Sustainability of algae derived biodiesel: A mass balance approach
Issue Date
2011-01Author
Pfromm, Peter H.
Amanor-Boadu, Vincent
Nelson, Richard
Publisher
Bioresource Technology
Type
Article
Article Version
Scholarly/refereed, publisher version
Published Version
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960852410015634Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
A rigorous chemical engineering mass balance/unit operations approach is applied here to bio-diesel from algae mass culture.An equivalent of 50,000,000 gallons per year (0.006002 m3/s) of petroleum-based Number 2 fuel oil (US, diesel for compression–ignition engines, about 0.1% of annual US consumption) from oleaginous algae is the target. Methyl algaeate and ethyl algaeate diesel can according to this analysis conceptually be produced largely in a technologically sustainable way albeit at a lower available diesel yield. About 11 square miles of algae ponds would be needed with optimistic assumptions of 50 g biomass yield per day and m2 pond area. CO2 to foster algae growth should be supplied from a sustainable source such as a biomass-based ethanol production. Reliance on fossil-based CO2 from power plants or fertilizer production renders algae diesel non-sustainable in the long term.
Collections
- FEWtures Project [18]
Citation
Peter H. Pfromm, Vincent Amanor-Boadu, and Richard Nelson. Sustainability of algae derived biodiesel: A mass balance approach. 2011. Bioresource Technology: 102(2): 1185-1193.
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