Innovations in renewable energy production: biodiesel from microalgae grown on waste resources using liquid-solid circulating fluidized beds and photo-bioreactors

在这项建议中，提出了一种通过转化从微藻中提取的藻油来生产生物柴油的综合方法。该项目的重点是使用低成本和可再生基质生产生物柴油的新兴技术。生物柴油由脂肪酸中的酯组成，是一种从可再生生物来源获得的替代燃料，如植物油和动物脂肪。与传统的(石油衍生)柴油相比，生物柴油的硫磺和颗粒物排放量更低。它也是可生物降解的，无毒。生物柴油的物理化学性质与石油基柴油非常相似，这表明生物柴油可以很容易地与柴油混合。目前正在考虑的生物柴油来源包括大豆、油菜籽等油料种子作物、动物脂肪或废油或回收油。预计对生物柴油的需求可能会大幅上升，从而对陆上作物造成越来越大的压力。因此，需要考虑新的战略方法，以提供替代原料作为生物柴油的来源。高产藻类可以作为生产生物柴油的有吸引力的替代方案。与此同时，藻类技术为缓解温室气体二氧化碳提供了一种手段。藻类生物柴油的生产可以与大量重复利用发电厂或沼气厂产生的二氧化碳相结合。这是一项将温室气体减排与使用清洁燃烧的石油替代品发电相结合的技术。这些藻类将在光反应器中培养，通过沉淀浓缩，并在管式萃取系统中与己烷和甲醇混合。将破碎的藻类、石油和甲醇的粗泥引入两种类型的反应器(A)连续液固循环床反应器和(B)模拟(膨胀)移动床反应器。在这两个体系中，藻油的同时萃取和转酯反应将被展示出来。该项目将为安大略省和加拿大的农场经济带来显著的附加值。

In this proposal an integrated approach is presented for the production of biodiesel by conversion of algal oils extracted from microalgae. This project focuses on emerging technologies for biodiesel production using low cost and renewable substrates. Biodiesel, comprised by esters in fatty acids, is an alternative fuel obtained from renewable biological sources, such as vegetable oils and animal fats. Compared to traditional (petroleum derived) diesel, biodiesel has lower emissions of sulfur and particulates. It is also biodegradable and non-toxic. The physical and chemical properties are quite similar to petroleum based diesel, which implies that bio-diesel can be blended easily with diesel. The current sources being considered for bio-diesel include oil seed crops such as soybean, canola etc., animal fats or waste or recycled oils. It is anticipated that the demand for biodiesel may rise significantly thus putting increasing pressure on land based crops. Thus new, strategic approaches need to be considered in order to provide alternative raw materials as a source of bio-diesel.High oil-producing algae can be used as an attractive alternative to produce bio-diesel. At the same time, algae technology provides a means for mitigation of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas. Algal bio-diesel production can be combined withhigh-volume re-use of CO2 generated in power plants or biogas plants. It is a technology that combines greenhouse gas mitigation with energy generation using clean-burning alternatives to petroleum. The algae will be cultivated in photo-reactors, concentrated by settling and mixed with hexane and methanol in a tubular extraction system. The crude mash of broken algae, oil and methanol will be introduced into two types of reactors (a) A continuous liquid solid circulating fluidized bed reactor and (b) Simulated (expanded) moving bed reactors. Simultaneous extraction and trans-esterification of algal oil will be demonstrated in these two systems. The project will lead to a significant value addition to the Farm economies in Ontario and Canada.