Energy balance and environmental impact analysis of marine microalgal biomass production for biodiesel generation in a photobioreactor pilot plant
Sevigné Itoiz, Eva (Inèdit Innovació S.L.)
Fuentes Grünewald, Claudio (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Institut de Ciència i Tecnologia Ambientals)
Martínez Gasol, Carles (Inèdit Innovació S.L.)
Garcés, E. (Institut de Ciències del Mar)
Alacid, E. (Institut de Ciències del Mar)
Rossi, Sergio (Rossi Heras) (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Institut de Ciència i Tecnologia Ambientals)
Rieradevall, Joan (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament d'Enginyeria Química, Biològica i Ambiental)

Date:	2012
Abstract:	A life cycle assessment (LCA) and an energy balance analysis of marine microalgal biomass production were conducted to determine the environmental impacts and the critical points of production for large scale planning. The artificial lighting and temperature conditions of an indoor bubble column photobioreactor (bcPBR) were compared to the natural conditions of an equivalent outdoor system. Marine microalgae, belonging to the dinoflagellate and raphidophyte groups, were cultured and the results were compared with published LCA data obtained from green microalgae (commonly freshwater algae). Among the species tested, Alexandrium minutum was chosen as the target marine microalgae for biomass production under outdoor conditions, although there were no substantial differences between any of the marine microalgae studied. Under indoor culture conditions, the total energy input for A. minutum was 923 MJ kg¯¹ vs. 139 MJ kg¯¹ for outdoor conditions. Therefore, a greater than 85% reduction in energy requirements was achieved using natural environmental conditions, demonstrating the feasibility of outdoor culture as an alternative method of bioenergy production from marine microalgae. The growth stage was identified as the principal source of energy consumption for all microalgae tested, due to the electricity requirements of the equipment, followed by the construction material of the bcPBR. The global warming category (GWP) was 6 times lower in outdoor than in indoor conditions. Although the energy balance was negative under both conditions, this study concludes with suggestions for improvements in the outdoor system that would allow upscaling of this biomass production technology for outdoor conditions in the Mediterranean.
Grants:	European Commission SUDOE/SOE2/P2/E377
Rights:	Tots els drets reservats.
Language:	Anglès
Document:	Article ; recerca ; Versió acceptada per publicar
Subject:	Alexandrium minutum ; Karlodinium veneficum ; Heterosigma akashiwo ; Pilot plant photobioreactor ; Life cycle assessment ; Energy balance
Published in:	Biomass and bioenergy, Vol. 39 (April 2012) , p. 324-335, ISSN 0961-9534

DOI: 10.1016/j.biombioe.2012.01.026

Post-print 40 p, 495.8 KB

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Research literature > UAB research groups literature > Research Centres and Groups (research output) > Experimental sciences > Institut de Ciència i Tecnologia Ambientals (ICTA)
Articles > Research articles
Articles > Published articles