Title:
Nutrients Recycling in Biodiesel Production from Microalgae
Author(s):
Rösch, C., Wegerer, N., Skarka, J.
Document(s):
Paper
Abstract:
A key issue for achieving scaleup of algae biofuels production is the supply of the macronutrients nitrogen and phosphorus. Economically viable and sustainable concepts for the supply from secondary resources and for recycling of nutrients need to be developed. The analysis of biodiesel production with microalgae shows that depending on the condition for cultivating microalgae with sufficient or deficient nitrogen, for one litre biodiesel, 1,55 kg (sufficient N) or 0,23 kg nitrogen (deficient N) and 145 g or 29 g phosphate respectively are required. Life cycle balances show significant potential for recycling nitrogen and phosphorus from algal residues after oil extraction. The results are varying according to the chosen technology to generate energy from the residues. The highest recycling potential can be achieved by hydrothermal gasification. The main losses of nitrogen are emission of ammonia during microalgae cultivating and effluents of the downstream process as well as unconverted algal biomass. The results highlight the necessity of recycling nitrogen and phosphorus and the chances to realise high recycling quota by choosing an adequate technology for processing oil free algal residues.
Keywords:
biodiesel, life cycle assessment (LCA), microalgae
Topic:
Biomass Resources
Subtopic:
Microalgae production and conversion
Event:
19th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition
Session:
OB7.4
Pages:
105 - 110
ISBN-13:
978-88-89407-55-4
ISBN-10:
88-89407-55-7
Paper DOI:
10.5071/19thEUBCE2011-OB7.4
Price:
FREE
