Comments on 'Anaerobic digestion of microalgae as a necessary step to make microalgal biodiesel sustainable'
Comments on 'Anaerobic digestion of microalgae as a necessary step to make microalgal biodiesel sustainable'
A recent review paper considers the potential of algal biomass as a source of liquid and gaseous biofuels, but there are a number of issues concerning the results and conclusions presented. These include the biomass energy values, which in some cases are unusually high; and the apparent production of more energy from processed biomass than is present in the original material. The main causes for these discrepancies include the choice of empirical formula for protein; confusion between values calculated on a total or volatile solids basis; and the lack of a mass balance approach. The choice of protein formula also affects predicted concentrations of ammonia in the digester. These and other minor errors contribute to some potentially misleading conclusions which could affect subsequent interpretations of the overall process feasibility.
microalgae, anaerobic digestion, biochemical methane potential, biogas, biofuel
64-67
Heaven, Sonia
f25f74b6-97bd-4a18-b33b-a63084718571
Milledge, John J.
b600dd95-4821-4aa8-9c48-878b97e17d6d
Zhang, Yue
69b11d32-d555-46e4-a333-88eee4628ae7
January 2011
Heaven, Sonia
f25f74b6-97bd-4a18-b33b-a63084718571
Milledge, John J.
b600dd95-4821-4aa8-9c48-878b97e17d6d
Zhang, Yue
69b11d32-d555-46e4-a333-88eee4628ae7
Heaven, Sonia, Milledge, John J. and Zhang, Yue
(2011)
Comments on 'Anaerobic digestion of microalgae as a necessary step to make microalgal biodiesel sustainable'.
Biotechnology Advances, 29 (1), .
(doi:10.1016/j.biotechadv.2010.10.005).
(PMID:21040775)
Abstract
A recent review paper considers the potential of algal biomass as a source of liquid and gaseous biofuels, but there are a number of issues concerning the results and conclusions presented. These include the biomass energy values, which in some cases are unusually high; and the apparent production of more energy from processed biomass than is present in the original material. The main causes for these discrepancies include the choice of empirical formula for protein; confusion between values calculated on a total or volatile solids basis; and the lack of a mass balance approach. The choice of protein formula also affects predicted concentrations of ammonia in the digester. These and other minor errors contribute to some potentially misleading conclusions which could affect subsequent interpretations of the overall process feasibility.
Text
Heaven_et_al_2011_Algae_-_scholar_text.pdf
- Accepted Manuscript
More information
Published date: January 2011
Keywords:
microalgae, anaerobic digestion, biochemical methane potential, biogas, biofuel
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 186285
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/186285
ISSN: 0734-9750
PURE UUID: 83a6c6b3-db71-456b-8ec4-ef56fbcaedbe
Catalogue record
Date deposited: 13 May 2011 08:37
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 03:15
Export record
Altmetrics
Contributors
Author:
John J. Milledge
Download statistics
Downloads from ePrints over the past year. Other digital versions may also be available to download e.g. from the publisher's website.
View more statistics
