ALGAE FUEL

INTRODUCTION
 Algae are simple organisms that typically produce their own
food through photosynthesis. 
 The difficulties in efficient biodiesel production from algae lie
in finding an algal strain with a high lipid content and a cost-
effective cultivation system that is best suited to that strain.
 There is also a need to provide concentrated CO2 to turbo
charge the production.
 ALGAE FUEL
 Algae fuel, also called algaeoleum or second-generation
biofuel, is a biofuel which is derived from algae.
 During photosynthesis, algae and other photosynthetic
organisms capture CO2 and sunlight and convert it into
oxygen and biomass.
 The production of biofuels from algae does not reduce
atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2), because any CO2 taken
out of the atmosphere by the algae is returned when the
biofuels are burned.
PROCESS APPLIED TO OBTAIN ALGAE
FUEL
ALGAE CULTIVATION

ALGAE HARVESTING

EXTRACTION OF ALGAE OIL

ALGAE CULTIVATION:-
Algae can grow 20 to 30 times faster than food crops. It takes only
1-10 days.
MAIN SOURCES OF ALGAE ARE:
Open pond
• Open-pond systems is a method for the cultivation of algae with
high-oil content.
• Some open sewage ponds trial production has been done
in Marlborough, New Zealand.

Closed loop system

• Closed system require cheap source of CO2 as this is not exposed to
open air.
• That’s why experts are thinking it would be more economical if
the plant is situated next to the power plant.
ALGAE HARVESTING
WHAT IS HARVESTING?
Separating algae from its growing medium is known as harvesting.
As algae is of two types:-
1. MACROALGAE
2. MICROALGAE
Macroalgae harvesting employs manpower whereas, microalgae can be
harvested using filtration , centrifugation, flocculation or by froth flotation.

Filtration:
• It is carried out on membranes of modified cellulose, with the aid of a
suction pump.
• The greatest advantage of this method is that it is able to collect microalgae.
However, concentration by filtration is limited to small volumes.
ALGAE OIL EXTRACTION
1. Extraction of Algal Oil by Mechanical Methods
a) Expression/Expeller press:
• Algae is dried it retains its oil content, which then can be "pressed" out with
an oil press.
• Various press configurations work better for specific algae types as each
algae has different physical attributes.

b) Ultrasonic-assisted Extraction:
1. In this ultrasonic waves are used to create cavitation bubbles in a solvent
material which collapse near the cell walls, it creates shock waves and liquid
jets that causes those cells walls to break and release their contents into the
solvent.
Flocculation
• It is a method of separating algae from the medium by using
chemicals to force the algae to form lumps. 
• Main disadvantage of this is the additional chemicals are difficult
to remove from the separated algae.

Centrifugation
• Centrifugation is a method of separating algae from the medium
by using a centrifuge to cause the algae to settle to the bottom of a
flask.
• Centrifugation is though very expansive but can be used for
industrial purposes.  
 
2. Extraction of Algal Oil by Chemical Methods
• Algal oil can be extracted using chemicals like Benzene, ether and
hexane.
• The downside to using solvents for oil extraction are the dangers
involved in working with the chemicals.

Hexane Solvent Method

• Hexane, which is relatively inexpensive than benzene and ether is
as a solvent.
• After the oil has been extracted using an expeller, the remaining
pulp can be mixed with cyclo-hexane to extract the remaining oil
content.
• The oil dissolves in the cyclohexane, and the pulp is filtered out
from the solution. The oil and cyclohexane are separated by means
of distillation. 
ALGAE FUEL EXTRACTION
ADVANTAGES OF OIL EXTRACTION
FROM ALGAE
• The potential of algae for fuel is tremendous as
up to 10,000 gallons of oil may be produced on a
single acre of land.
• Algae can produce up to 300 times more oil per acre
than conventional crops like soyabean , ground nut.
• Algae can grow 20 to 30 times faster than food
crops. It takes only 1-10 days.
 CHALLENGES FACED
BY ALGAE FUEL
VERY EXPENSIVE
ONE of the greatest challenges in creating biofuels
from algae is that when you extract the oil from the
algae, it kills the organisms, dramatically raising
production costs.
 CHALLENGES REMOVED BY “NANO-
FARMING”
• Developed by the U.S. Department of Energy's Ames
Laboratory .
• The process doesn't harm the algae , which helps reduce both
production costs and the production cycle.
• Once the algal oil is extracted, a separate and proven solid
catalyst will be used to produce ASTM certified biodiesel.
 CONCLUSION

• ALGAE FUEL can be a best alternative source

of fuel as fossil fuels are depleting day by day.
• CO2 turbo charges the production of the algae
and by the consumption of the biodiesel the
CO2 is back in the environment. Thus,
ecological balance is maintained.
 REFERENCES
• www.wikipedia.com
• www.oilgae.com
• www.phyorg.com
• "Green Dream Backed by MPs". Eastern Daily Press. January
2003. Retrieved 2008-06-10.
• Friends of Ethanol.com biodegradable ethanol
• "Low Cost Algae Production System Introduced". Energy-
Arizona. 2007-08-28. Retrieved 2008-06-10.
• Dyer, Gwynne (2008-06-17). "A replacement for oil”.
• "Biofuels from industrial/domestic wastewater". Retrieved
2008-06-11.
THANK YOU