Biodiesel/Aquatic Species Project report, FY 1992

Technical Report · Sat May 01 00:00:00 EDT 1993

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6521218· OSTI ID:6521218

Brown, L; Jarvis, E; Dunahay, T; Roessler, P; Zeiler, K ^[1]; Sprague, S ^[2]

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1. National Renewable Energy Lab., Golden, CO (United States)
2. USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)

The primary goal of the Biodiesel/Aquatic Species Project is to develop the technology for growing microalgae as a renewable biomass feedstock for the production of a diesel fuel substitute (biodiesel), thereby reducing the need for imported petroleum. Microalgae are of interest as a feedstock because of their high growth rates and tolerance to varying environmental conditions, and because the oils (lipids) they produce can be extracted and converted to substitute petroleum fuels such as biodiesel. Microalgae can be grown in arid and semi-arid regions with poor soil quality, and saline water from aquifers or the ocean can be used for growing microalgae. Biodiesel is an extremely attractive candidate to fulfill the need for a diesel fuel substitute. Biodiesel is a cleaner fuel than petroleum diesel; it is virtually free of sulfur, and emissions of hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, and particulates during combustion are significantly reduced in comparison to emissions from petroleum diesel. Biodiesel provides essentially the same energy content and power output as petroleum-based diesel fuel.

• Research Organization: National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-83CH10093
• OSTI ID: 6521218
• Report Number(s): NREL/TP-422-5259; ON: DE93010024
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS
60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES
ALGAE
PRODUCTION
DIESEL ENGINES
FUEL SUBSTITUTION
AIR POLLUTION ABATEMENT
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
BIOMASS
DIESEL FUELS
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
LIPIDS
DISTILLATES
ENERGY SOURCES
ENGINES
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GAS OILS
HEAT ENGINES
INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES
LIQUID FUELS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PETROLEUM
PETROLEUM DISTILLATES
PETROLEUM FRACTIONS
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
PLANTS
POLLUTION ABATEMENT
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
330800* - Emission Control- Alternative Fuels
330102 - Internal Combustion Engines- Diesel
553002 - Agriculture & Food Technology- Horticulture- (1987-)