David Lewis
Muradel Pty Ltd, Victoria, Australia
Title: Microalgae - are they an appropriate feedstock for biofuels? What are the alternatives?
Biography
Biography: David Lewis
Abstract
Are microalgae derived biofuels anywhere near commercial reality? Over the past few years significant scale-up of appropriate processing technologies has been undertaken to further develop production of energy positive biofuels with carbon footprints less than fossil equivalents. Several companies have adopted hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) as the method to convert biomass to hydrocarbon feedstocks, commonly known as green crude. A sub-critical water reaction is used to drive HTL. The true boiling point (TBP) distributions of green crude show equivalent data to fossil crude oils. The TBP for green crude derived from Tetraselmis sp. was found to be very similar to that of West Texas Intermediate crude oil, which can be readily fractionated to typical fuel components including approximately 30% petrol, 30% bunker fuel, 20% diesel and 20% jet fuel. Specific distillates can be blended with fossil derived distillates or used directly in the fuel supply chain. The yield and quality of green crude can be manipulated in several ways by manipulating either the biomass production protocols and/or manipulating the HTL reaction conditions. To realise commercialisation of biofuels feedstock costs must be minimal. This presentation will provide data that shows how the yield, quality and specificity of biofuel products derived from biomass generate commercial interest, but can economically viable processes be achieved?