Aquaculture, Algae and Biofuels;
Three Decades of Microalgae Lessons
D.E. Brune, Professor
Bioprocess and Bioenergy Engineering
University of Missouri, Columbia MO., 65211
Oregon State University, 1975
Research assistant
University of Missouri, 1975-1978
PhD Student
University of California-Davis, 1978-1982
Assistant Professor
Pennsylvania State University, 1982-1987
Associate Professor
Clemson University, 1987-2009
Professor and Endowed Chair
University of Missouri, 2009-Present
Professor
Oregon State; 1975
Protein and Energy from Swine Manure
Lessons
algal harvesting costly
culture stability issues
bacterial competition from
organic loading
University of Missouri; 1975-1978
The Growth Kinetics of Freshwater Algae
Lessons
lab-data time consuming
complex interactions
plasticity of algal growth
limited field applicability
University of California-Berkley, W.J. Oswald,1979
Paddle-wheel Mixed High-rate Ponds for Wastewater Treatment
Lessons
4-5X algal productivity in high-rate ponds
algal harvesting costly; discharge land applied
culture stability issues
University of California-Davis, 1980
Benard Colvin; The Puerto Penasco Shrimp Culture Project
Lessons
10-20,000 lb/acre shrimp
production in raceway systems
water discharge to lagoon with
sand-well filtration and dilution
to bay not sustainable
University of California-Davis, 1981
Brine Shrimp Algal Harvest and Conversion
Lessons
aquatic-animal algal-harvest cost
effective and energy efficient
biological vs. mechanical harvest
not widely accepted
University of California-Davis, 1981
Inland Saltwater for Algal Biomass Production
Lessons
high-rate algal production from
inland saltwater possible
inland saltwater highly variable
evaporation limiting factor
Penn State University, 1984
Recirculating Trout Culture using Nitrifying RBC
Lessons
RBC aquaculture not
cost effective
PA climate not
suitable for algae
Texas A&M, 1985
Stillwater Shrimp Culture Ponds; The King Ranch Experience
Lessons
pond algae populations unstable and unpredictable
mixing and aeration of large ponds inefficient
management of animals in large ponds ineffective
harvesting of animals labor intensive
Transport limitation of oxygen in shrimp culture ponds
Albert Garcia and David E. Brune
Agricultural Engineering Department, Texas A&M University,
College Station, Texas 77843, USA
Agricultural & Biological Engineering Department, Clemson
University, Clemson, South Carolina 29634, USA
Clemson University, 1989-2001
Partitioned Aquaculture Systems (PAS)
Lessons
15-20,000 lb/ac fish production
tilapia stabilizes algal density
and composition, eliminates
zooplankton blooms
algal harvest maximizes
system performance
Clemson University, 2000
Zero-Discharge PAS Marine Shrimp Culture
Lessons
35,000 lbs/acre routine in
designed ecosystems
weather sensitivity of algal
systems
energy and cost sensitivity of
bacterial systems
Clemson University, 2001
In-Situ Determination of Algal Growth Kinetics
Lessons
algal density and water
velocity/depth interaction
field production 50 - 80%
of lab-data projections
8
7 23.6 mg C/L
6 7.7 mg C/L
Photosynthesis (mg/L hr)
5 4.7 mg C/L
0
0 500 1000 1500 2000
PARs
Clemson University, 2002
The Controlled Eutrophication Process
Lessons
tilapia-driven algal harvest
high inert solids in algae
harvested from earthen ponds
multiple products needed to
off-set systems cost
Clemson University, 1989 - 2011
Modeling Algal/Bacterial Interactions
Photosynthetic Carbon Fixation
vs Feed Carbon Application
Lessons 16
photosynthesis max, 20 g-vs/m2-d 14
Photosynthesis
12
(gm C/m2 -d)
aeration requirement dependent on 10
8
algal/bacterial interaction 6
4
20,000 lb/acre shrimp in algal 2
0
35,000 lb/acre shrimp in bacterial 6 9 12.5 25 50
Feed Applied (gm C/m2 -d)
1000 90
900 80
Aeration Power (hp/ac)
800
Feed Rate (lb/ac/day)
70
700 60
600 50
500 40
400 30
300
20
200
10
100
0
0 1/1 1/22 2/12 3/5 3/26 4/16
1/1 1/22 2/12 3/5 3/26 4/16
Date
Date
Clemson University, 2007
Aquacultural Processes for Biodiesel Production
Freshwater CEP Biodiesel Process Inputs:
Sunlight
Water (groundwater, agricultural wastewater)
Lessons Nutrients (Nitrogen, phosphorus, if not present in wastewater)
Carbon Dioxide
1. CEP Algal 2. Algal Harvest 3. Concentrated 4. Protein/Oil 5. Oil
high-lipid algae not needed Growth Zone Systems Algal Paste Separation Fractionation
low-cost extraction of animal Co-product Output #4:
Co-product Output #1:
Recycled, nutrient-free water
Co-product Output #2:
High value oils
lipids possible Protein Concentrate
for Animal Feeds Proteinaceous Sludge Co-product Output #3:
Biodiesel oil
6. Anaerobic 7. Electric Co-product Output #6:
integrated systems needed Co-product Output #5:
Agriculture Fertilizer Digester Methane Generator Electricity
Nitrogen, Phosphorus Carbon Dioxide
Co-product Output #7:
8. Recycling of N, P, CO2 back to CEP Algal zone Greenhouse Gas Credits
University of Missouri, 2009
Algal Production and Harvest for Food, Feed and Biofuels
Lessons
50 MW power-plant needs 2,000 acres of algae
30% of algal energy needed to grow and process algae
25% reduction in natural gas usage possible
Projected power-plant GHG avoidance.
__________________________________________________________________
Gross GHG Parasitic Loss Net GHG
Avoidance (%) (%) Avoidance (%)
CO2 Utilization (%) 70% 60% 70% 80%
Algal Product
Biogas methane1 26.0 7 13.7 16.0 18.3
Soybean Feed 17.0 7 8.6 10.0 - 11.4
Replacement2
Biodiesel3 20.0 10 8.6 10.0 -11.4
Combination
Methane 7.8
Soybean Protein 8.5
Biodiesel 20.0
Total (@ 70%) 36.3 10 22.3 26.3 29.7
________________________________________________________________
University of Missouri, 2012
Integrating Physiochemical and Controlled Eutrophication Processes
Questions?
2.2/1 energy yield from
direct gasification of 5%
algal solids
cost-effective?
University of Missouri 2012
Sustainable Seafood and Bioenergy Co-production
Biomass driven electricity generation with waste-
heat utilization supporting marine shrimp production
High-rate algal production maintaining water quality in zero-discharge
aquaculture yielding 25,000 lb/acre-yr fish or shrimp
Algal biomass of 40,000 lb/acre-yr yielding 10 tons/yr fish-meal
replacement
10 kW/acre of stationary power (as syngas and/or biogas) with 1,000
gallons of liquid fuel/yr
60% of the cash-flow provided by fish and shrimp, 30% from animal
feeds, and 10% from bioenergy co-production
QUESTIONS: To what degree can green-energy prices support
profitable year-round temperate-climate aquaculture production?
Bacterial or algal systems?
Potential of Microalgae?
Aquaculture must expand
Sustainable aquaculture best application of algal technology
Animal feeds and bioenergy as co-products
Algae applications could;
Increase aquaculture production 3 to 4-fold
Reduce fish production costs $0.05-0.10/lb
Reduce N, P discharge from agriculture and
municipal waste streams
Provide higher-value industrial chemicals,
nutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals
Algae on ~ 5 million acres of desert yielding
protein and oil equal to 60 million acres of
soybeans
Avoid 20-30% of GHG from gas-fired power-plant
Algae not likely;
Algae NOT carbon sequestration; carbon avoidance only
GHG reduction potential NOT significant for base-load coal-
fired power-plant
Algal liquid-fuel likely not cost effective primary application
Algae PP-CO2 capture potential *
<10% favorable location
<10% have 10,000 ha for algae
~10% of CO2 could be captured
Cumulative CO2 capture < 0.1%
* (Benemann 2011)
Research and Extension
Well likely NOT be successful promoting
system designs focused primarily on
production of biofuels, bioenergy, or
sustainability
.. given current economic constraints
PROPOSED APPROACH;
Developing a Transitional Agriculture
We must cultivate knowledge and techniques
supporting capability and capacity to:
Integrated systems providing nutrient recycle
Maximize resource use and energy efficiency
Target environmental remediation and recovery
Cost effective within current FF economy
With potential to transition to solar-based production
