Grant: Strategic Projects Supplemental Competition
University of Western Ontario
$99,600.00
Innovations in renewable energy production: biodiesel from microalgae grown on waste resources using liquid-solid circulating fluidized beds and photo-bioreactors
FY 2008-09
Summary
In this proposal an integrated approach is presented for the production of biodiesel by conversion of algal oils extracted from microalgae. This project focuses on emerging technologies for biodiesel production using low cost and renewable substrates. Biodiesel, comprised by esters in fatty acids, is an alternative fuel obtained from renewable biological sources, such as vegetable oils and animal fats. Compared to traditional (petroleum derived) diesel, biodiesel has lower emissions of sulfur and particulates. It is also biodegradable and non-toxic. The physical and chemical properties are quite similar to petroleum based diesel, which implies that bio-diesel can be blended easily with diesel. The current sources being considered for bio-diesel include oil seed crops such as soybean, canola etc., animal fats or waste or recycled oils. It is anticipated that the demand for biodiesel may rise significantly thus putting increasing pressure on land based crops. Thus new, strategic approaches need to be considered in order to provide alternative raw materials as a source of bio-diesel.High oil-producing algae can be used as an attractive alternative to produce bio-diesel. At the same time, algae technology provides a means for mitigation of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas. Algal bio-diesel production can be combined with
high-volume re-use of CO2 generated in power plants or biogas plants. It is a technology that combines greenhouse gas mitigation with energy generation using clean-burning alternatives to petroleum. The algae will be cultivated in photo-reactors, concentrated by settling and mixed with hexane and methanol in a tubular extraction system. The crude mash of broken algae, oil and methanol will be introduced into two types of reactors (a) A continuous liquid solid circulating fluidized bed reactor and (b) Simulated (expanded) moving bed reactors. Simultaneous extraction and trans-esterification of algal oil will be demonstrated in these two systems. The project will lead to a significant value addition to the Farm economies in Ontario and Canada.
Program
Strategic Projects Supplemental Competition
Recipient
Location
Ontario, Canada
Recipient Type
Academia
Type
Grant
Source
NSERC's Awards Data
As published
Application id
357119-2007
Name nom
Bassi, Amarjeet
Department département
Chemical and Biochemical Engineering
Organization id
36
Institution établissement
University of Western Ontario
Province en
Ontario
Province fr
Ontario
Country en
CANADA
Country fr
CANADA
Fiscal year exercice financier
2008
Competition year année de concours
2007
Award amount
99600
Program id
STPSC
Program nane en
Strategic Projects Supplemental Competition
Program name fr
Projets stratégiques compétition supplémentaire
Group en
Research partnerships programs
Group fr
Programmes de partenariat
Committee code
1065
Committee name en
Strategic Projects Selection Panel - Energy 1
Committee name fr
Comité de sélection des projets stratégiques - Énergie 1
Area of application code
300
Area of application group en
Energy resources
Area of application group fr
Ressources d'énergie
Area of application en
Energy resources (including production, exploration, processing, distribution and use)
Area of application fr
Ressources d'énergie (production, exploration, traitement, distribution et utilisation de l'énergie)
Research subject code
1802
Research subject group en
Chemical engineering
Research subject group fr
Génie chimique
Research subject en
Biochemical engineering
Research subject fr
Génie biochimique
Partie
2
Nb partie
2
Application title
Innovations in renewable energy production: biodiesel from microalgae grown on waste resources using liquid-solid circulating fluidized beds and photo-bioreactors
Keyword
NA
Application summary
In this proposal an integrated approach is presented for the production of biodiesel by conversion of algal oils extracted from microalgae. This project focuses on emerging technologies for biodiesel production using low cost and renewable substrates. Biodiesel, comprised by esters in fatty acids, is an alternative fuel obtained from renewable biological sources, such as vegetable oils and animal fats. Compared to traditional (petroleum derived) diesel, biodiesel has lower emissions of sulfur and particulates. It is also biodegradable and non-toxic. The physical and chemical properties are quite similar to petroleum based diesel, which implies that bio-diesel can be blended easily with diesel. The current sources being considered for bio-diesel include oil seed crops such as soybean, canola etc., animal fats or waste or recycled oils. It is anticipated that the demand for biodiesel may rise significantly thus putting increasing pressure on land based crops. Thus new, strategic approaches need to be considered in order to provide alternative raw materials as a source of bio-diesel.High oil-producing algae can be used as an attractive alternative to produce bio-diesel. At the same time, algae technology provides a means for mitigation of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas. Algal bio-diesel production can be combined with
high-volume re-use of CO2 generated in power plants or biogas plants. It is a technology that combines greenhouse gas mitigation with energy generation using clean-burning alternatives to petroleum. The algae will be cultivated in photo-reactors, concentrated by settling and mixed with hexane and methanol in a tubular extraction system. The crude mash of broken algae, oil and methanol will be introduced into two types of reactors (a) A continuous liquid solid circulating fluidized bed reactor and (b) Simulated (expanded) moving bed reactors. Simultaneous extraction and trans-esterification of algal oil will be demonstrated in these two systems. The project will lead to a significant value addition to the Farm economies in Ontario and Canada.
