Review of biological and engineering aspects of algae to fuels approach

Authors

  • Paul Chen Center for Biorefining, Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering, University of Minnesota, 1390 Eckles Ave., St. Paul, MN 55108, USA;
  • Min Min UMN
  • YiFeng Chen UMN
  • Liang Wang UMN
  • Yecong Li UMN
  • Qin Chen UMN
  • Chengguang Wang UMN
  • Yiqin Wan UMN and Nanchang University
  • Xiaoquan Wang UMN
  • Yanling Cheng UMN
  • Shaobo Deng UMN
  • Kevin Hennessy UMN
  • Xiangyang Lin Fuzhou University
  • Yuhuan Liu Nanchang University
  • Yingkuan Wang PhD, Associate Professor, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Engineering
  • Blanca Martinez UMN
  • Roger Ruan UMN

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.25165/ijabe.v2i4.200

Keywords:

algae, microalgae, open pond, enclosed photobioreactor, light, harvest, dewatering, extraction, hydrothermal liquefaction, gasification, pyrolysis, fermentation

Abstract

Current biofuel production relies on limited arable lands on the earth, and is impossible to meet the biofuel demands.  Oil producing algae are alternative biofuel feedstock with potential to meet the world's ambitious goal to replace fossil fuels.  This review provides an overview of the biological and engineering aspects in the production and processing technologies and recent advances in research and development in the algae to fuels approach.  The article covers biology, selection and genetic modification of algae species and strains, production systems design, culture media and light management, harvest and dewatering, downstream processing, and environment and economic assessment.  Despite the many advances made over several decades, commercialization of algal fuels remains challenging chiefly because of the techno-economic constraints.  Technological breakthroughs in all major aspects must take place before commercial production of algal fuels becomes economically viable.

Keywords: algae, microalgae, open pond, enclosed photobioreactor, light, harvest, dewatering, extraction, hydrothermal liquefaction, gasification, pyrolysis, fermentation

DOI: 10.3965/j.issn.1934-6344.2009.04.001-030

Citation: Paul Chen, Min Min, Yifeng Chen, Liang Wang, Yecong Li, Qin Chen, et al.  Review of the biological and engineering aspects of algae to fuels approach.  Int J Agric & Biol Eng, 2009; 2(4): 1

Author Biographies

Paul Chen, Center for Biorefining, Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering, University of Minnesota, 1390 Eckles Ave., St. Paul, MN 55108, USA;

Paul Chen, PhD, Senior Research Associate, Program Director, Food Science and food engineering, renewable energy, biorefining. Email: chenx088@umn.edu;

Min Min, UMN

Min Min, Ph.D, Research Associate, research in algal mass production system development, spectral based nutrients detection, system control. Email: minxx039@umn.edu;

YiFeng Chen, UMN

Yi-Feng Chen, Ph.D, Research Associate, research interest areas Algal strain development, Algal biology, Email chenx501@umn.edu;

Xiaoquan Wang, UMN

Xiaoquan Wang, Ph.D, Postdoc Research Associate; Email: wang1931@umn.edu

Yanling Cheng, UMN

Yanling Cheng, PhD, Associate Professor, email: cheng1012cn@yahoo.com.cn

Shaobo Deng, UMN

Shaobo Deng, PhD, Senior Research Associate, email: deng0020@umn.edu

Xiangyang Lin, Fuzhou University

Xiangyang Lin, PhD, associate professor, email:ibfulin@163.com

Yuhuan Liu, Nanchang University

Yuhuan Liu, PhD, Assistant Professor, biomass refining, food science; Email: nhgsypszdmj@yahoo.com.cn;

Yingkuan Wang, PhD, Associate Professor, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Engineering

PhD, Associate Prof. of Editorship Managing Editor & Journal Manager of International Journal of Agricultural & Biological Engineering(IJABE), Associate Editor-in-Chief of Transactions of the Chinese Society of Agricultiural Engineering, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Engineering, No. 41, Maizidian Street, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100026, China Chinese Academy of Agricultural Engineering Tel:86-10-65929527, 013691070263 Email: wangyk@agri.gov.cn, wangyingkuan@163.com http://www.ijabe.org, www.tcsae.org

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Published

2010-01-13

How to Cite

Chen, P., Min, M., Chen, Y., Wang, L., Li, Y., Chen, Q., … Ruan, R. (2010). Review of biological and engineering aspects of algae to fuels approach. International Journal of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, 2(4), 1–30. https://doi.org/10.25165/ijabe.v2i4.200

Issue

Vol. 2 No. 4 (2009): IJABE

Section

Invited Review/Research Article

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