title: Microalgae to biofuels: life cycle impacts of methane production of anaerobically digested lipid extracted algae.
abstract: This study presents experimental measurements of the biochemical methane production for whole and lipid extracted Nannochloropsis salina. Results show whole microalgae produced 430 cm(3)-CH4 g-volatile solids(-1) (g-VS) (σ=60), 3 times more methane than was produced by the LEA, 140 cm(3)-CH4 g-VS(-1) (σ=30). Results illustrate current anaerobic modeling efforts in microalgae to biofuel assessments are not reflecting the impact of lipid removal. On a systems level, the overestimation of methane production is shown to positively skew the environmental impact of the microalgae to biofuels process. Discussion focuses on a comparison results to those of previous anaerobic digestion studies and quantifies the corresponding change in greenhouse gas emissions of the microalgae to biofuels process based on results from this study.
authors.affiliation: Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84341, USA. Electronic address: Jason.Quinn@usu.edu.
authors.forename: Jason C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Quinn
authors.affiliation: Civil and Environmental Engineering, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80521, USA.
authors.forename: Asma
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hanif
authors.affiliation: Civil and Environmental Engineering, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80521, USA.
authors.forename: Sybil
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sharvelle
authors.affiliation: Mechanical Engineering, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80521, USA.
authors.forename: Thomas H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Bradley
mesh_terms: D000693:Anaerobiosis; D056804:Biofuels; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D008697:Methane / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D058086:Microalgae / Q000378:metabolism*; D008954:Models, Biological; D058009:Stramenopiles / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D056804:Biofuels; D008697:Methane
keywords: Anaerobic digestion; Biofuel; Life cycle assessment; Lipid extracted algae; Nannochloropsis salina