Novel algae-based solution for CO2 capture and biomass

production

ALGADISK projectALGADISK projectALGADISK projectALGADISK project

5 June 2013

Jorge de SajaCESFAC

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The Algae EventThe event is part of the 2Ist European biomass Conference & Exhibition

Current algae based Current algae based Current algae based Current algae based Current algae based Current algae based Current algae based Current algae based

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Current algae based methods for CO2 capture

Commercial algae technologies use planktonic algaein aquatic solution in bioreactors.

MainMain drawbacksdrawbacks::

• High water requirements

• CO2 is bubbling through the liquid phase (largepressure drop, low efficiency)pressure drop, low efficiency)

• Wall growth

• Sterilization problem

• Preparation of algae is unsolved

• Harvesting is difficult, time consuming andinefficient

• Scale-up problems

• Large footprint

SMESME sectorsector cancan bebe targetedtargeted withwith modular,modular, scalablescalablereactorreactor systemsystem

InnovativeInnovative biofilmbiofilm reactorreactor designdesign

• Algae can grown on various biocompatible surface

• CO2 is captured either from the gas phase directlyor from the liquid phase

ALGADISK project

or from the liquid phase

• Increase in CO2 capture efficiency

• Less water required

• Automatic and continuous harvesting

• Easy to scale up

• Small footprint

• Organic products with sufficiently high yield

• Spain:

• Hungary:

• United Kingdom: • Belgium:

Consortium

• United Kingdom:

• Austria:

• The Netherlands:

• Belgium:

• Turkey:

• Slovenia:

SME associations (3):

• CESFAC: Spanish Confederation of Compound

Feed Producers (350 SME members)

• EUBIA: European Biomass Industry Association

(30 members)

Consortium

• FUNDACION CESFAC: industrial grouping of 65

SME members in the food supplementary market

SMEs (5): OTEC, BFC, ALGEN, UTECH, CAG

RTDs (4): MFKK, CRAN, WU, BAYBIO

•• COCO22 emittingemitting industryindustry benefit’s because of CO2 capture and decrease ofemission, in the case of small scale bio source based plant (such as biogasplant), almost zero emission can be reached with the proposed system,where emitted CO2 would be transformed into valuable organic productsusing algae.

•• EnergyEnergy sectorsector serviceservice companiescompanies would benefit in distributing the systemas well as its installation and maintenance.

BiomassBiomass producersproducers would work up raw algae materials and transform it

Benefit for project partners

•• BiomassBiomass producersproducers would work up raw algae materials and transform itinto valuable marketed alga based products, such as biodiesel, oil,cosmetics and so on.

•• CompaniesCompanies supplyingsupplying reactorreactor partsparts (bio-textile, motors, sensors,controllers) would benefit with improving their business.

•• CompaniesCompanies specializedspecialized inin COCO22 tradingtrading andand environmentalenvironmental consultingconsulting.

Short overview of the Short overview of the Short overview of the Short overview of the Short overview of the Short overview of the Short overview of the Short overview of the

Research Research Research Research Research Research Research Research for for for for for for for for the benefit the benefit the benefit the benefit the benefit the benefit the benefit the benefit of of of of of of of of

SME associations SME associations SME associations SME associations SME associations SME associations SME associations SME associations

framework programframework programframework programframework programframework programframework programframework programframework program

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FP7: 4+2 big blocks

1. Research Infrastructures

2. Research for and by SMEs

3. Regions of Knowledge

4. Research Potential

5. Coherent development of research policies

Capacities – Research Capacity

5. Coherent development of research policies

6. Specific activities of International Cooperation

7. Science in Society

• Supporting small groups of innovative SMEs in solving common or

complementary technological problems.

• Providing financial support to SME AGs and SMEs to outsource

research and technological development, with the view of acquiring

intellectual property rights, preferably ownershipownership of the project

results.

Overall objective of Research for SMEs

results.

• The role of SME AGs: specification, validation, disseminating the

knowledge .

• The real investment or cost incurred by SME AGs and SMEs includes a

price they pay for the intellectual property rights and knowledge they

wish to acquire.

Types of partners: distinction between SMEs / SMEs’ Associations / Other End

Users and RTDs.

RTD Performer

Research for and by SMEs

Customers!!! and future owners Advisors only!!!

SMEs End Users

Technological SMEsOther End Users

• The SME participants are the direct beneficiaries of the project.The coordinator is also expected to be an SME but, usually arenot, because of lack of resources and experience.

• They receive in return the technological know-how andintellectual property rights they need to develop new or improveexisting products, systems, processes or services.

Essential points of the Scheme

existing products, systems, processes or services.

• Intellectual property rights is the main benefit for SMEs.

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ALGADISK projectALGADISK projectALGADISK projectALGADISK projectALGADISK projectALGADISK projectALGADISK projectALGADISK projectALGADISK projectALGADISK projectALGADISK projectALGADISK projectALGADISK projectALGADISK projectALGADISK projectALGADISK project

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• Development of a MODULAR, SCALABLE, AUTOMATIC BIOFILM reactor for algae biomass production

• Low operational and installation costs

• CO2 capture from industrial emissions

• High value organic compounds from algae

• Algae growth both in aqueous environment and on

Aim of the project

• Algae growth both in aqueous environment and on biocompatible surfaces

• Automated harvesting system

• Surface coating

• Calculating energy balance for different alga species

• Software-based algae production and optimization design tool

Concept of ALGADISK

• 13 partners

• 10 work packages

• Duration: 36 months (01 January 2012 - 31 December 2014)

Project summary

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• Quarterly technical meetings, semi-annual general meetings

• Go/no-go decision in 15th month

• Flexible features (open/closed, with/without artificial

lighting)

• Producing 100 kg of dry algae biomass with reactor cost

under 10 k€

• Energetically efficient: integration of renewable energy

Reactor

• Energetically efficient: integration of renewable energy

sources

• Installation within one week

• Market needs and system specification

– Survey and in-depth interviews

• Isolation and selection of algae species

– High temperature tolerance

– High lipid content

• Surface attachment studies with different algae species

Fulfilled tasks

• Surface attachment studies with different algae species

• Surface growth experiments: surface prepared by CRAN

• Laboratorial trials: biofilm growth of selected algae species by BAYBIO

• Sustainability calculation

• Construction of laboratory scale reactor

• Development of the sensor and control system

• Concept of the automatic harvesting system

• Laboratorial trials: optimization of growth conditions for the

selected algae species (optimal temperature, CO2

concentration and pH)

• Molecular identification of the isolated strains

• Testing the stability of surfaces and surface attachment of

algae under different temperatures and CO concentrations

Further work

algae under different temperatures and CO2 concentrations

• Prototype design and construction

• Field tests

• Prediction software development

Thank you for your attention!Thank you for your attention!Thank you for your attention!Thank you for your attention!

www.algadisk.euwww.algadisk.eu

algadisk@cesfac.esJorge de Saja

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