Biodiesel is the most commonly discussed energy output from algae, but it is not the only one. A serious study of the energy domain and of algae points to a wide basket of energy outputs that can be theoretically derived from algae � all the way from gasoline to hydrogen to LPG. The following is the list of fuels that can be obtained from algae.
* Biodiesel
* Ethanol
* Hydrogen
* Methane
* Biomass � where algae biomass is directly used for combustion
* Other hydrocarbon fuel variants, such as JP-8 fuel, gasoline, biobutanol etc.
In order to derive the various energy products from algae, the Algal Biomass needs to be put through different processes.
|
Final Product |
Processes |
|
Biodiesel |
Oil extraction and Transesterification |
|
Ethanol |
Fermentation |
|
Methane |
Anaerobic digestion of biomass; Methanation of syngas produced from biomass |
|
Hydrogen |
Triggering biochemical processes in algae; Gasification / pyrolysis of biomass and processing of resulting syngas. |
|
Heat & Electricity |
Direct combustion of algal biomass; Gasification of biomass |
|
Other Hydrocarbon Fuels |
Gasification/pyrolysis of biomass and processing of resulting syngas |
See the following Sections:
