IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/appene/v150y2015icp69-79.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Optimal design of microalgae-based biorefinery: Economics, opportunities and challenges

Author

Listed:
  • Rizwan, Muhammad
  • Lee, Jay H.
  • Gani, Rafiqul

Abstract

Microalgae have great potential as a feedstock for the production of a wide range of end-products under the broad concept of biorefinery. In an earlier work, we proposed a superstructure based optimization model to find the optimal processing pathway for the production of biodiesel from microalgal biomass, and identified several challenges with the focus being on utilizing lipids extracted microalgal biomass for economic and environmentally friendly production of useful energy products. In this paper, we expand the previous optimization framework by considering the processing of microalgae residue previously treated as wastes. We develop an expanded biorefinery superstructure model, based on which a mixed integer nonlinear programming (MINLP) model is proposed to determine the optimal/promising biorefinery configurations with different choices of objective functions. The MINLP model is solved in GAMS using a database built in Excel. Economic sensitivity analysis is performed to elaborate the potential improvements in the overall economics, and set the targets that must be achieved in the future in order for microalgal biofuels to become economically viable.

Suggested Citation

  • Rizwan, Muhammad & Lee, Jay H. & Gani, Rafiqul, 2015. "Optimal design of microalgae-based biorefinery: Economics, opportunities and challenges," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 150(C), pages 69-79.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:150:y:2015:i:c:p:69-79
    DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2015.04.018
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306261915004730
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.apenergy.2015.04.018?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Mata, Teresa M. & Martins, António A. & Caetano, Nidia. S., 2010. "Microalgae for biodiesel production and other applications: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 14(1), pages 217-232, January.
    2. Safi, Carl & Zebib, Bachar & Merah, Othmane & Pontalier, Pierre-Yves & Vaca-Garcia, Carlos, 2014. "Morphology, composition, production, processing and applications of Chlorella vulgaris: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 35(C), pages 265-278.
    3. Choi, Sun-A & Oh, You-Kwan & Jeong, Min-Ji & Kim, Seung Wook & Lee, Jin-Suk & Park, Ji-Yeon, 2014. "Effects of ionic liquid mixtures on lipid extraction from Chlorella vulgaris," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 65(C), pages 169-174.
    4. Pires, J.C.M. & Alvim-Ferraz, M.C.M. & Martins, F.G. & Simões, M., 2012. "Carbon dioxide capture from flue gases using microalgae: Engineering aspects and biorefinery concept," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 16(5), pages 3043-3053.
    5. Rawat, I. & Ranjith Kumar, R. & Mutanda, T. & Bux, F., 2013. "Biodiesel from microalgae: A critical evaluation from laboratory to large scale production," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 103(C), pages 444-467.
    6. Davis, Ryan & Aden, Andy & Pienkos, Philip T., 2011. "Techno-economic analysis of autotrophic microalgae for fuel production," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 88(10), pages 3524-3531.
    7. Fazlollahi, Samira & Mandel, Pierre & Becker, Gwenaelle & Maréchal, Francois, 2012. "Methods for multi-objective investment and operating optimization of complex energy systems," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 45(1), pages 12-22.
    8. Demirbas, Ayhan, 2011. "Competitive liquid biofuels from biomass," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 88(1), pages 17-28, January.
    9. Amaro, Helena M. & Guedes, A. Catarina & Malcata, F. Xavier, 2011. "Advances and perspectives in using microalgae to produce biodiesel," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 88(10), pages 3402-3410.
    10. Harun, Razif & Singh, Manjinder & Forde, Gareth M. & Danquah, Michael K., 2010. "Bioprocess engineering of microalgae to produce a variety of consumer products," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 14(3), pages 1037-1047, April.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Wu, Wei & Wang, Po-Han & Lee, Duu-Jong & Chang, Jo-Shu, 2017. "Global optimization of microalgae-to-biodiesel chains with integrated cogasification combined cycle systems based on greenhouse gas emissions reductions," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 197(C), pages 63-82.
    2. Narula, Vishal & Khan, Mohd. Fazil & Negi, Ankit & Kalra, Shashvat & Thakur, Aman & Jain, Siddharth, 2017. "Low temperature optimization of biodiesel production from algal oil using CaO and CaO/Al2O3 as catalyst by the application of response surface methodology," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 140(P1), pages 879-884.
    3. Narula, Vishal & Thakur, Aman & Uniyal, Ankit & Kalra, Shashvat & Jain, Siddharth, 2017. "Process parameter optimization of low temperature transesterification of algae-Jatropha Curcas oil blend," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 119(C), pages 983-988.
    4. Rodríguez, R. & Espada, J.J. & Moreno, J. & Vicente, G. & Bautista, L.F. & Morales, V. & Sánchez-Bayo, A. & Dufour, J., 2018. "Environmental analysis of Spirulina cultivation and biogas production using experimental and simulation approach," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 129(PB), pages 724-732.
    5. Gnansounou, Edgard & Kenthorai Raman, Jegannathan, 2016. "Life cycle assessment of algae biodiesel and its co-products," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 161(C), pages 300-308.
    6. Siwen Gu & Jiaan Wang & Yu Zhuang, 2022. "A Two-Tier Superstructure Model for Optimization of Microalgae-Based Biorefinery," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(23), pages 1-17, December.
    7. Zhang, Quanguo & Nurhayati, & Cheng, Chieh-Lun & Nagarajan, Dillirani & Chang, Jo-Shu & Hu, Jianjun & Lee, Duu-Jong, 2017. "Carbon capture and utilization of fermentation CO2: Integrated ethanol fermentation and succinic acid production as an efficient platform," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 206(C), pages 364-371.
    8. Omar Morsy & Farzad Hourfar & Qinqin Zhu & Ali Almansoori & Ali Elkamel, 2023. "A Superstructure Mixed-Integer Nonlinear Programming Optimization for the Optimal Processing Pathway Selection of Sludge-to-Energy Technologies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-34, February.
    9. Cruce, Jesse R. & Quinn, Jason C., 2019. "Economic viability of multiple algal biorefining pathways and the impact of public policies," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 233, pages 735-746.
    10. Cuevas-Castillo, Gabriela A. & Navarro-Pineda, Freddy S. & Baz Rodríguez, Sergio A. & Sacramento Rivero, Julio C., 2020. "Advances on the processing of microalgal biomass for energy-driven biorefineries," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 125(C).
    11. Lim, Juin Yau & Teng, Sin Yong & How, Bing Shen & Nam, KiJeon & Heo, SungKu & Máša, Vítězslav & Stehlík, Petr & Yoo, Chang Kyoo, 2022. "From microalgae to bioenergy: Identifying optimally integrated biorefinery pathways and harvest scheduling under uncertainties in predicted climate," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 168(C).
    12. Fasahati, Peyman & Wu, Wenzhao & Maravelias, Christos T., 2019. "Process synthesis and economic analysis of cyanobacteria biorefineries: A superstructure-based approach," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 253(C), pages 1-1.
    13. Kate Kim & Farzad Hourfar & Abdul Halim Bin Abdul Razik & Muhammad Rizwan & Ali Almansoori & Michael Fowler & Ali Elkamel, 2023. "Importance of Microalgae and Municipal Waste in Bioenergy Products Hierarchy—Integration of Biorefineries for Microalgae and Municipal Waste Processing: A Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(17), pages 1-39, September.
    14. Judd, S.J. & Al Momani, F.A.O. & Znad, H. & Al Ketife, A.M.D., 2017. "The cost benefit of algal technology for combined CO2 mitigation and nutrient abatement," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 71(C), pages 379-387.
    15. Nicoletti, Jack & Ning, Chao & You, Fengqi, 2019. "Incorporating agricultural waste-to-energy pathways into biomass product and process network through data-driven nonlinear adaptive robust optimization," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 180(C), pages 556-571.
    16. Marwa G. Saad & Noura S. Dosoky & Mohamed S. Zoromba & Hesham M. Shafik, 2019. "Algal Biofuels: Current Status and Key Challenges," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(10), pages 1-22, May.
    17. González Álvarez, José Francisco & Gonzalo de Grado, Jesús, 2016. "Study of a modern industrial low pressure turbine for electricity production employed in oxy-combustion cycles with CO2 capture purposes," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 107(C), pages 734-747.
    18. González Álvarez, José Francisco & Gonzalo de Grado, Jesús, 2019. "Study of combustion in CO2-Capturing semi-closed Brayton cycle conditions," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 166(C), pages 1276-1290.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Cheah, Wai Yan & Ling, Tau Chuan & Show, Pau Loke & Juan, Joon Ching & Chang, Jo-Shu & Lee, Duu-Jong, 2016. "Cultivation in wastewaters for energy: A microalgae platform," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 179(C), pages 609-625.
    2. Sharma, Yogesh Chandra & Singh, Veena, 2017. "Microalgal biodiesel: A possible solution for India’s energy security," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 67(C), pages 72-88.
    3. Laamanen, Corey A. & Ross, Gregory M. & Scott, John A., 2016. "Flotation harvesting of microalgae," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 58(C), pages 75-86.
    4. Cuevas-Castillo, Gabriela A. & Navarro-Pineda, Freddy S. & Baz Rodríguez, Sergio A. & Sacramento Rivero, Julio C., 2020. "Advances on the processing of microalgal biomass for energy-driven biorefineries," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 125(C).
    5. Goh, Brandon Han Hoe & Ong, Hwai Chyuan & Cheah, Mei Yee & Chen, Wei-Hsin & Yu, Kai Ling & Mahlia, Teuku Meurah Indra, 2019. "Sustainability of direct biodiesel synthesis from microalgae biomass: A critical review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 107(C), pages 59-74.
    6. Thomassen, Gwenny & Van Dael, Miet & Lemmens, Bert & Van Passel, Steven, 2017. "A review of the sustainability of algal-based biorefineries: Towards an integrated assessment framework," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 68(P2), pages 876-887.
    7. Hognon, Céline & Delrue, Florian & Boissonnet, Guillaume, 2015. "Energetic and economic evaluation of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii hydrothermal liquefaction and pyrolysis through thermochemical models," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 93(P1), pages 31-40.
    8. Razzak, Shaikh Abdur & Ali, Saad Aldin M. & Hossain, Mohammad Mozahar & deLasa, Hugo, 2017. "Biological CO2 fixation with production of microalgae in wastewater – A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 76(C), pages 379-390.
    9. Rawat, I. & Ranjith Kumar, R. & Mutanda, T. & Bux, F., 2013. "Biodiesel from microalgae: A critical evaluation from laboratory to large scale production," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 103(C), pages 444-467.
    10. Chen, Guanyi & Zhao, Liu & Qi, Yun, 2015. "Enhancing the productivity of microalgae cultivated in wastewater toward biofuel production: A critical review," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 137(C), pages 282-291.
    11. Chen, Jiaxin & Li, Ji & Dong, Wenyi & Zhang, Xiaolei & Tyagi, Rajeshwar D. & Drogui, Patrick & Surampalli, Rao Y., 2018. "The potential of microalgae in biodiesel production," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 90(C), pages 336-346.
    12. Esveidi Montserrat Valdovinos-García & Juan Barajas-Fernández & María de los Ángeles Olán-Acosta & Moisés Abraham Petriz-Prieto & Adriana Guzmán-López & Micael Gerardo Bravo-Sánchez, 2020. "Techno-Economic Study of CO 2 Capture of a Thermoelectric Plant Using Microalgae ( Chlorella vulgaris ) for Production of Feedstock for Bioenergy," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-19, January.
    13. Lucas Reijnders, 2013. "Lipid‐based liquid biofuels from autotrophic microalgae: energetic and environmental performance," Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Energy and Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 2(1), pages 73-85, January.
    14. Sharifzadeh, Mahdi & Wang, Lei & Shah, Nilay, 2015. "Integrated biorefineries: CO2 utilization for maximum biomass conversion," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 47(C), pages 151-161.
    15. Pawar, Sanjay, 2016. "Effectiveness mapping of open raceway pond and tubular photobioreactors for sustainable production of microalgae biofuel," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 62(C), pages 640-653.
    16. Oncel, Suphi S., 2013. "Microalgae for a macroenergy world," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 26(C), pages 241-264.
    17. Trivedi, Jayati & Aila, Mounika & Bangwal, D.P. & Kaul, Savita & Garg, M.O., 2015. "Algae based biorefinery—How to make sense?," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 47(C), pages 295-307.
    18. Fazal, Tahir & Mushtaq, Azeem & Rehman, Fahad & Ullah Khan, Asad & Rashid, Naim & Farooq, Wasif & Rehman, Muhammad Saif Ur & Xu, Jian, 2018. "Bioremediation of textile wastewater and successive biodiesel production using microalgae," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 82(P3), pages 3107-3126.
    19. Zhu, Liandong & Nugroho, Y.K. & Shakeel, S.R. & Li, Zhaohua & Martinkauppi, B. & Hiltunen, E., 2017. "Using microalgae to produce liquid transportation biodiesel: What is next?," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 78(C), pages 391-400.
    20. Judd, S.J. & Al Momani, F.A.O. & Znad, H. & Al Ketife, A.M.D., 2017. "The cost benefit of algal technology for combined CO2 mitigation and nutrient abatement," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 71(C), pages 379-387.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:150:y:2015:i:c:p:69-79. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/405891/description#description .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.