Post on 18-Jan-2015
description
Analytical Tools for Evaluating Algal Biodiesel Production
Beal C.M., Webber M.E., Ruoff R.S., Hebner R.E., Romanovicz D., and Connelly R.
ES2010-90277May 21st, 2010
Colin M BealASME 2010
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Algal biodiesel production can be represented in three steps
Beal C.M. et al., “A Framework to Report the Production of Biodiesel from Algae,” BioEnergy Research, In Review.
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Algal biodiesel production can be represented in three steps
Three commonly studied pathways are:1) Transesterification of Algal Lipids2) Thermochemical Conversion of Algal Biomass3) Excretion of Oils by Genetically Modified Organisms
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Transesterification of Algal Lipids
Beal et al., “A Framework to Report the Production of Biodiesel from Algae,” BioEnergyResearch, In Review.
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The Center for Electromechanics at UT-Austin has a multi-disciplinary team
S. BriggsE. ChenR. ConnellyJ. ChoiM. FountainR. Hebner
J. JonesL. KatzK. Kinney M. MontoyaB. MorrisonR. Pearsall
M. PoenieM. RandazzoD. SchmidF. SeibertJ. Van ReetM. Werst
I would like to acknowledge:
I would like to thank OpenAlgae for funding:
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Algae are grown in flasks, reactors, tanks, and ponds
UT-CEM, 2009-2010
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Then, the algae are concentrated by ~100XMultiple harvesting methods are
being evaluated:1) Centrifugation2) pH induced floc/defloc3) Dissolved Air Flotation4) Electro-flocculation5) Filtration6) Resin collection7) Electro-wicking
UT-CEM, 2009-2010
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• Electromechanical pulsing is a cost effective technology developed at UT-CEM
After harvesting, the cells are compromised with electromechanical pulsing
UT-CEM, 2010UT-CEM, 2010
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Before After
• Electromechanical pulsing is a cost effective technology developed at UT-CEM
After harvesting, the cells are compromised with electromechanical pulsing
Beal C.M., and Romanovicz D., 2008UT-CEM, 2010
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An enhanced coalescence membrane is used to extract the algal lipids
UT-CEM 2009, 2010
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The lipids are then upgraded to fuel
Algal lipids are converted to fatty acid methyl esters, the primary component in biodiesel, by transesterification.
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Evaluating the intermediate products requires many analytical tools
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Evaluating the intermediate products requires many analytical tools
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Generally, microscopy provides structural information.
1) Light Microscopy
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Generally, microscopy provides structural information.
1) Light Microscopy
Fluorescence microscopy using Nile Red dyeBeal C.M., 2008
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Generally, microscopy provides structural information.
1) Light Microscopy2) Scanning Electron Microscopy
- Useful for evaluating electromechanical lysing
Beal C.M. and Romanovicz D., 2008, 2010
Before
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Generally, microscopy provides structural information.
1) Light Microscopy2) Scanning Electron Microscopy
- Useful for evaluating electromechanical lysing
Beal C.M. and Romanovicz D., 2008, 2010
After
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Generally, microscopy provides structural information.
1) Light Microscopy2) Scanning Electron Microscopy3) Transmission Electron Microscopy
Beal C.M. and Romanovicz D., 2008
Electrically PulsedControl
chloroplasts
LB
C
G
LB
CW
CW
Control: Compact, well-ordered structures.
Pulsed: Disordered, initiating apoptosis
Chloroplasts (C), Golgi (G), Cell walls (CW) , Lipid Bodies (LB)
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Usually, spectroscopy provides composition analysis
1) UV-Vis Spectrophotometry- Measure of chlorophyll absorption (a.u.)- Absorption corresponds to algal density (g/L)- Algal productivity calculated from changes in algal density
Bidwell 1979
Grown Mass Productivity
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Usually, spectroscopy provides composition analysis
1) UV-Vis Spectrophotometry2) Raman Spectroscopy
Huang et al., “Micro-Raman Spectroscopy of Algae: Composition Analysis and Fluorescence Background Behavior,” Biotechnology and Bioengineering, 2010.
Algal Spectra(Nitrogen Starved Chlorella and Neochloris)
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Usually, spectroscopy provides composition analysis
1) UV-Vis Spectrophotometry2) Raman Spectroscopy
Huang et al., “Micro-Raman Spectroscopy of Algae: Composition Analysis and Fluorescence Background Behavior,” Biotechnology and Bioengineering, 2010.
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Usually, spectroscopy provides composition analysis
1) UV-Vis Spectrophotometry2) Raman Spectroscopy3) Infrared Spectroscopy (IR)
IR has been used to:1) Analyze nutrient status in algae 2) Identify algal species
- Some groups are using it for lipid analysis, but it requires dry samples.
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Usually, spectroscopy provides composition analysis
1) UV-Vis Spectrophotometry2) Raman Spectroscopy3) Infrared Spectroscopy (IR)4) Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (NMR)
Beal et al., “Lipid Analysis of Neochloris oleoabundansby Liquid State NMR,” Biotechnology and Bioengineering, 2010.
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Chromatography also provides composition analysis, but requires extraction
1) High Performance (Pressure) Liquid Chromatography (HPLC)
Signal (a.u.)
Time(min)
Signal (a.u.)
Time(min)
Healthy Starved
Beal C.M., 2009Acquired by Poenie M.
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Chromatography also provides composition analysis, but requires extraction
1) High Performance (Pressure) Liquid Chromatography (HPLC)2) Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC)
Connelly R., 2009
Polarity
Lipid StandardsProcessing Samples
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Chromatography also provides composition analysis, but requires extraction
1) High Performance (Pressure) Liquid Chromatography (HPLC)2) Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC)3) Gas Chromatography – Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS)
- Provides molecular information for volatile samples.
- Generally limited to biodiesel, or FAME derived from algae
MS fragmentation patter for FAME
CB062309b #673-677 RT: 6.85-6.87 AV:5 NL: 4.02E6T: {0,0} + c EI det=450.00 Full ms [ 50.00-400.00]
60 80 100 120 140 160 180 200 220 240 260 280 300 320 340 360 380 400m/z
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
55
60
65
70
75
80
85
90
95
100
Rel
ativ
e A
bund
ance
55.167.0
74.0
83.187.0
97.1
98.1
110.1
123.1
264.2125.1
137.1265.2222.2
180.2138.1141.0
152.1
166.1221.1207.0
223.2 296.3193.1 266.3246.2 281.0 297.3 341.0 355.0327.0 383.0 397.0
MS fragmentation patter for FAME
RelativeAbundance(a.u.)
m/z
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Summary: Tricks (or tools) of the trade
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Questions?
Colin M Beal, MSGraduate Student
Thermal/Fluids Systems DivisionMechanical Engineering
The University of Texas at Austincbeal@mail.utexas.edu
Webber Energy GroupRuoff Nanoscience and Technology Group
andThe Center for Electromechanics