Industrial application of
microalgae in the circular
bioeconomy
Dorinde Kleinegris
[Applied Biotechnology / Microalgae]
Why microalgae?
• High areal productivity
• CO2 mitigation
• No arable land
• Low water use
• Seawater and wastewater
• Can use residual streams for nutrients
• High diversity, many products
[Applied Biotechnology / Microalgae]
CO2
Nutrients
(N, P)
+ O2
[Applied Biotechnology / Microalgae]
Products with algae inside
Lipids
20 %
Proteins
50 %
Carbohydrates
20 %
Pigments
3 %
Ashes
7 %
Nannochloropsis
https://www.google.nl/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CAcQjRxqFQoTCO2l5f7Hg8gCFcqSLAodgvMC3w&url=https://nuts.com/chocolatessweets/m-m/&psig=AFQjCNEnuC73uLxoupkgvUMWAfCZNzILJQ&ust=1442768052038042
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There is a large gap
[Applied Biotechnology / Microalgae]
CommoditiesMicroalgae
Commercial production: challenges
[Applied Biotechnology / Microalgae]
Product costs
Scale
Production chain analysis
Market development
Biomass Production costs: Model
Netherlands
Saudi Arabia
Canary Islands
Turkish Riviera
South Spain
Curacao
Culture temperature
Daily Dilution
Mixing day/night)
Operation days per year
...
Light Intensity
Electricity costs
Taxes
Labor
€ / Kg biomass
CAPEX & OPEX
NER
Sensitivity Analysis
Areas to focus
Output
Location
Cultivation
System
Empirical data
Specific
parameters
Input
Product costs - biomass production
[Applied Biotechnology / Microalgae]
Projections 100ha
Cost breakdown: cultivation costs
[Applied Biotechnology / Microalgae]
Sensitivity analysis
[Applied Biotechnology / Microalgae]
Biomass composition: benchmark on
Nannochloropsis
N-replete N-limited
Lipids 20% 50%
S
F
A
*
M
U
F
A
*
P
U
F
A
*
S
F
A
*
M
U
F
A
*
P
U
F
A
*
Glyco-, Phospho-lipids 12%
35% 30% 35%
10%
45% 40% 15%
Triacylglycerides 2% 37.5%
Waxes 3% 1.25%
Sterols 3% 1.25%
Proteins 50% 30%
Water soluble 20% 12%
Non-water soluble 30% 18%
Carbohydrates 20% 15%
Monosaccharides 5% 3%
Polysaccharides 15% 12%
Pigments 3% 1%
Ashes 7% 4%
Microalgae
Lipids
Proteins
Waxes
Sterols
Cosmetic
Health care
Biopolymer
Surfactants
Biolubricant
Paint,
Coating
TAG
Glyco-lipids
Phospho-lipids
Soluble proteins
Un-soluble
proteins
Pharma
Bulk
chemicals
Food
additives
Food/Feed
Biodiesel
Biokerosene
Bioethanol
Biobutanol
Biomethane
Carbohydrates
Mono- Oligo-
saccharides
Starch
Cellulose
M
a
rk
e
t d
e
m
a
n
d
S
e
llin
g
p
ric
e
Ash/minerals
Pigments
Chlorophyll
Carotenoid
Phycobilins
Microalgal biorefinery
Microalgal biorefinery
design and techno-economical analysis
Biomass
productivity
Biomass
composition
Utilities cost
(energy, labour)
Mass and
energy balances
CAPEX
OPEX
Microalgal biomass
Disrupted Biomass
Hexane
Isopropanol
Polar lipids
TAG
Pigments
Waxes
50 C
1 bar
Hexane
Isopropanol
Water
Water
Ash
non water soluble proteins
proteins
carbohydrates
0.4 bar
I.1) BEADM ILLING
III.1) LIPID EXTRACTOR
III.2) DISTILLATION COLUM N
FOR SOLVENT RECOVERY
III.3) DECANTER FOR
WAXES REM OVAL
2 C
III.4b) BLEACHING FOR PIGM ENT REM OVAL
IV.1) DIAFILTRATION FOR
PROTEINS WASHING
IV.2) SPARY DRIER
FOR PROTEINS/CARBOHYDRATES
Waxes
Steam
Pigment
Polar lipids
TAG
III.0) SPRAY DRIER
Proteins
Carbohydrates
Ash
Microalgal biorefinery
design and techno-economical analysis
Food/feed
Microalgal biorefinery
design and techno-economical analysis
Biofuel
P-14 / R-101
Stoich. Reaction
Microalgal biomass
Disrupted Biomass
Hexane
Isopropanol
Polar lipids
TAG
Pigments
Waxes
50 C
1 bar
Hexane
Isopropanol
FAME
Glycerol
Pigments
Sterols
NaOH
Methanol
Methanol
NaOH
Water
Water
Ash
non water soluble proteins
Proteins
Carbohydrates
Ash
2 bar
60 C
30 min
0.4 bar
0.4 bar
Water
FAME
Sterols
Pigments
Glycerol
H3PO4 Na3PO4
I.1) BEADM ILLING
III.1) LIPID EXTRACTOR
III.2) DISTILLATION COLUM N
FOR SOLVENT RECOVERY
III.3) DECANTER FOR
WAXES REM OVAL
2 C
III.4) BATCH REACTOR
FOR TRANSESTERIFICATION
III.5) EVAPORATION/CONDENSATION
FOR M ETHANOL RECOVERY
III.6) EXTRACTOR FOR
GLYCEROL WASHING
IV.1) DIAFILTRATION FOR
PROTEINS WASHING
IV.2) SPRAY DRIER
FOR PROTEINS/CARBOHYDRATES
Waxes
III.0) SPRAY DRIER
Proteins
Carbohydrates
Microalgal biorefinery
design and techno-economical analysis
P-14 / R-101
Stoich. Reaction
Microalgal biomass
Disrupted Biomass
PEG
PEG
water soluble Proteins
Polysaccharides
Monosaccharides
Phosphate
PEG
Hexane
Isopropanol
Polar lipids
TAG
Pigments
Waxes
50 C
1 bar
Hexane
Isopropanol
FAME
Glycerol
Pigments
Sterols
NaOH
Methanol
Methanol
NaOH
Water
Water
Ash
non water soluble proteins
non water soluble proteins
non water soluble proteins
Ash
2 bar
60 C
30 min
0.4 bar
0.4 bar
water soluble Proteins
Polysaccharides
Monosaccharides
Phosphate
PBS buffer
Monosaccharides
water soluble Proteins
Water
FAME
Sterols
Pigments
Glycerol
H3PO4 Na3PO4
1 kDa
Phosphate
II.1) DIRECT PROTEIN
EXTRACTOR
I.1) BEADM ILLING
II.2) BACKWARD PROTEIN
EXTRACTOR II.7) DIAFILTRATION UNIT FOR
PROTEINS/POLYSACCHARIDES
FRACTIONATION
II.3) ULTRAFILTRATION UNIT FOR
PROTEIN/POLYSACCHARIDES
CONCENTRATION
II.9) SPRAY DRIER FOR POLYSACCHARIDES
Polysaccharides
II.4) ULTRAFILTRATION UNIT
FOR PHOSPHATE RECOVERY
II.6) SPRAY DRIER
FOR PHOSPHATE CONCENTRATION
III.1) LIPID EXTRACTOR
III.2) DISTILLATION COLUM N
FOR SOLVENT RECOVERY
III.3) DECANTER FOR
WAXES REM OVAL
2 C
III.4) BATCH REACTOR
FOR TRANSESTERIFICATION
III.5) EVAPORATION/CONDENSATION
FOR M ETHANOL RECOVERY
III.6) EXTRACTOR FOR
GLYCEROL WASHING
IV.1) DIAFILTRATION FOR
PROTEINS WASHING
IV.2) SPRAY DRIER
FOR PROTEINS
1 kDa
300 kDa
Waxes
10 kDa
Water
II.10) SPRAY DRIER FOR WATER SOLUBLE PROTEIN
II.8) DIAFILTRATION UNIT FOR
PROTEINS/M ONOSACCHARIDES
FRACTIONATION
Complete
biorefinery
Biorefinery costs
Cost breakdown
Biorefinery costs
Market value of biomass
Market value of biomass
€ 3.4
+
€ 0.9
€ 4.3
€ 3.4
+
€ 1.1
€ 5.5
€ 3.4
+
€ 0.9
€ 4.3
€ 3.4
+
€ 2.9
€6.3
€ 3.4
+
€ 2.9
€ 6.3
€ 3.4
+
€ 3.0
€ 6.4
Cultivation costs
South of Spain
Biorefinery costs
Total costs
Market value of biomass
€ 3.4
+
€ 0.9
€ 4.3
€ 0.5
+
€ 1.1
€ 1.6
€ 0.5
+
€ 0.9
€ 1.4
€ 3.4
+
€ 2.9
€6.3
€ 3.4
+
€ 2.9
€ 6.3
€ 3.4
+
€ 3.0
€ 6.4
Cultivation costs
