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Making Fuels from Algae

Mark P. Rossow, PhD, PE Retired


Course Outline

This eight-hour online course describes current achievement and challenges in the development of the technology to produce fuels from algae.  Three general topics are discussed: feedstock, conversion, and infrastructure.  The feedstock discussion is divided into the sub-topics of algal biology, algal cultivation, and harvesting and dewatering.  The conversion discussion is divided into sub-topics of extraction and fractionation, fuel conversion (for example, achieving high conversion rates under scale-up conditions), and the development of co-products.  Infrastructure is divided into distribution and utilization (transportation and storage issues; the need to satisfy regulations), and resources and siting.  The difficult problem of scaling up various successful laboratory achievements into large-scale production is described.

This course includes a multiple-choice quiz at the end, which is designed to enhance the understanding of the course materials.

Learning Objective

This course teaches the following specific knowledge and skills:

Intended Audience

This course is intended primarily for chemical, civil, mechanical, and environmental engineers interested in learning about the potential for producing biofuels from cultivating algae.

Benefit to Attendees

A person completing this course will be familiar with and able to apply current practices, challenges, and areas of future research and development in the production of fuels from algal biomass.

Course Introduction

Many pathways are currently under consideration for production of biofuels and bio-products from components of biomass.  The most promising among these are routes to advanced biofuels such as high energy density fungible fuels for aviation and ground transport.  Algal biomass may offer significant advantages that complement traditional feedstocks towards these fuels.

Course Content

This course is based on Chapters 1-9 of the U.S. Department of Energy document, “National Algal Biofuels Technology Roadmap,” May, 2010.

Making Fuels from Algae

Please click on the above underlined hypertext to view, download or print the document for your study. Because of the large file size, we recommend that you first save the file to your computer by right clicking the mouse and choosing "Save Target As ...", and then open the file in Adobe Acrobat Reader. If you still experience any difficulty in downloading or opening this file, you may need to close some applications or reboot your computer to free up some memory.

Course Summary

This course presents information from a scientific, economic, and policy perspective that can support current and future activities in algal biofuels. While addressing the potential economic and environmental benefits of using algal biomass for the production of liquid transportation fuels, the course identifies the challenges that need to be overcome for algal biomass to be used in the production of economically viable biofuels.

Related Links

For additional technical information related to this subject, please visit the following websites or web pages:

http://www1.eere.energy.gov/biomass/


Quiz

Once you finish studying the above course content, you need to take a quiz to obtain the PDH credits.

DISCLAIMER: The materials contained in the online course are not intended as a representation or warranty on the part of PDH Center or any other person/organization named herein. The materials are for general information only. They are not a substitute for competent professional advice. Application of this information to a specific project should be reviewed by a registered architect and/or professional engineer/surveyor. Anyone making use of the information set forth herein does so at their own risk and assumes any and all resulting liability arising therefrom.