Advances in direct transesterification of microalgal biomass for biodiesel production

Microalgae biomass is becoming an interesting raw material to produce biodiesel, where several approaches in the transesterification process have been applied such as different catalysts, different acyl acceptors, incorporation of co-solvents and the different operational conditions. However there are some drawbacks that must be solved before any industrial application could be intended. The main problems are related with the high water content of the biomass (over 80 %) and the several process steps involved in biodiesel production such as: drying, cell disruption, oils extraction, transesterification and biodiesel refining. In comparison to other alternatives, the use of direct transesterification could be a suitable alternative since cell disruption, lipids extraction and transesterification are carried out in one step, with a direct reaction of oil-bearing biomass to biodiesel. This process could be applied even using biomass with high water content, and its efficiency could be improved by the incorporation of promising technologies such as microwave or ultrasonication that can enhance the mass transfer rate between immiscible phases, simultaneously diminishing the reaction time. However, it is still necessary to decrease the costs of these technologies so they can be suitable alternatives in future industrial applications.     

Progress on lipid extraction from wet algal biomass for biodiesel production

Lipid recovery and purification from microalgal cells continues to be a significant bottleneck in biodiesel production due to high costs involved and a high energy demand. Therefore, there is a considerable necessity to develop an extraction method which meets the essential requirements of being safe, cost‐effective, robust, efficient, selective, environmentally friendly, feasible for large‐scale production and free of product contamination. The use of wet concentrated algal biomass as a feedstock for oil extraction is especially desirable as it would avoid the requirement for further concentration and/or drying. This would save considerable costs and circumvent at least two lengthy processes during algae‐based oil production. This article provides an overview on recent progress that has been made on the extraction of lipids from wet algal biomass. The biggest contributing factors appear to be the composition of algal cell walls, pre‐treatments of biomass and the use of solvents (e.g. a solvent mixture or solvent‐free lipid extraction). We compare recently developed wet extraction processes for oleaginous microalgae and make recommendations towards future research to improve lipid extraction from wet algal biomass.     

Fractionation and lipase-catalyzed conversion of microalgal lipids to biodiesel

This study was conducted to evaluate the lipid fractionation and purification procedures of lipase-catalyzed conversion of neutral lipids to microalgal biodiesel. Microalgae lipids were efficiently recovered and purified by a combined extraction method and crude lipid extracts were separated into neutral lipids, glycolipids, and phospholipids by solid-phase extraction. The high purity of the neutral lipids fraction was confirmed by its low concentration of phosphorous (< 2.0 ppm). Transesterification was catalyzed by immobilized Candida antarctica lipase for 72 h with stepwise addition of methanol. The reaction displayed Michaelis–Menten kinetics and produced high yields of microalgal biodiesel (91.2% in the case of Dunaliella salina) with a high content of unsaturated fatty acids (81.5%). Neutral lipids were converted to biodiesel by three-step transesterification, while the removal of polar lipids maintained the activity of the immobilized lipase by reducing both reaction mixture viscosity and contamination risk.     

Methods of energy extraction from microalgal biomass: a review

The potential of algal biomass as a source of liquid and gaseous biofuels is a highly topical theme, The process operations for algal biofuel production can be grouped into three areas: growth, harvesting and energy extraction, with a wide range of combinations of unit operations that can form a microalgal biofuel production system, but as yet there is no successful economically viable commercial system producing biofuel. This suggests that there are major technical and engineering difficulties to be resolved before economic algal biofuel production can be achieved. This article briefly reviews the methods by which useful energy may be extracted from microalgae biomass: (a) direct combustion, (b) pyrolysis, (c) gasification, (d) liquefaction, (e) hydrogen production by biochemical processes in certain algae, (f) fuel cells, (g) fermentation to bioethanol, (h) trans-esterification to biodiesel, (i) anaerobic digestion.     

不同恢复类型植被细根分布及与土壤理化性质的耦合关系

针对陕北典型黄土丘陵区吴起县主要人工造林和自然封育植被恢复类型,确定5、15年和40年不同退耕年限下的沙棘、山杏及自然恢复草地样地,进行剖面采样,分析不同植被恢复类型下细根生物量、土壤理化性质,研究了不同恢复类型和不同年限植被细根生物量与土壤理化性质随时间的变异规律及耦合关系。结果表明,(1)总体上,主要造林树种和退耕自然封育草地细根生物量都随林龄和退耕年限的增长呈增加趋势,同年限人工造林树种细根生物量大于自然恢复的草地,不同植被群落细根生物量均表现出随着深度的增加呈指数递减规律。(2)自然封育的草地生态系统土壤含水量大于人工山杏林和沙棘林。人工造林和自然封育植被恢复下,土壤团聚体稳定性都随退耕年限的增加而增强,有机质、全氮、全磷含量也都呈增加趋势,土壤平均含水量则呈减小趋势。(3)细根生物量与土壤容重和团聚体稳定性显著相关,植物细根在土壤结构改善中起到了重要作用。     

Some properties of different skeletal muscle fiber types: comparison of reference bases

Several biochemical components of the white portion of the gastrocnemius (WGM), plantaris (PM), and soleus (SM) muscles of the rat and middle gluteal (MGM) muscle of the horse were compared based on wet and dry weight, protein, and total creatine concentrations ([TCr]). The water content was similar for the rat hindlimb muscles, however, the concentrations of protein, ATP, phosphocreatine (PCr), creatine, and glycogen ranked as SM less than PM less than WGM for all reference bases except total creatine. In contrast, concentrations of ATP, creatine, and PCr were similar in all muscles studied when expressed as ratios of [TCr]. Horse MGM had the lowest percent of water and protein per gram wet or dry weight but highest glycogen concentration of the muscles studied, irrespective of the reference base used to express concentrations. Coefficients of variation were lowest when muscle constituents were related to [TCr]. It is concluded that expressing muscle constituents relative to total creatine results in the smallest variation and is a good method for making comparisons between muscles of similar fiber composition. However, essential information concerning different types of muscle may be lost when this reference base is used.     

Recycling and reuse of spent microalgal biomass for sustainable biofuels

The use of microalgal biomass (MAB) for biofuel production has been recognized since long. Despite distinct advantages of algal biofuels, however, their sustainability and economic viability is still doubtful. Overall process cost and low energy recovery need to be significantly improved. The use of MAB, after extracting primary fuels in the form of hydrogen, methane, biodiesel and bioethanol, can be one promising route. This algal biomass, collectively termed as spent microalgal biomass (SMAB), contains even up to 70% of its initial energy level and also retains nutrients including proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids. Potential application routes include diet for animals and fish, the removal of heavy metals and dyes from wastewater, and the production of bioenergy (e.g., biofuels and electricity). Unlike whole algae biomass whose applications are relatively well documented, SMAB has been studied only to limited degree. Therefore, this work gives a brief overview of various ways of SMAB applications. An insight into current status, barriers and future prospects on SMAB research is provided. The feasibility of each application is evaluated on the basis of its energy recovery, economic viability, and future perspectives are provided.     

中国南方3种主要人工林生物量和生产力的动态变化

基于中国南方杉木、马尾松、桉树3种主要人工林的幼龄林、中龄林、近熟林、成熟林、过熟林5个不同年龄各3块1000 m2样地(共计45块)的建立和调查,采用样木回归分析法(乔木层)和样方收获法(灌木层、草本层、地上凋落物)获取不同林型不同林龄径级样木和其它基本数据,探讨了3种人工林各组分各层次林分生物量和生产力的分配特征及随林龄的变化规律,结果表明,林分生物量和生产力与林龄密切相关,增长模型的拟合度均较高,相关显著;杉木、马尾松、桉树人工林的生物量随林龄的增长呈增加趋势,成熟林的生物量分别为192.30、191.53、105.77 Mg/hm2,其中活体植物分别占95.76%—98.39%、75.01%—99.14%、85.60%—97.61%;生物量的层次分配乔木层占绝对优势,并随年龄而增加,其它层次所占比例较小,总体趋势为凋落物草本层灌木层;乔木层的器官分配以干所占比例最高,杉木、马尾松、桉树分别占54.89%—75.97%、49.93%—83.10%、51.07%—98.48%,随年龄的增加而增加,根的比例次之,枝叶所占比例较小,随林龄而下降;灌木层器官分配以枝的相对生物量较大,草本层的地上和地下分配规律不明显;与其它森林类型相比,杉木和马尾松的生物量处于中上游水平,桉树的生物量较低,但3种人工林的生产力均很高,分别为12.37、8.98、21.10 Mg hm-2a-1,均是光合效率高、固碳潜力大的中国南方速生丰产优良造林树种。     

Recovery of microalgal biomass and metabolites: process options and economics

Commercial production of intracellular microalgal metabolites requires the following: (1) large-scale monoseptic production of the appropriate microalgal biomass; (2) recovery of the biomass from a relatively dilute broth; (3) extraction of the metabolite from the biomass; and (4) purification of the crude extract. This review examines the options available for recovery of the biomass and the intracellular metabolites from the biomass. Economics of monoseptic production of microalgae in photobioreactors and the downstream recovery of metabolites are discussed using eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) recovery as a representative case study.     

Development of a new method for simultaneous extraction of chlorophylls and carotenoids from microalgal biomass

Journal of Applied Phycology - There are still limitations in the pigment extraction methods used in microalgae biomass, especially for laboratory scale. This work aimed to develop a simple method...     

Bioprospecting for oil producing microalgal strains: evaluation of oil and biomass production for ten microalgal strains

Microalgae have the ability to grow rapidly, synthesize and accumulate large amounts (approximately 20-50% of dry weight) of lipids. A successful and economically viable algae based oil industry depends on the selection of appropriate algal strains. In this study ten species of microalgae were prospected to determine their suitability for oil production: Chaetoceros gracilis, Chaetoceros mulleri, Chlorella vulgaris, Dunaliella sp., Isochrysis sp., Nannochloropsis oculata, Tetraselmis sp., Tetraselmis chui, Tetraselmis tetrathele and Thalassiosira weissflogii. The study was carried out in 3 L glass flasks subjected to constant aeration and controlled artificial illumination and temperature at two different salinities. After harvesting, the extraction of oil was carried out using the Bligh and Dyer method assisted by ultrasound. Results showed that C. gracilis presented the highest oil content and that C. vulgaris presented the highest oil production.     

A comparison of three bacterial phosphonoacetate hydrolases from different environmental sources

Cleavage of the carbon–phosphorus bond of the xenobiotic phosphonoacetate by phosphonoacetate hydrolase represents a novel route for the microbial metabolism of organophosphonates, and is unique in that it is substrate-inducible and its expression is independent of the phosphate status of the cell. The enzyme has previously only been demonstrated in cell extracts of Pseudomonas fluorescens 23F. Phosphonoacetate hydrolase activity is now reported in extracts of environmental Curtobacterium sp. and Pseudomonas sp. isolates capable of the phosphate-insensitive mineralization of phosphonoacetate as the sole source of carbon, energy and phosphorus at concentrations up to 40 mmol l⁻¹ and 100 mmol l⁻¹, respectively. The enzymes in both strains were similarly inducible by phosphonoacetate and had a unique specificity for this substrate. However, they differed significantly from each other, and from the previously described Ps. fluorescens 23F enzyme, in respect of their apparent molecular masses, temperature optima, thermostability, sensitivity to inhibition by chelating agents and by structural analogues of phosphonoacetate, and in their affinities for the substrate.     

Integrated biodiesel production: a comparison of different homogeneous catalysts systems

The most common catalysts for biodiesel production are homogeneous basic catalysts. In the present paper, a comparison is made of different basic catalysts (sodium methoxide, potassium methoxide, sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide) for methanolysis of sunflower oil. All the reactions were carried out under the same experimental conditions in a batch stirred reactor and the subsequent separation and purification stages in a decanter. The analytical methods included gas chromatography and the determination of fat and oil conventional parameters. The biodiesel purity was near 100 wt.% for all catalysts. However, near 100 wt.% biodiesel yields were only obtained with the methoxide catalysts. According to the material balance of the process, yield losses were due to triglyceride saponification and methyl ester dissolution in glycerol. Obtained biodiesel met the measured specifications, except for the iodine value, according to the German and EU draft standards. Although all the transesterification reactions were quite rapid and the biodiesel layers achieved nearly 100% methyl ester concentrations, the reactions using sodium hydroxide turned out the fastest.     

Simultaneous flue gas bioremediation and reduction of microalgal biomass production costs

A flue gas originating from a municipal waste incinerator was used as a source of CO₂ for the cultivation of the microalga Chlorella vulgaris, in order to decrease the biomass production costs and to bioremediate CO₂ simultaneously. The utilization of the flue gas containing 10–13% (v/v) CO₂ and 8–10% (v/v) O₂ for the photobioreactor agitation and CO₂ supply was proven to be convenient. The growth rate of algal cultures on the flue gas was even higher when compared with the control culture supplied by a mixture of pure CO₂ and air (11% (v/v) CO₂). Correspondingly, the CO₂ fixation rate was also higher when using the flue gas (4.4 g CO₂ l⁻¹ 24 h⁻¹) than using the control gas (3.0 g CO₂ l⁻¹ 24 h⁻¹). The toxicological analysis of the biomass produced using untreated flue gas showed only a slight excess of mercury while all the other compounds (other heavy metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, polychlorinated dibenzodioxins and dibenzofurans, and polychlorinated biphenyls) were below the limits required by the European Union foodstuff legislation. Fortunately, extending the flue gas treatment prior to the cultivation unit by a simple granulated activated carbon column led to an efficient absorption of gaseous mercury and to the algal biomass composition compliant with all the foodstuff legislation requirements.     

Purification, characterization and comparison of phycoerythrins from three different marine cyanobacterial cultures

The present study is focused on purification, characterization and comparison of phycoerythrins from three different marine cyanobacterial cultures--hormidium sp. A27 DM, Lyngbya sp. A09 DM and Halomicronema sp. A32 DM. 'Phycoerythrin' was successfully purified and characterized. On SDS-PAGE, the PE purified from all three young cultures showed four bands--corresponding to α and β subunits of each of PE-I and PE-II. However, phycoerythrin purified after prolonged growth of Phormidium sp. A27 DM and Halomicronema sp. A32DM showed only one band corresponding to 14 kDa whereas Lyngbya sp. A09 DM continued to produce uncleaved phycoerythrin. The absorption spectra of purified PEs from all the three young and old cultures showed variations however the fluorescence studies of the purified PEs in all cases gave the emission spectra at around 580 nm. The described work is of great importance to understand the role of phycoerythrin in adapting cyanobacteria to stress conditions.