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Microalgae‐based biodiesel production in open raceway ponds using coal thermal flue gas: A case of West Bengal, India
Author(s) -
Bhadra Sitav,
Salam P. Abdul,
Sarker Nilay Kumar
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
environmental quality management
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.249
H-Index - 27
eISSN - 1520-6483
pISSN - 1088-1913
DOI - 10.1002/tqem.21677
Subject(s) - raceway , fossil fuel , waste management , flue gas , biofuel , biomass (ecology) , environmental science , biodiesel , raw material , coal , renewable energy , environmental engineering , engineering , ecology , biology , biochemistry , electrical engineering , structural engineering , finite element method , catalysis
India is one of the most populous countries and is the third largest greenhouse gas–emitting nation. Energy security is a serious issue for India as it relies heavily on fossil fuel imports. Biodiesel production using microalgae as feedstock can address both of these issues. In this study, the technical feasibility of microalgae‐based biodiesel production is carried out for a coal thermal power plant (i.e., Budge Budge Thermal Station) in the state of West Bengal, India, using a generic methodology. An oleaginous microalgae species that is tolerant toward flue gas was identified (i.e., Nannochloropsis sp ). A 75‐acre open raceway microalgae production plant was designed keeping the costs, energy demand, and CO 2 emissions low. The open raceway pond can use 38 tons of CO 2 , produce 19 tons of algal biomass, and treat 9320 m 3 of wastewater per acre annually.