1. Algae Biofuel Research at the University of Texas at Austin Cost-Effective Production of Biodiesel from Algae Dr. Rhykka Connelly

3. Overview

5. ≈ 30 faculty, researchers, and students

6. Plus larger group of researchers in associated, related fields

7. Multidisciplinary

8. Biologists, biochemists, physicists, mechanical engineers, electrical engineers, chemical engineers, and environmental engineers

9. Focused on fuel

11. Cultivation Large-scale Cultivation of Algae in Open Ponds Open ponds can be categorized into natural waters (lakes, lagoons, ponds) and artificial ponds or containers. Large-scale Cultivation of Algae in Photobioreactors

14. NASA Uses Algae to Turn Sewage into Fuel flocculation lake harvester Belt harvester filtration

16. Algal Lysis Techniques apply high pressure sonication 15 psi = 1 atm need ~20,000 psi

17. UT/CEM-developed and -patented Electromechanical Forces

20. Pulsing schemes are optimized for specific algae by systematically changing pulse parameters:

21. electrical pulse amplitude

22. pulse width

23. frequency of pulses

24. each time a parameter is changed, the pulsed algae are evaluated by:

25. microscopic imaging

26. chlorophyll release into the surrounding media

27. lipid release

28. parameters are adjusted until maximal chlorophyll and lipid release is achieved

30. In contrast, pulsed algae (right) are disordered. The nucleus (N), chloroplasts (C), and Golgi (G) are compromised. The cell is in disarray and is likely initiating cell death mechanisms.

31. patented technology employing electromechanical forces strip cell walls and expose lipid droplets

32. solventless system maintains the integrity of the algal biomass

33. works on fresh, brackish, and marine algae

35. Algal Oil Extraction Methods supercritical fluid extraction solvent extraction expeller press

36. UT Separations – Extracting the Oil Patented membrane technology Primary extraction process Novel, non-dispersive, solvent contactor—modified commercial process Two promising alternative extraction processes May eliminate distillation and stripping Alternative distillation approaches

38. Identify and quantify important lipids/oils

39. Track the changes in the oil throughout processing

40. Unique in the fieldThin Layer Chromatography (TLC)

43. temperature must be held steady,

44. overcrowding will inhibit their growth,

45. oxygen that they produce must be continually removed from the water,

46. open algal ponds are subject to evaporation and rainfall, which cause salinity and pH imbalances, and

48. Present cost to produce 1 gallon of algae oil—$20-30/gal

49. Threshold is $2.00/gal

50. Stretch goal is $0.50/gal

51. Issues…production scale-up and cost reduction

52. Strain selection - oil yield, growth rates, stability

53. Production systems - ponds or photobioreactors

54. Measuring oil content during growth

55. CO2 and nutrient sources

56. Harvesting

57. Oil extraction

58. Capital costs

60. UT synergizes its R&D with cost-effective scale-up strategies

61. UT is developing partnerships with other start-ups to maximize strengths

62. UT is innovative – several technology patents and patents pendingAt present most companies in the sector are early stage start-ups and involved in R&D rather than commercialization. To date, none has launched full commercialization/industrialization of biodiesel from algae oil on a large scale.

64. Dewatering process demonstrated at 5000 gal/day

65. Flow-through EM lysing apparatus built; used to process dewatered algae.

66. Novel version of commercial separation process demonstrated

67. Mass and energy balance performed on integrated system of processes

69. a high per-acre yield (between 5000 – 20,000 gal/acre/yr)

70. certain species of algae can be harvested daily

71. algae biofuel contains no sulphur, is non-toxic, and is highly biodegradable

72. algae consume carbon dioxide as they grow, so they could be used to capture CO2 from power stations and other industrial plant that would otherwise go into the atmosphere. According to U.S. Department of Energy: Currently most research into efficient algal oil production is being done in the private sector, but if predictions from small scale production experiments bear out then using algae to produce biodiesel may be the only viable method by which to produce enough automotive fuel to replace current world gasoline usage.

74. UT has organized a highly competent, multidisciplinary team

75. OpenAlgae supported

76. Optimization of the process requires understanding at the process level, not just the individual step level

77. UT is an end-to-end operation

78. Mass balance analyses have yielded critical information…and more questions

79. Significant progress is being made in driving down cost