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Process development and evaluation for algal glycerol production
Author(s) -
Chen Bill J.,
Chi C. H.
Publication year - 1981
Publication title -
biotechnology and bioengineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.136
H-Index - 189
eISSN - 1097-0290
pISSN - 0006-3592
DOI - 10.1002/bit.260230608
Subject(s) - raw material , biomass (ecology) , fossil fuel , renewable energy , process (computing) , petrochemical , production (economics) , capital cost , environmental science , glycerol , process engineering , waste management , natural resource economics , computer science , economics , chemistry , engineering , ecology , environmental engineering , biology , macroeconomics , organic chemistry , operating system
This article and develops a process for large‐scale production of glycerol by means of a hemophilic algae. The process is shown to be economically and technically feasible. Although the proposed process is extremely capital intensive, the total production cost is competitive with existing glycerol process. In addition, the overall energy requirement is much lower than that of the petrochemical process. This proposed process provides an alternative route for glycerol production that is minimally dependent on fossil fuels and is therefore, less sensitive to crude oil availability and price. The primary raw material carbon dioxide from stack gas, is an inexpensive and renewable resource. Maximal Utilization of solar energy is made not only in the glycerol synthesis steps but also in the product recovery system. Significant improvement in the process economics can be realized through further development of large‐scale cultivation technology, and biomass distribution and collection machinery. Due to the labor intensive nature of the proposed algal process, it is particularly suitable for less developed nations with limited fossil fuel resources and lower labor costs.