Assessing the renewability of biodiesel from microalgae via different transesterification processes

Ehiaze Ehimen, Zhifa Sun, Gerry Carrington

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

Abstract

Using process modelling tools, the conventional and in-situ transesterification processes for biodiesel production from microalgae biomass was modelled.The raw material and process energy requirements of the up-scaled process were obtained for the different transesterification processes, and a renewability assessment of the various schemes was carried out.The biomass cultivation and biodiesel production process renewability was assessed by comparing the minimum work required to restore the non-renewable resources degraded in the biomass and biodiesel production process with the useful work available from the main process products. If the maximum work obtained from the process products is larger than the restoration work, the process is considered as renewable. In a present day scenario (with the use of fossil fuel sources for the production of the process raw materials, such as for methanol and sulphuric acid production, and electricity), all the transesterification processes were shown to be non-renewable. The influence of the choice of the electricity generation scheme, raw material source and the type of heating fuels (including heating and drying technology) on the process renewability was also examined. The process renewability of the in-situ transesterification of microalgae lipids to biodiesel was found to significantly improve with the use of renewable electricity, reacting alcohols from biomass fermentation and heat pump technology to facilitate the biomass drying and process heating.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationMicroalgae
Subtitle of host publicationBiotechnology, Microbiology and Energy
PublisherNova Science Publishers, Inc.
Pages61-99
Number of pages39
ISBN (Print)9781613246252
Publication statusPublished - Jan 2013
Externally publishedYes

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