, D.

Abstract

With impending climate change and ever decreasing supplies of easily extractable fossil fuel, means to produce renewable and sustainable replacement fuels are being sought. Plants or algae appear ideal since they can use sunlight to fix CO2 into usable fuel or fuel feedstocks. However, as the world population approaches the 1010 (10 billion) mark, the use of agricultural land to produce fuel instead of food cannot be justified. Microalgal biofuel production is under intense investigation due to its promise as a sustainable, renewable biofuel that can be produced using non-arable land and brackish or non-potable water. Some species accumulate high levels of TAGs (triacylglycerols) that can be converted to fatty acid esters suitable as replacement diesel fuels. However, there are many technical barriers to the practical application of microalgae for biofuel production and thus a number of significant challenges need to be met before microalgal biodiesel production becomes a practical reality. These include developing cost-effective cultivation strategies, low energy requiring harvesting technologies, and energy efficient and sustainable lipid conversion technologies. The large culture volumes that will be necessary dictate that the necessary nutrients come from wastewaters, such as the effluents from secondary treatment of sewage. Economical and energy sparing harvesting will require the development of novel flocculation or floatation strategies and new methods of oil extraction/catalysis that avoid the extensive use of solvents. Recent advances in these critical areas are reviewed and some of the possible strategies for moving forward are outlined.

Suggested Citation

  • Hallenbeck, P.C. & Grogger, M. & Mraz, M. & Veverka, D., 2016. "Solar biofuels production with microalgae," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 179(C), pages 136-145.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:179:y:2016:i:c:p:136-145
    DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2016.06.024
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S030626191630798X
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.apenergy.2016.06.024?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. John Benemann, 2013. "Microalgae for Biofuels and Animal Feeds," Energies, MDPI, vol. 6(11), pages 1-18, November.
    2. Marcilla, A. & Catalá, L. & García-Quesada, J.C. & Valdés, F.J. & Hernández, M.R., 2013. "A review of thermochemical conversion of microalgae," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 27(C), pages 11-19.
    3. Mata, Teresa M. & Martins, António A. & Caetano, Nidia. S., 2010. "Microalgae for biodiesel production and other applications: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 14(1), pages 217-232, January.
    4. Roberts, Keiron P. & Heaven, Sonia & Banks, Charles J., 2016. "Comparative testing of energy yields from micro-algal biomass cultures processed via anaerobic digestion," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 87(P1), pages 744-753.
    5. Jonker, J.G.G. & Faaij, A.P.C., 2013. "Techno-economic assessment of micro-algae as feedstock for renewable bio-energy production," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 102(C), pages 461-475.
    6. Popp, J. & Lakner, Z. & Harangi-Rákos, M. & Fári, M., 2014. "The effect of bioenergy expansion: Food, energy, and environment," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 32(C), pages 559-578.
    7. Raheem, Abdul & Wan Azlina, W.A.K.G. & Taufiq Yap, Y.H. & Danquah, Michael K. & Harun, Razif, 2015. "Thermochemical conversion of microalgal biomass for biofuel production," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 49(C), pages 990-999.
    8. Yoo, Gursong & Park, Min S. & Yang, Ji-Won & Choi, Minkee, 2015. "Lipid content in microalgae determines the quality of biocrude and Energy Return On Investment of hydrothermal liquefaction," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 156(C), pages 354-361.
    9. Bahadar, Ali & Bilal Khan, M., 2013. "Progress in energy from microalgae: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 27(C), pages 128-148.
    10. Ajeej, Amritha & Thanikal, Joseph V & Narayanan, C M & Senthil Kumar, R., 2015. "An overview of bio augmentation of methane by anaerobic co-digestion of municipal sludge along with microalgae and waste paper," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 50(C), pages 270-276.
    11. Rawat, I. & Ranjith Kumar, R. & Mutanda, T. & Bux, F., 2013. "Biodiesel from microalgae: A critical evaluation from laboratory to large scale production," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 103(C), pages 444-467.
    12. Suali, Emma & Sarbatly, Rosalam, 2012. "Conversion of microalgae to biofuel," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 16(6), pages 4316-4342.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Muhammad Maqsood Alam & Abdul Samad Mumtaz & Megan Russell & Melanie Grogger & Don Veverka & Patrick C. Hallenbeck, 2019. "Isolation and Characterization of Microalgae from Diverse Pakistani Habitats: Exploring Third-Generation Biofuel Potential," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(14), pages 1-17, July.
    2. Liu, Taixiu & Bai, Zhang & Zheng, Zhimei & Liu, Qibin & Lei, Jing & Sui, Jun & Jin, Hongguang, 2019. "100 kWe power generation pilot plant with a solar thermochemical process: design, modeling, construction, and testing," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 251(C), pages 1-1.
    3. Adeniyi, Oladapo Martins & Azimov, Ulugbek & Burluka, Alexey, 2018. "Algae biofuel: Current status and future applications," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 90(C), pages 316-335.
    4. Kuo, Yen-Ting & Almansa, G. Aranda & Vreugdenhil, B.J., 2018. "Catalytic aromatization of ethylene in syngas from biomass to enhance economic sustainability of gas production," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 215(C), pages 21-30.
    5. Sedlar, D. Karasalihović & Vulin, D. & Krajačić, G. & Jukić, L., 2019. "Offshore gas production infrastructure reutilisation for blue energy production," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 108(C), pages 159-174.
    6. Sun, Zhe & Zhou, Zhi, 2019. "Nature-inspired virus-assisted algal cell disruption for cost-effective biofuel production," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 251(C), pages 1-1.
    7. Kuan Shiong Khoo & Wen Yi Chia & Doris Ying Ying Tang & Pau Loke Show & Kit Wayne Chew & Wei-Hsin Chen, 2020. "Nanomaterials Utilization in Biomass for Biofuel and Bioenergy Production," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-19, February.
    8. Liu, Guicai & Liao, Yanfen & Wu, Yuting & Ma, Xiaoqian, 2018. "Synthesis gas production from microalgae gasification in the presence of Fe2O3 oxygen carrier and CaO additive," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 212(C), pages 955-965.
    9. Pérez-López, Paula & de Vree, Jeroen H. & Feijoo, Gumersindo & Bosma, Rouke & Barbosa, Maria J. & Moreira, María Teresa & Wijffels, René H. & van Boxtel, Anton J.B. & Kleinegris, Dorinde M.M., 2017. "Comparative life cycle assessment of real pilot reactors for microalgae cultivation in different seasons," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 205(C), pages 1151-1164.
    10. Arkadiusz Nędzarek & Piotr Tomasz Mitkowski, 2022. "The Fouling Effect on Commercial Ceramic Membranes during Filtration of Microalgae Chlorella vulgaris and Monoraphidium contortum," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-12, May.
    11. Xinru Zhang & Hao Yuan & Libo Guan & Xinyu Wang & Yi Wang & Zeyi Jiang & Limei Cao & Xinxin Zhang, 2019. "Influence of Photoperiods on Microalgae Biofilm: Photosynthetic Performance, Biomass Yield, and Cellular Composition," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(19), pages 1-10, September.
    12. He, Zhixia & Wang, Bin & Zhang, Bo & Feng, Huan & Kandasamy, Sabariswaran & Chen, Haitao, 2020. "Synergistic effect of hydrothermal Co-liquefaction of Spirulina platensis and Lignin: Optimization of operating parameters by response surface methodology," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 201(C).
    13. Sandra Lage & Zivan Gojkovic & Christiane Funk & Francesco G. Gentili, 2018. "Algal Biomass from Wastewater and Flue Gases as a Source of Bioenergy," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(3), pages 1-30, March.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Sandra Lage & Zivan Gojkovic & Christiane Funk & Francesco G. Gentili, 2018. "Algal Biomass from Wastewater and Flue Gases as a Source of Bioenergy," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(3), pages 1-30, March.
    2. Esveidi Montserrat Valdovinos-García & Juan Barajas-Fernández & María de los Ángeles Olán-Acosta & Moisés Abraham Petriz-Prieto & Adriana Guzmán-López & Micael Gerardo Bravo-Sánchez, 2020. "Techno-Economic Study of CO 2 Capture of a Thermoelectric Plant Using Microalgae ( Chlorella vulgaris ) for Production of Feedstock for Bioenergy," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-19, January.
    3. Pawar, Sanjay, 2016. "Effectiveness mapping of open raceway pond and tubular photobioreactors for sustainable production of microalgae biofuel," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 62(C), pages 640-653.
    4. Azizi, Kolsoom & Keshavarz Moraveji, Mostafa & Abedini Najafabadi, Hamed, 2018. "A review on bio-fuel production from microalgal biomass by using pyrolysis method," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 82(P3), pages 3046-3059.
    5. Menegazzo, Mariana Lara & Fonseca, Gustavo Graciano, 2019. "Biomass recovery and lipid extraction processes for microalgae biofuels production: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 107(C), pages 87-107.
    6. Rashid, Naim & Ur Rehman, Muhammad Saif & Sadiq, Madeha & Mahmood, Tariq & Han, Jong-In, 2014. "Current status, issues and developments in microalgae derived biodiesel production," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 40(C), pages 760-778.
    7. Tamilselvan, P. & Nallusamy, N. & Rajkumar, S., 2017. "A comprehensive review on performance, combustion and emission characteristics of biodiesel fuelled diesel engines," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 1134-1159.
    8. Lim, Jackson Hwa Keen & Gan, Yong Yang & Ong, Hwai Chyuan & Lau, Beng Fye & Chen, Wei-Hsin & Chong, Cheng Tung & Ling, Tau Chuan & Klemeš, Jiří Jaromír, 2021. "Utilization of microalgae for bio-jet fuel production in the aviation sector: Challenges and perspective," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 149(C).
    9. Raheem, Abdul & Wan Azlina, W.A.K.G. & Taufiq Yap, Y.H. & Danquah, Michael K. & Harun, Razif, 2015. "Thermochemical conversion of microalgal biomass for biofuel production," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 49(C), pages 990-999.
    10. Bergthorson, Jeffrey M. & Thomson, Murray J., 2015. "A review of the combustion and emissions properties of advanced transportation biofuels and their impact on existing and future engines," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 42(C), pages 1393-1417.
    11. López-González, D. & Puig-Gamero, M. & Acién, F.G. & García-Cuadra, F. & Valverde, J.L. & Sanchez-Silva, L., 2015. "Energetic, economic and environmental assessment of the pyrolysis and combustion of microalgae and their oils," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 1752-1770.
    12. Milano, Jassinnee & Ong, Hwai Chyuan & Masjuki, H.H. & Chong, W.T. & Lam, Man Kee & Loh, Ping Kwan & Vellayan, Viknes, 2016. "Microalgae biofuels as an alternative to fossil fuel for power generation," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 58(C), pages 180-197.
    13. Marwa G. Saad & Noura S. Dosoky & Mohamed S. Zoromba & Hesham M. Shafik, 2019. "Algal Biofuels: Current Status and Key Challenges," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(10), pages 1-22, May.
    14. Jambo, Siti Azmah & Abdulla, Rahmath & Mohd Azhar, Siti Hajar & Marbawi, Hartinie & Gansau, Jualang Azlan & Ravindra, Pogaku, 2016. "A review on third generation bioethanol feedstock," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 65(C), pages 756-769.
    15. Zhao, Bingtao & Su, Yaxin & Liu, Dunyu & Zhang, Hang & Liu, Wang & Cui, Guomin, 2016. "SO2/NOx emissions and ash formation from algae biomass combustion: Process characteristics and mechanisms," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 113(C), pages 821-830.
    16. Muhammad Hanafi Azami & Mark Savill, 2017. "Pulse Detonation Assessment for Alternative Fuels," Energies, MDPI, vol. 10(3), pages 1-19, March.
    17. Cuevas-Castillo, Gabriela A. & Navarro-Pineda, Freddy S. & Baz Rodríguez, Sergio A. & Sacramento Rivero, Julio C., 2020. "Advances on the processing of microalgal biomass for energy-driven biorefineries," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 125(C).
    18. Giostri, A. & Binotti, M. & Macchi, E., 2016. "Microalgae cofiring in coal power plants: Innovative system layout and energy analysis," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 95(C), pages 449-464.
    19. Fazal, Tahir & Mushtaq, Azeem & Rehman, Fahad & Ullah Khan, Asad & Rashid, Naim & Farooq, Wasif & Rehman, Muhammad Saif Ur & Xu, Jian, 2018. "Bioremediation of textile wastewater and successive biodiesel production using microalgae," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 82(P3), pages 3107-3126.
    20. Ghorbani, Afshin & Rahimpour, Hamid Reza & Ghasemi, Younes & Zoughi, Somayeh & Rahimpour, Mohammad Reza, 2014. "A Review of Carbon Capture and Sequestration in Iran: Microalgal Biofixation Potential in Iran," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 35(C), pages 73-100.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:179:y:2016:i:c:p:136-145. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/405891/description#description .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.