Demonstration and Evaluation of Hybrid Microalgae Aqueous Conversion Systems for Biofuel Production

Li, Yalin; Leow, Shijie; Dong, Tao; Nagle, Nicholas J.; Knoshaug, Eric P.; Laurens, Lieve M. L.; Pienkos, Philip T.; Guest, Jeremy S.; Strathmann, Timothy J.

doi:10.1021/acssuschemeng.8b05741

Title: Demonstration and Evaluation of Hybrid Microalgae Aqueous Conversion Systems for Biofuel Production

Journal Article · Sun Feb 17 00:00:00 EST 2019 · ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/acssuschemeng.8b05741· OSTI ID:1503158

Li, Yalin ^[1]; Leow, Shijie ^[2]; Dong, Tao ^[3]; Nagle, Nicholas J. ^[3]; Knoshaug, Eric P. ^[3]; Laurens, Lieve M. L. ^[3]; Pienkos, Philip T. ^[3]; Guest, Jeremy S. ^[4]; Strathmann, Timothy J. ^[5]

Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO (United States)
Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO (United States); Univ. of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, IL (United States)
National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
Univ. of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, IL (United States)
National Bioenergy Center, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, 15013 Denver West Parkway, Golden, Colorado 80401, United States

As an effort to develop affordable and sustainable energy sources, algae-derived biofuels have attracted considerable interest. As use of individual conversion processes targeting a subset of biochemical components (e.g., extraction and upgrading of lipids) has been shown to be economically unfeasible, there is a recognized need for integrated conversion systems that can valorize algal feedstocks with varying cell compositions. In this study, two hybrid systems (HBD-1, HBD-2) are proposed to enable more efficient conversion of all biomass components (lipids, proteins, carbohydrates) by leveraging two complementary systems: direct hydrothermal liquefaction (DHTL) and combined algal processing (CAP). Demonstrative experiments with Scenedesmus acutus show a 12.2-34.3% increase in fuel yields relative to individual systems (DHTL, CAP). Subsequent modeling efforts reveal substantial improvements stemming from CAP valorization of carbohydrates and lipids and DHTL valorization of proteins and CAP residuals. The maximum biomass-to-fuel conversion efficiencies for lipids/proteins/carbohydrate cell components are 79%/34%/75% (HBD-2), and techno-economic analysis suggests a 3.2-62.1% reduction in minimum fuel selling prices (MFSPs). The increased fuel yields and reduced MFSPs highlight the flexibility of the hybrid systems for biofuel production, revealing advantages of these systems for broader ranges of feedstocks, including ones not traditionally considered for fuel production.

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Research Organization:: National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Sustainable Transportation Office. Bioenergy Technologies Office

Grant/Contract Number:: AC36-08GO28308

OSTI ID:: 1503158

Report Number(s):: NREL/JA-5100-73535

Journal Information:: ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, Vol. 7, Issue 6; ISSN 2168-0485

Publisher:: American Chemical Society (ACS)Copyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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Cited by: 10 works

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Title: Demonstration and Evaluation of Hybrid Microalgae Aqueous Conversion Systems for Biofuel Production

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