Algae Leading the Green Revolution in Fuel and Food Production

 

Introduction

Imagination and Fuel Alternatives

I'm going to talk to you about how we could make fuel from algae and why we might want to do it. It requires a lot of imagination, so I think I need to hire some four- and five-year-olds based on our last talk, but I'll have to make do with what I have.

The Big Picture

Understanding the Current Fuel Landscape

Before we talk a little bit about algae, let's put this in the big picture. What do we do with a barrel of oil? We get barrels of oil every day from a lot of foreign countries, and what do we do with these? Well, a lot of it goes into making gasoline; some of it goes into making diesel; some goes into making jet fuel. And so, 10 to 15 years, 20 years from now, I might be driving an electric car, but I probably will not be flying in an electric jet. So, we really need to think of some kind of alternative ways to make fuels from things like algae.

Beyond Fuel: Other Products from Oil
And besides the fuels that we get from a barrel of oil, we get all kinds of other products from every barrel of oil we import. What are some of these products? Things like asphalt, plastic bottles, cosmetics— all of these types of things are made from a barrel of oil. So, we have to come up with some way to make sustainable oil or barrels of oil from something like algae.

The Basics of Growing Algae

Requirements for Algae Cultivation
So, what do you need to grow algae? Not too much; you need sunlight. We have a lot of sunlight here in the desert, we need water, and we need some nutrients. So, these are what's required. And some of my friends and colleagues at the University of Arizona are growing algae outside at the Campbell Farm, at Campbell and Roger, in an arid raceway. I personally like to grow things in a lab. I like it when I can control what's going on, and I can grow things and fix the temperature. I can fix how much nutrients I give them, and so I have a little bit more control over the process.

Challenges in Algae Fuel Production

Low Algae Concentration
So, if it's that easy to grow algae, why aren't we doing it? Why don't we just start making fuel from it right away? Well, there's a couple of problems here— a couple of technology challenges, is what I should say. And one of these technology challenges is that the concentration of algae in one of these vessels is very, very low. If you look at this big carboy here, you look at it, and if I went outside and saw that in my swimming pool, I would be running down to the store and buying all kinds of chemicals to get rid of that, and I would not go near it in the pool. But if you look at this, it's really only about 1g per liter of biomass. What is that? One gram per liter. One gram per liter is like four or five peas in a liter bottle. That's not very much. And one of the technology challenges is it's very expensive to separate that little bit of biomass from all the rest of the water.

Improving Biomass Concentration
So, one of the things that we work on in my lab is, what if I could make it at 10g per liter or 100g per liter? So, if I could grow algae in a really concentrated form— you know, like a really icky split pea soup or something, a really concentrated form— then this process becomes more cost-effective. I can separate the water and the biomass better when I've got a lot of biomass to deal with.

Water Scarcity and Algae Cultivation
The one other issue, though, is besides sunlight, which we have plenty of here in Tucson, we also need water. And water, of course, is a resource that is scarce in the desert. And like many of you here, I really like to walk in Sabino Canyon and see the water flowing, maybe play in the water a little bit. And so, I need to work on recycling and reusing water when I grow algae. So, that's another one of those technology challenges. So, I either need to recycle and reuse the water or use some other water source, like wastewater. So, yeah, this is that wastewater treatment plant— you know, the one you're driving up I-10, a little odor at Prince Road. If I could use the water from this to grow the algae, then I'm not depleting one of our precious natural resources.

Advantages of Algae-Based Fuel

Oil Production from Algae
There's one other really great thing about algae. We know how to do some of the stuff associated with it. So, on the outside of an algae cell, there could be a lot of oil, and we already know how to convert that oil into diesel and jet fuel. Those processes are pretty well understood. We're not so sure how to convert those into all the other things— the plastics and stuff we need— but we'll figure that out in short order.

Dual Benefits: Fuel and Food
But all of the green part of the algae, it's got a lot of protein and a lot of carbohydrate, and so that's a food source. So, one of the great things about algae is you can get fuel and food at the same time.

Collaborative Efforts

Building a Biofuels Industry
So, you know, I can't figure all this stuff out by myself. So, one of the things that we do is we work in a really big team. So, the University of Arizona is part of a really big team of 13 universities, three government labs, and about 10 companies. And as a big consortium, we're working on figuring out how we take algae and turn it into biofuels, bioproducts, and feed economically and in a sustainable way. And in the really big picture, what we want to do is make a biofuels industry in the United States. And really, wouldn't it be great if we could have a lot more jobs in sunny places like Arizona, where we could make biofuels?

Inspiring the Next Generation

Outreach and Community Engagement
How do they do this? Well, some of them, as graduate students, actually spend 10 or 20 hours a week in a junior high or high school classroom, working with kids. Or some of them mentor teachers, like this junior high teacher from Flowing Wells Junior High. She comes, and she works with some of these people in the summer for five or six weeks. The whole goal of these outreach activities is so that we can interest more of our youth in science and engineering.

A Better Future
And it couldn't be better than to work on problems that will make the world a better place in the future, for other generations, and for kids. Thank you.

FAQs

1. What is the potential of algae as a fuel alternative? 

Algae holds significant potential as a fuel alternative because it can produce oils that can be converted into diesel and jet fuel. This process is well understood and could offer a sustainable source of fuel.

2. Why is algae considered a viable option for producing fuel? 

Algae is considered viable for fuel production because it requires minimal resources to grow, such as sunlight, water, and nutrients. Additionally, algae can produce both fuel and food, making it a dual-purpose crop.

3. What are some challenges in producing fuel from algae? 

One major challenge is the low concentration of algae in water, making it costly to separate the algae biomass from the water. Increasing the concentration of algae in the water could help make the process more cost-effective.

4. How does water scarcity affect algae cultivation? 

Water scarcity is a significant challenge in algae cultivation, especially in arid regions like Tucson. To address this, it's necessary to recycle and reuse water or use alternative sources like wastewater for growing algae.

5. What other products can be derived from oil besides fuel? 

Besides fuel, oil is used to produce a variety of products such as asphalt, plastic bottles, and cosmetics. This highlights the need for sustainable alternatives, like algae, to produce these essential items.

6. How does algae production contribute to food resources? 

Algae production contributes to food resources because the green part of the algae contains a lot of protein and carbohydrates, making it a potential food source alongside its use in fuel production.

7. What collaborative efforts are being made to develop algae-based biofuels? 

The University of Arizona is part of a large consortium that includes 13 universities, three government labs, and about 10 companies. Together, they are working on turning algae into biofuels, bioproducts, and feed in an economical and sustainable way.

8. Why is it important to build a biofuels industry in the United States? 

Building a biofuels industry in the United States is important for creating more jobs, especially in sunny areas like Arizona, and for reducing dependence on foreign oil, leading to a more sustainable and secure energy future.

9. How is the next generation being inspired to work on biofuels? 

Graduate students and teachers engage in outreach activities, spending time in junior high and high school classrooms. This helps spark interest in science and engineering among young students, encouraging them to work on sustainable solutions like biofuels.

10. What are the benefits of using algae over traditional oil sources? 

The benefits of using algae over traditional oil sources include the ability to produce renewable fuel and food simultaneously. Algae-based fuel production is also potentially more sustainable and environmentally friendly compared to extracting and refining fossil fuels.