GROWTH AND OPTIMIZATION OF AUTOTROPHIC-TO-HETEROTROPHIC MICROALGAE FOR LIPID PRODUCTION USING LOW COST CARBON SOURCES

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CanHarvest Bioenergy's Integrated Acetate Biofuel Refinery process provides a renewable energy source using biomass waste (such as manure), power, sunlight and organic carbon fed to closed bioreactors for the production of algae biodiesel. Algae produce over twenty times the amount of biofuel than conventional oilseeds on an equal amount of land due to rapid growth rates and high concentrations of lipids, making it an attractive low-cost non-food feedstock. The largest challenge is optimizing the process so that it is profitable and competitive. CanHarvest incorporates high yield high efficiency plug-flow photobioreactors with existing oil and gas water treatment technology to reduce capital and operating expenses. Unlike the competitors, CanHarvest uses growth processes at low densities with continuous photobaffle tanks followed by a dark period of growth using dilute acetic acid, keeping operating costs low and efficiencies high. The cells are starved of nitrogen and light in large dark tanks and low grade acetic acid to produce lipids without the need for additional catalysts and expensive gas-to-liquid processes. CanHarvest is forming a new partnership with Olds College School of Innovation to conduct applied research to confirm the algae growth yields using two algae varieties under this unique growth model. Confirmation of the expected yields is required to ensure the feasibility of a full scale commercial refinery for CanHarvest and ensure the viability of the company business plan. The algae biofuels industry will have significant environmental benefits including CO2 sequestration, wastewater nutrient recycling and reduction of the use of fossil fuels. Development of this new industry in