Algae Biofuels
The production of biofuel from algae involves three basic steps, algae growth, biomass extraction, and post processing. Each of these processes is explained briefly below.
In the first stage of large scale algae biofuel production, algae is grown in a network of bioreactors on an agricultural scale. The bioreactor network is designed and constructed to provide the optimal growing conditions, and allowing for efficient harvest of algae at the end of each growing cycle. Pond Biofuels enclosed reactors protect the algae from environmentally adverse conditions, and maintain the integrity of the algae crop.
Algae is harvested to yield the energy rich biomass, and the aqueous nutrient broth returned to the bioreactor network in a closed loop system. Collected biomass is them processed through several mechanical, drying, and chemical steps to yield the final biofuel product. Biocrude oil may be separated from dry algae biomass, and the biocrude prepared for subsequent processing into biofuel. In either case, finished biomass is suitable as a direct substitute for coal, petcoke and related fossil fuels.
If extracted from the biomass, biocrude may be further processed into biodiesel in the third step through a chemical process that results in biodiesel that meets the appropriate regulatory standards for use in the existing fuel distribution system (for example US ASTM D6751).
In the first stage of large scale algae biofuel production, algae is grown in a network of bioreactors on an agricultural scale. The bioreactor network is designed and constructed to provide the optimal growing conditions, and allowing for efficient harvest of algae at the end of each growing cycle. Pond Biofuels enclosed reactors protect the algae from environmentally adverse conditions, and maintain the integrity of the algae crop.
Algae is harvested to yield the energy rich biomass, and the aqueous nutrient broth returned to the bioreactor network in a closed loop system. Collected biomass is them processed through several mechanical, drying, and chemical steps to yield the final biofuel product. Biocrude oil may be separated from dry algae biomass, and the biocrude prepared for subsequent processing into biofuel. In either case, finished biomass is suitable as a direct substitute for coal, petcoke and related fossil fuels.
If extracted from the biomass, biocrude may be further processed into biodiesel in the third step through a chemical process that results in biodiesel that meets the appropriate regulatory standards for use in the existing fuel distribution system (for example US ASTM D6751).