Microalgae for production of bulk
chemicals and biofuels
René H. Wijffels
www.algae.wur.nl
Contents
Biodiesel from microalgae
Feasibility study
Biorefinery of microalgae
Our microalgae research agenda
Pilot studies: AlgaePARC
Biodiesel from microalgae
Botryococcus
Alkanes (C34)
High concentrations (40-70%)
Other algae
20-60% lipids
High productivity
Palm oil: 6,000 l/ha/year
Algae: 20,000-80,000 l/ha/year
No competition with food
Salt water
Feasibility study
Delta nv
Raceway ponds
Horizontal tubes
Flat panels
Tubular reactor
Degasser
Stack
Centrifuge
Harvest
tank
Biomass
Nutrient
Inlet
pH
DO
Monitor and Control
Unit
25 %
Headspace
gas
CO2
Solar collector
Pump
T
Stack gas
/CO2
Biomass production cost
10.62 € / kg biomass
1 ha
100 ha
Labor 28%
Power 22%
Power 42%
Centrifuge w estfalia separator AG
Centrifuge Feed Pump
Medium Filter Unit
Medium Feed pump
Medium preparation tank
Harvest broth storage tank
Seaw ater pump station
Automatic Weighing Station w ith Silos
Culture circulation pump
Installations costs
Instrumentation and control
Piping
Buildings
Polyethylene tubes Photobioreactor
Culture medium
Carbon dioxide
Media Filters
Air f ilters
Pow er
Labor
Payroll charges
Maintenance
General plant overheads
4.02 € / kg biomass
0.4 € / kg biomass
15 €/GJ
89% decrease
potential
Conclusions Delta report: economical viability
Power input is the main constrain in photobioreactors
Sensitivity analysis show that biomass production costs
can be further decreased from 4 to 0.4 €/kg
Parameters that need improvement
Mixing system / efficiency
Photosynthetic efficiency
• reactor design
• cultivation conditions
• strain improvement / screening
Integrate processes
Positive energy balance still needs to be reached
Bulk chemicals and biofuels in 1,000 kg microalgae
400 kg lipids
100 kg as feedstock chemical industry
(2 €/kg lipids)
300 kg as transport fuel (0.50 €/kg
lipids)
500 kg proteins
100 kg for food (5 €/kg protein)
400 kg for feed (0.75 €/kg pr