Algae shows promise for biofuel future
Algae are a diverse family of simple harvested out of the ocean. Algae don’t our petroleum reserves were formed, tration through algae biodiesel
plants ranging from common pond have to directly compete for the land. you’re just doing it a lot faster. production.
scum to ocean seaweed, and some There are other choices.” “It’s my opinion that TCC will be a “Carbon dioxide emissions from
species are now being considered as a Algae can be more productive than very important technology in helping the power industry contribute to grow-
promising source of raw material for corn or soybeans. biofuels from algae become a reality.” ing concerns about global climate
future biofuels production. “Right now we get about 45-75 gal- Schideman is currently involved with change,” Schideman said. “Since car-
Lance Schideman, a professor in the lons per acre for soy biodiesel and three projects that address significant bon dioxide is a necessary component
Department of Agricultural and around 300-500 gallons per acre for corn environmental issues in conjunction with for algae growth, this project will
Biological Engineering at the ethanol. Current research suggests that algae-based biofuel production. One sequester carbon dioxide from a local
University of Illinois, said there are a we could get anywhere from 1,000 to project, sponsored by the Dudley Smith power plant’s exhaust gasses into algae
number of reasons he believes algae to 10,000 gallons per acre for algae Foundation, is focused on combining biomass that will subsequently be
be a “credible frontrunner” among the biodiesel,” he said TCC with algae growth on livestock converted into biofuels.”
various biomass feedstocks being Schideman said there are various wastewaters to produce biofuels and Students from the local chapters of
researched for alternative fuels. options to produce biofuel from algae. reduce the environmental impacts of the Water Environment Federation, and
“Key advantages for algae include “The traditional method is to extract manure disposal. Engineers Without Borders will partici-
prolific growth rates and relatively the algae oil from the other biomass com- “We also have some seed funding pate in the project to demonstrate algae
high oil contents in certain species,” ponents (primarily carbohydrates and from the ACES College Office of bioreactors that can reduce carbon
Schideman said. “In addition, algae proteins) and then convert the oil to Research to investigate the feasibility of dioxide emissions from the coal and
can help clean up water resources biodiesel via transesterification, which is harvesting natural algae blooms efficient- natural gas stacks at the Abbott power
with excess nutrients and can be quite similar to soy biodiesel process- ly,” he said. “It’s a new approach to the plant in Champaign, Ill. The resulting
grown on lands that aren’t useful for ing,” he said. “Unfortunately, the pre- hypoxia problem created by algae biomass will be converted into
agricultural purposes.” dominant methods of algae oil extraction growth in the Gulf of Mexico, that could biodiesel and used to power
Schideman said the “food versus fuel” are still relatively expensive.” yield environmental benefits much faster University vehicles.
debate is one of the key issues in choos- An alternative processing method is than other proposed hypoxia remedia- When Schideman looks to the
ing algae as a source of biomass. called thermo-chemical conversion, or tion measures,” Schideman said. future, he sees the production of algae
“Corn ethanol, soybean biodiesel and TCC, a chemical process that trans- “Even if farmers cut their fertilizer use biodiesel as a decades-long project.
most other dedicated energy crops forms organic compounds in a heated by 50% today, it would likely take 10 to “I think we’re within about 10 years
would generally take prime farmland out and pressurized enclosure to produce a 20 years for excess nutrient flows to of being able to make production eco-
of production for food, which is prob- biocrude oil. wash out of the watershed,” he said. nomically feasible,” he said, “But do I
lematic when food demand outstrips “TCC gives you the option of process- “Harvesting algae provides an immedi- think algae or any biofuel will replace
supply,” Schideman said. “In contrast, ing the algae biomass directly, without ate solution; you don’t have to wait years petroleum in 10 years? No. That will
algae can be grown just about anywhere drying it or separating out the other frac- to solve the problem.” require significant infrastructure and
— in a polluted pond, in a bio-reactor on tions,” Schideman said. “It simulates the Schideman is also the advisor on a regulatory developments that will play
top of a power plant, and it can even be processes that went on in the earth when project that will address carbon seques- out over 30 to 50 years.”
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Ohio’s Country Journal • April 2009 •Crops 19
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