Biofuels. Under optimal conditions, algae farms can produce about 5,000 gallons of fuel per acre. Even when we use perfect methods of oil extraction and fuel refinement, the cost of this resource exceeds more than $5 per gallon. As of yet, algae biofuel is still a technology that has been able to provide solid evidence that it can compare to the efficiency of the fuels that are currently used. Although the higher value end of this spectrum consists of small niche markets, there are many industrial enzymes that can be produced, with values ranging between $25 and $50 per kg, and for which large markets currently exist [25]. 2) Algae Can Have High Biofuel Yields The economics of the work didnt make sense either because providing enough light and nutrients to larger colonies didnt make sense. Carpenter EJ, Janson S. Intracellular cyanobacterial symbionts in the marine diatom, Moheimani NR, Borowitzka MA. It also adds to the cost-per-gallon of what we can produce, reducing the market viability of the eventual product. Kalamaki MS, Alexandrou D, Lazari D, et al. Diesel engines depend on the lubricity of the fuel to keep moving parts from wearing prematurely. There are three major strategies for extracting oil from algae: oil press/expeller, hexane extraction, and supercritical CO2 fluid extraction [30]. Despite the advantages of decreased contamination and increased productivity, it is unclear whether PBRs will ever become cost competitive with open pond systems. Naturally, algae grow fast, where the only need sunlight, water and carbon dioxide to thrive. With current estimates of algal-based biofuels ranging from US$3002600 per barrel based on current technology, technical hurdles need to be overcome to improve this price. Growth rates and maximum growth densities must be characterized in terms of real-world growth conditions rather than laboratory conditions. Easily add the benefits of spirulina into: Featuring 2000mg Parry Organic Spirulina per, a Nutrifusion vitamin blend, and full label transparency. Producers must keep the liquid at specific temperatures to maximize duplication at the same time, which means evaporation begins to happen. Molenaar AJ, Harris DP, Rajan GH, et al. It uses large volumes of carbon dioxide. The most popular algae genera are Tetraselmis, Nannochloropsis, Isochrysis, Pavlova, Navicula, Nitzschia, Chaetoceros, Skeletonema, Phaeodactylum and Thalassiosira [169,170]. In terms of oil production, of the published algal species, members of the Scenedesmus genus have been identified as potential oil-producing species, with both rapid growth, as well as relatively high lipid content [18,101,102]. The microalgal species being investigated as potential biofuel crops originate from groups whose ancestral relationships are significantly broader than the most diverse land plants, providing a wealth of genetic diversity [20,21]. Macroalgae (seaweeds) are grown in the sea, or even on land with seawater, and their sugars can be converted into biofuels and chemicals. 8 Central Pros and Cons of Algae Biofuel - Green Garage Biofuels from algae: challenges and potential. Certainly, approaches can be used to rapidly identify genes that correlate with high lipid content, but these are only possible with high-throughput sequencing. Trophic conversion of an obligate photoautotrophic organism through metabolic engineering. The great diversity of algal species provides a wide range of starting strains for fuel production. Although the final price of a barrel of algae oil when production goes to large scale is difficult to extrapolate from the present small production facilities, system improvements will certainly bring costs down. These strategies are functional at the small scale; however, as their use has increased, it is evident that they are not sustainable, owing to the enormous amount of agricultural land that would be required to supplant a significant fraction of petroleum using this strategy [6,7]. Different methods of lipid extraction from hexane extraction to pressing strategies extract lipids with different efficiencies and can yield different lipid profiles and returns. For example, a component of harvesting algae is the already scarce and non-renewable element, phosphorus. This bacterial process produces methane gas, while keeping the majority of the nutrients in a bacterial slurry that can be killed and the mix used for algal fertilizer. There is nothing to suggest that the same thing wouldnt happen to algae-based products either. This wide range of products means that several different industries can benefit as we refine the processes that help us to create biofuel from this product. These LCPUFAs include eicosapentanoic acid (produced by Nannochloropsis, Phaeodactylum and Nitzschia), arachidonic acid (produced by Porphyridium) and -linoleic acid (produced by Arthrospira) [183]. 2. Interestingly, the addition of iron to induce an algal bloom has been considered and tested as a strategy to sequester CO2 [4749]. These breeding strategies have an advantage, in that polygenic traits can be moved between strains; however, currently mutagenesis and molecular genetics are at the forefront of algal strain improvement. The first attempts at expression of recombinant proteins in the chloroplast of C. reinhardtii involved the bacterial neomycin phosphotransferase [148] and -glucuronidase genes [149], both driven by C. reinhardtii chloroplast promoters. In addition, early successes in both business and academic environments will promote funding of the research necessary to optimize and validate this technology. For this reason, and many others, algae harvesting is an important part of biofuel creation. The ability to secrete lipids may improve efficiency in harvesting and nutrient utilization, as well as provide some protection from contamination. Finally, petroleum, which is partially derived from ancient algae deposits, is a limited resource that will eventually run out or become too expensive to recover [24]. Omega-3s are important for cognitive health, cardiovascular health, and is one of the top nutrients for improving overall mood. Algae is an aquatic plant that grows in most fresh, and saltwater bodies across the world. The versatility of algae means that it can grow on marginal lands to improve production levels. It is also a strong antioxidant and a precursor of vitamin A [176,177]. Lebeau T, Robert JM. Also, algae fuels are an alternative to commonly known biofuel sources, such as corn and sugarcane. On antibiotic properties of some fresh water algae. Algae, similar to plants, require sources of phosphorus, nitrogen and potassium, which are the major components of agricultural fertilizers, and large-scale aquaculture will impact these already limited supplies. All edible varieties of algae regardless of shape, size, or color are highly nutritious, and some of the most sustainable plants to produce in the entire world. Algae can grow in a wide variety of temperatures, with growth being limited primarily by nutrient availability and light. Whether it is a desire to reduce domestic reliance on imports or a desire to help the environment, one of the most promising biofuel projects currently under development involves the use of algae. There are several vital points to look at when reviewing the advantages and disadvantages of algae biofuel. In addition, strategies that couple heterologous gene expression to expression of genes that provide a significant advantage to the algae have also found significant success. In this article, we discuss the potential of a burgeoning alternative strategy: microalgae-produced liquid fuels. Micro- and macro-nutrient supplements, or fertilizer, account for significant costs in the current terrestrial agriculture industry [38], and biofuels are not expected to be an exception. Stable expression of hepatitis B surface antigen gene in, Sun Y, Yang ZY, Gao XS, Li QY, Zhang QQ, Xu ZK. This protein is complete, meaning it contains all nine essential amino acids the body cannot produce and must replenish via diet9. Promotes looking at the impact of biofuels total lifecycle analysis, and redefines what should be looked at in that analysis. The organic material is pressed out, then filtered and refined before we can begin the biofuel production process. Direct complementation of, Hall LM, Taylor KB, Jones DD. This polysaccharide is a recognized immunostimulator, a free radical scavenger and a reducer of blood lipids [171]. Mayali X, Azam F. Algicidal bacteria in the sea and their impact on algal blooms. the development of the algae industry. Ratledge C. Fatty acid biosynthesis in microorganisms being used for single cell oil production. Another major recent focus in biofuels is lipid secretion. Algae has the same concerns of monoculture that the agriculture industry experiences. Controlling eutrophication: nitrogen and phosphorus. What makes them so attractive are the large number and wide variety of benefits associated with how and where they grow. In the following sections, we discuss the major strategies to overcome this price gap. Another benefit to biofuels is the reduced danger of an environmental disaster. [1] [2] When made from seaweed (macroalgae) it can be known as seaweed fuel or seaweed oil . As such, its price is subject to supply and demand of the competing fuels and, as such, is a commodity. This will decrease the total land required for algal biofuel production. Biogeochemical controls and feedbacks on ocean primary production. It can deplete non-renewable resources. Fertilizers in the USA used for agriculture currently contain a less than optimal concentration of phosphate owing to limited supplies. Pohnert G. Diatom/copepod interactions in plankton: the indirect chemical defense of unicellular algae. These numbers may improve through genetics and breeding, as has been accomplished in crop species, as demonstrated by Montsanto and Pioneer's successes in improving the yields of maize or improvements in engineering for photobioreactors. Although protein expression in algae has been improved over the last 20 years, application of these technologies outside of the laboratory has been limited. Algal extracts from strains expressing this protein were effective against Escherichia coli and Vibrio parahemolyticus [82]. By consuming algae-derived omega-3s, less environmental impact occurs by avoiding the food chain and biodiversity disruption caused by fishing5. This strategy is especially valuable in organisms that are haploid during the majority of their lifecycle, such as the chlorophyte alga, because it allows researchers to determine whether loss-of-function or gain-of-function mutations cause the observed phenotype. Algae fuel, algal biofuel, or algal oil is an alternative to liquid fossil fuels that uses algae as its source of energy-rich oils. Genetics and transformation of mitochondria in the green alga, Boynton JE, Gillham NW. Algae are emerging to be one of the most promising long-term, sustainable sources of biomass and oils for fuel, food, feed, and other co-products. Everything from diesel to ethanol helps us to continue taking advantage of the benefits of modern infrastructure while reducing the impact those activities have on the environment. Although growth rate is important for overall productivity, our model predicts that higher growth densities improve economic viability more rapidly than a proportional increase in growth rate, since the expense of harvesting and fuel extraction outweighs the capital expense of building a larger facility to get the same overall total production. This can reduce processes that take years in crop plants, down to a few months in algae. Algae biofuel doesnt always meet its energy efficiency targets. However, despite the improvement in codon optimization, it was found that C. reinhardtii can and often does efficiently silence or downregulate nonrequired heterologous genes when expressed at high levels, perhaps as a defense against viral infection. Melis A, Happe T. Hydrogen production. Ye ZW, Jiang JG, Wu GH. Algae biofuel gives us a viable solution for our future transportation and energy needs when we work with strains that produce significant levels of oil. Moreover, they can also be specifically designed and screened for a specific crop protection function [78]. Here are 10 reasons why algae are a promising new source of fuel and other products: 1) Algae Grow Fast Algae can double their numbers every few hours, can be harvested daily, and have the potential to produce a volume of biomass and biofuel many times greater than that of our most productive crops. Presently, less than 40 million tons of phosphate is mined from the USA annually, and the maximum phosphate production from this mining peaked in the late 1980s. However, for algae to mature as an economically viable platform to offset petroleum and, consequently, mitigate CO2 release, there are a number of hurdles to overcome ranging from how and where to grow these algae, to improving oil extraction and fuel processing. Diatoms are distinguished by their ornate bipartite shells, which are composed primarily of polymerized silicates. Parry ML, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Working Group II, World Meteorological Organization, United Nations Environment Programme . Limits to productivity of the alga, Blanco AM, Moreno J, Del Campo JA, Rivas J, Guerrero MG. 2) Algae Can Have High Biofuel Yields Fortunately, iron can be easily acquired and is more available than many of the other required nutrients. disadvantages of algae biofuel. 7. One of the primary benefits of using biodiesel is energy efficiency. The large gray area of undeveloped or unidentified sources provides ample and possibly necessary expansion for nonconventional sources. send our content editing team a message here, 18 Advantages and Disadvantages of Alternative Energy, 10 Best Ways to Answer Sell Me This Pen in an Interview, 10 Most Asked Integrity Interview Questions with Answers, 25 Most Asked Confidentiality Interview Questions with Answers, 50 Most Asked Phone Interview Questions with Answers, 10 Best Answers to What Are Your Interests and Hobbies, 25 Most Asked Multitasking Interview Questions with Answers, 10 Top Answers to What Can You Bring to the Company, 25 Most Asked Change Management Interview Questions, 10 Top Answers to Where Do You See Yourself in 5 Years, 75 Tough Interview Questions and Answers to Ace Each One. These characteristics make algae a platform with a high potential to produce cost-competitive biofuels. Most analysts do not predict full parity with petroleum in the near future. As such, algae-based fuels complement biofuels made from traditional agricultural processes. Given these natural defense mechanisms, it seems wise to take advantage of them, along with other strategies adapted from agriculture, to secure crop protection for biofuel production. Biosynthesis of polyunsaturated fatty acids in lower eukaryotes. So not only do algae provide fuel, but other beneficial and useful products as well. Microalgae are expected to be a vital raw material for amino acids, vitamins and productions of valuable . Also, they can be produced using waste and sea water, while not affecting the water sources. Because algae contain a high amount of omega-3 fats, it can help improve energy and clarity, concentration, overall mood, and sleep quality. Summary for Policymakers. Examples of such strategies include conversion of cellulose to sugars for fermentation into fuel, and gasification of residual biomass into syngas that can then be used to produce liquid fuels [8]. Plant nutrition in a world of declining renewable resources. Subsequent condensation steps catalyzed by FAS proteins elongate the growing acyl chain, while elongases and desaturases further modify the fatty acids. There is potential to improve algae for biofuels by developing the tools for selective breeding and using these to move traits that have an impact on biofuels between closely related species, or to improve specific strains of one species. Although both terrestrial strategies and marine strategies may be required, in this article we focus on the terrestrial aquaculture, since marine strategies are completely unknown at present and may require engineering significantly different from what is practiced today. Another solution to minimize contamination is to use microalgae that can grow under extreme conditions, which are not suitable for most of the potential contaminants. This characterization includes establishing optimal growth conditions (i.e., temperature, nutrient levels, salinity and pH), growth characterization (i.e., rate of growth and final culture density), and analysis of metabolite accumulation (i.e., lipid composition and accumulation). Financial & competing interests disclosure: The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed. Algae biofuels- Algae can synthesise large volumes of oil (20 times more than that of mustard per acre), grow fast (10 times quicker than terrestrial plants) and capture carbon dioxide (CO2). Some of these nutrients can be recycled through waste water, while others will be lost due to runoff. Much like terrestrial monocultures, large algal monocultures will be invaded by pests and pathogens, and therefore, crop protection is a major challenge to algal pond sustainability. Algae is an increasingly popular plant-based food and supplement in health and wellness. Because of these similarities, it seems reasonable to assume that collaborations between algae production companies and major oil companies are likely, since these companies have extensive experience maximizing downstream processing efficiencies. These green algae are the most heavily studied algal groups, primarily owing to the establishment of the chlorophyceae, C. reinhardtii, as an algal model organism. 1. Kuci Ska J, Lonc E, Rydzanicz K. Transgenic bioinsecticides inimical to parasites, but imical to environment. Algae will be harvested and the oil will be extracted, the remaining biomass (carbohydrates/proteins) will either be recycled for nutrients through anaerobic digestion or similar means, producing methane gas and a nutrient-rich slurry, which can then be fed back into the algal pond, rather than exogenously produced fertilizers, or used to for high-value co-products, ranging from industrial enzymes, nutraceuticals or animal feed stocks. The growing interest in biofuels, has renewed interest in improving heterologous protein expression for real-world applications, with a goal for heterologous protein expression of increased lipid production. Taking algae from a potential biofuel producer to large-scale production will be dictated by a combination of factors that include economic viability, and the perceived value of CO2 mitigation by this technology. Funderberg E. Why are nitrogen prices so high. 2) Algae Can Have High Biofuel Yields Longer isoprene chains could be used for biodiesel or cracked into biogasoline or jet fuels. Ruiz-Marin A, Mendoza-Espinosa LG, Stephenson T. Growth and nutrient removal in free and immobilized green algae in batch and semi-continuous cultures treating real wastewater. Both options require the presence of significant water resources to inspire the colonies to grow. Climate Change 2007: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability Contribution of Working Group II to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Exploitation of marine algae: biogenic compounds for potential antifouling applications. These data may allow these traits to be exploited, so that algae will aggregate after a specific induction event or to a specific surface. Heterogenous cracking of an unsaturated fatty acid and reaction intermediates on H+ZSM-5 catalyst. Although the fatty acid composition of different algae species is distinct, once extracted, its chemical profile is not expected to be substantially different from the chemical mixes currently found in sweet light crude oil. high lipid content, growth rates, growth densities and/or the presence of valuable co-products), while growing on low-cost media. Algae-based biofuel is a new energy source that has been getting a lot of attention lately. Furthermore, it is believed that some oil deposits originated from diatom biomass [87]. Biosynthesis and regulation of carotenoids in, Raja R, Hemaiswarya S, Rengasamy R. Exploitation of, Eonseon J, Lee CG, Polle JEW. Microalgae can also produce a wide variety of useful carotenoids, such as lutein, zeaxanthin, lycopene, bixin, -carotene and astaxanthin. Algae cultivation uses both land that in many cases is unsuitable for traditional agriculture, as well as water sources that are not useable for other crops, such as sea-, brackish- and wastewater. Viral control of phytoplankton populations a review. A variety of algal species produce oil (lipids); some produce so much that, under a microscope, lipid droplets can be seen within the cell (Figure 2). A few key benefits of algae include its use as a: Soil Additive Health Supplement Bioremediation Agent Energy Source Soil Additive In addition, we will need to balance the cost of solutions relative to increase productivity and, hence. Direct molecular genetic modification may also aid in improving growth characteristics. These options have significantly different challenges. Algal biofuel has the same chemical composition as fossil fuel crude oils, so you can make the switch without having to completely change your operating system.
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