Presentation Can Human Sewage Provide the Feedstock for Biodiesel Production by Photoautotrophic Micro Algae

8/7/2019 Presentation Can Human Sewage Provide the Feedstock for Biodiesel Production by Photoautotrophic Micro Algae

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Unit title: Ventilation and Cooling; Water and Waste

Presentation title: Can human sewage provide the

feedstock for biodiesel production by photoautotrophic

microalgae?

Unit number: A3

Unit date: November12th 2008Presentation date: January 11th 2008

Student name: Craig Embleton

Student number: 0750553

Seminar group: 1 (Melissa Taylor)e-mail: [email protected]

website: www.greenfrontier.org
mailto:[email protected]://www.greenfrontier.org/http://www.greenfrontier.org/http://www.greenfrontier.org/http://www.greenfrontier.org/mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]


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CAN HUMAN SEWAGEPROVIDE THE FEEDSTOCK

FOR BIODIESEL PRODUCTION

BY PHOTOAUTOTROPHIC

MICROALGAE?


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Contents

Problems with current situation

Sewage pollutionConventional biofuels

Sewage treatment

Waste stabilisation ponds Aquatic Species Programme

Algae production

Raceway ponds Oil yield comparison

Conclusions

Questions


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What are the problems?

The usual suspects: Climate change caused by burning fossil

fuels

Peak oilPlus

Sewage pollution wrecks aquatic

ecosystems and human health Conventional biofuel production wrecks

terrestrial ecosystems and competes with

food production


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Marine pollution

Discharge of untreated domestic wastes is amajor source of marine pollution, and

perhaps the most serious problem within the

framework of the Global Programme ofAction.

Source: United Nations Environment Programme

report into the state of the marine

environment, 2006


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1.5 million deaths/year from diarrhoeal

diseases attributable to poor sanitation

and hygiene

Source: United Nations Environment Programme, 2006,

WHO, 2006

.

Children playing near sewage outlets


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The Trouble with Conventional Biofuel

Indonesia currently has:60,000 square kms of oil palm plantations

Plans for another40,000 by 2015

dedicated to biofuel production alone.Size of Wales: 21,588 square kilometres

Rainforest destroyed.

Huge amounts of fertilizers used.

No reduction in greenhouse gases.

Food prices up.


8/28Source: Benemann, J 2008


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Is there a solution?Perhaps - Photoautotrophic Microalgae

Source: Shell, 2008


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What nutrients do algal require to grow?

Source: Mara, D 2004

Algal Photosynthesis

106CO2

+ 236H2O + 16NH

4+ + HPO

42-

C106H181O45N16P + 118O2 + 171H2O + 14H+

Major Nutrients: Nitrogen and Phosphorus


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What nutrients are in human waste?

(Per person per day)

Source: Harper, P. and Halestrap, L. 1999

Per adult per

day

Faeces Urine

Nitrogen 3g 8g

Phosphorus 2g 2g

Potassium 1g 2gCalcium 2g 2g


12/28Source: Benemann, J 2008

Waste Stabilisation Ponds


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Sewage treatment: algal-bacterial

mutualism in waste stabilisation ponds

Source: Mara, 2004

BOD =Biochemical

Oxygen

Demand


14/28Source: Sheehan, J et al 1998

U.S. Department of Energys Office of Fuels

Development funded the ASP that ran from

1978-1996

Focussed on production of biodiesel from

algae grown in ponds, using waste CO2 from

coal-fired power plants.

The early studies used sewage ponds.

Later studies used fresh and marine water

ponds with the addition of agricultural

fertilizers.

Aquatic Species Programme (ASP)


15/28Source: Sheehan, J et al 1998

Programme concluded:Many R&D obstacles but in theory 2,000 square

kilometres of climatically suitable land areas in

the U.S. could produce one quadrillion(1,000,000,000,000) British Thermal Units (BTU)

of fuel.

Programme stopped for economic reasons.

CHEAP OIL!

Aquatic Species Programme (ASP)


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Oil yields of crops

Crop Oil yield (L/ha)

Maize 172

Soybean 446

Oil seed rape 1190Jatropha 1892

Oil palm 5950

Microalgae grown inraceway ponds.

17,000

Source: Chisti, Y 2007 and J. Benemann, J 2008


17/28Source: Chisti, Y 2007

Most algae commercially produced in

raceway ponds (Arial View)


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Most algae commercially produced in

raceway ponds as premium food

Because commercially produced algae is

usually a premium foodstuff e.g. spirulina

Wastewater (sewage) is avoided.

Expensive agricultural fertilizers used.

Carbonated drinks quality carbon dioxide

added.


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Algae harvested from waste stabilisation

ponds

Because algal product is a non-food crop:

Wastewater (sewage) can be used. Expensive agricultural fertilizers

avoided.

No addition of CO2 needed but could

use flue gases from fossil fuel power

stations.


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Source: Aquaflow 2008

Fuel from sewage pond algae

Proof of concept by Aquaflow

Powered a vehicle with a 5% biofuel mix


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CAN HUMAN SEWAGEPROVIDE THE FEEDSTOCK

FOR BIODIESEL PRODUCTION

BY PHOTOAUTOTROPHIC

MICROALGAE?

Conclusions

Yes but not yet economically.Much more research needed and

tax breaks.


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Source: Spolaore, P et al, 2005

Issues - Does algal-biodiesel really not

compete with food production?

Commodity Protein Carbohydrate LipidMeat 43 1 34

Milk 26 38 28

Rice 8 77 2Spirulinamaxima

6071 1316 67

General composition of different human food

sources and algae (% of dry matter)


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Issues - Will algal biodiesel perpetuate our

oil addiction?

What about electric cars?

What about transitioning to a low carbon

economy?

How about using algae to capture carbon

and incorporate in soil or bury?


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Questions?


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Aquaflow bionomic corporation limited. (2008). Prospectusand investment statement for aquaflow bionomic

corporation limited. Available:http://www.aquaflowgroup.com/documents/ProspectusandInvestmentStatement_001.pdf. Last accessed 31December 2008.

Benemann, J. (2008). Open ponds and closedphotobioreactors comparative economics. Available:http://www.bio.org/ind/wc/08/breakout_pdfs/20080430/Track1_ContinentalA/Session9_230p400pm/Benemann_Continental_A_Wed.pdf. Last accessed 1 January 2009.

Broere, W. (2008). Harvesting energy from algae.Available: http://www-static.shell.com/static/aboutshell/downloads/swol/jan_mar_2008/algae/algae_en.pdf. Last accessed 30 December2008.

Bibliography


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Catherine Brahic. (2008). Europe unveils ambitious energyplan . Available:

http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn13218-europe-unveils-ambitious-energy-plan.html. Last accessed 27December 2008.

Coordination Office of the Global Programme of Action for

the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-basedActivities (gpa) of the United Nations EnvironmentProgramme. (2006). The State of the Marine Environment.Available: http://www.gpa.unep.org/documents/soe_-_trends_and_english.pdf. Last accessed 26 December

2008

Bibliography Continued


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Harper, P. and Halestrap, L. (1999) Lifting the Lid. Powys,CAT.

Mara, D (2004). Domestic Wastewater Treatment inDeveloping Countries. London: Earthscan. 3. Available(preview) http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=d9O9Gw_3rOUC&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_summary_r&cad=0 Last accessed 27 December 2008.

Pearce, F. and Aldhous, P.. (2007). Is the biofuel dreamover?. Available:http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg19626343.800.Last accessed 23 December 2008.



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Sheehan, J., T. Dunahay, J. Benemann, and P. Roessler(1998). A Look Back at the U.S. Department of Energys

Aquatic Species Program-Biodiesel from Algae. U.S.Department of Energys Office of Fuels Development.Prepared by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory,Golden, Colorado . Available:http://www1.eere.energy.gov/biomass/pdfs/biodiesel_from_

algae.pdf. Last accessed 20 November 2008 Spolaore, P., Joannis-Cassan, C., Duran, E., and Isambert,

A. (2006). Commercial applications of microalgae. Journalof Bioscience and Bioengineering, 101(2):87-96.

World Health Organisation. (2006). Analysis of estimates ofthe environmental attributable fraction, by disease.Available:http://www.who.int/entity/quantifying_ehimpacts/publications/preventingdisease5.pdf. Last accessed 27 December

2008


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Presentation Can Human Sewage Provide the Feedstock for Biodiesel Production by Photoautotrophic Micro Algae