Evaluating the economic impacts of using enzymatic membranes to optimize bicarbonate production and delivery to open raceway ponds
- Colorado State Univ., Fort Collins, CO (United States); Colorado State University
- National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
- Colorado State Univ., Fort Collins, CO (United States)
Gas sparging is the most commonly used method for delivering CO2 to algal cultures in Open Raceway Ponds (ORPs). While this method is well-tested and effective, these systems experience large amounts of outgassing to the surrounding atmosphere and often achieve carbon utilization efficiencies (CUE) lower than 30%. With such large losses, system are overdesigned to provide CO2 gas in extreme excess, resulting in increased capital and operational expenses. This research is focused on the development, testing, and implementation of a hydrogel membrane seeded with the enzyme carbonic anhydrase and designed to convert gaseous CO2 into aqueous bicarbonate and deliver this inorganic carbon (iC) directly to the algae pond. Despite increased capital expenses for the module, bicarbonate storage tank, and added pumps and infrastructure, preliminary results suggest that the membrane module has the potential to reduce the minimum biomass selling price by 35% by significantly reducing the operational expenditure for CO2.
- Research Organization:
- Colorado State University
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Office of Sustainable Transportation. Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO)
- Contributing Organization:
- Colorado State University, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Qualitas Health
- DOE Contract Number:
- EE0008514
- OSTI ID:
- 2437692
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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