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The Fourth-Generation Biofuel: A Systematic Review on Nearly Two Decades of Research from 2008 to 2019
Published in Maniruzzaman A. Aziz, Khairul Anuar Kassim, Wan Azelee Wan Abu Bakar, Aminaton Marto, Syed Anuar Faua’ad Syed Muhammad, Fossil Free Fuels, 2019
Zahra Shokravi, Hoofar Shokravi, Maniruzzaman A. Aziz, Hooman Shokravi
Genetic engineering tools are widely adapted to increase photosynthetic efficiency to effectively capture light energy [97]. On the other hand, several studies have been conducted to genetically modify the accumulation through impairing photosynthetiec machinery [66]. Reducing the number of light-harvesting antenna complex (LHC) pigments or lowering the chlorophyll antenna size is used in some studies to overcome the light-saturation effect [98]. Genetic modification could reduce the production cost in FGB by 50% or more—e.g., astaxanthin, fucoxanthin, carotenoid and polyunsaturated fatty acids contents can be doubled or tripled by genetic engineering. Applying safe genetic engineering techniques such as mutagenesis or self-cloning for the production of industrially valuable algal products may decrease biosafety concerns [99].
Molecular Biological Approaches for the Improvement of Biofuels Production
Published in Debabrata Das, Jhansi L. Varanasi, Fundamentals of Biofuel Production Processes, 2019
Debabrata Das, Jhansi L. Varanasi
The poor yield of bioenergy crops is one of the major challenges that limit the biofuel production on a commercial scale. Therefore, most of the studies have focused on improving the overall biomass productivity by using simple mutagenic approaches (e.g., random and induced) (Lee et al. 2008). Moreover, it has been observed that improving the photosynthetic efficiency of bioenergy crops can help improve growth and yield. By genetically modifying, the crops by inducing stress resistance against inhibitors (Section 5.3.3), the growth of the bioenergy crop can be prolonged. Some of the successful applications of genetically modified bioenergy crops include sugarcane, corn, and soybean for enhanced ethanol production (Sticklen 2008). Research in this area is fast progressing to obtain high-yielding varieties that are economically more efficient compared to traditional crops.
Hydrothermal Liquefaction of Terrestrial and Aquatic Biomass
Published in Sandeep Kumar, Florin Barla, Sub- and Supercritical Hydrothermal Technology, 2019
Algal biomass is considered an essential bioenergy feedstock because of their rapid growth rate and for their capacity to harbor significant quantities of biochemical via CO2 bio-sequestration for biofuel production. Many studies focused on selecting the microalgae strains that can produce large amounts of lipids and optimizing the cultivation conditions (Taleb et al., 2016; Hu et al., 2016; Yee, 2015). There is an interest in producing biofuels from microalgae determined by several microalgae characteristics: able to convert effectively solar energy into biomass, small size, aquatic habitat, high growth rate, can be cultivated on non-arable lands using saline and waste waters as nutrients, cultivation does not require plant protection means (Wijffels et al., 2010). Also, high photosynthetic efficiency, simple life cycle and resource availability for large-scale production, less water intake, and short harvesting periods (Thiruvenkadam et al., 2015). Processing algae (wet biomass) has the potential for recycling nutrients back to cultivation. The aqueous phase generated during the HTL process is recirculated back to the algae cultivation and the CO2 released could be utilized by algae in the photosynthesis process of the next batch. The schematic of the wet biomass hydrothermal processing it is shown in Figure 3.2. Generally, the algae processing has less complexity compared with lignocellulosic feedstock due to the particle size of microalgae and the pumpability of slurries to the reactor. A dewatering step tends to produce a slurry with about 20% solids that is further passed through the HTL reactor to produce bio-crude and then the bio-crude is hydro-treated to produce hydrocarbon fuels (Gollakota et al., 2018).
Review on the synthesis, performance and trends of butanol: a cleaner fuel additive for gasoline
Published in International Journal of Ambient Energy, 2022
The third-generation feedstock makes use of a more evolved and sustainable alternative, algae (Noraini et al. 2014). They are of two types, namely, microalgae and macroalgae. Microalgae consist of unicellular organisms, whereas macroalgae are multicellular. They can be red, green and brown depending on their pigmentation. Macroalgae have lower protein and lipid content, but higher carbohydrate content than microalgae. Most of the researchers have conducted studies on microalgae. The lipid content per biomass is much higher for microalgae when compared to plants (Wang et al. 2013). The photosynthetic efficiency of microalgae is much higher than that of plants. They grow fast. They grow in sea water and also in waste water. This reduces fresh water consumption and is also environmentally sustainable (Demirbas 2010, 2011). Microalgae can provide glycerol which can also be used by fermentative bacteria (Wang et al. 2017). The biomass obtained from algae has a number of benefits. They are widely being used in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic and food industries for producing steroids, vitamins, anti-ageing, anti-obesity, antioxidants and many other compounds. They are being looked upon as a better alternative to other compounds available which are synthesised artificially (Vassilev and Vassileva 2016; Kim and Taylor 2011).
Phytodesalination of landfill leachate using Puccinellia nuttalliana and Typha latifolia
Published in International Journal of Phytoremediation, 2019
Qian Xu, Sylvie Renault, Qiuyan Yuan
Na+ was quantitatively determined using Atomic Absorption Spectrometer (AAnalyst 400, PerkinElmer Inc., MA, USA) with C2H2 and Airflow rates of 2.50 L/min and 10.0 L/min, respectively. The wavelength was set at 589 nm to detect emission signal based on the standards (Robinson 1960). Cl− was detected using chloride test kit (Model 8-P, Hach Company, Loveland, Colorado, USA) (Urgun-Demirtas et al. 2006). Digested plant samples were neutralized for NH4-N and PO4-P analysis using flow injection analyzer (FIA, Lachat Instrument QuikChem 8500, Loveland, Colorado, USA) (Ren et al. 2017). EC5 was examined using a conductivity meter (Fisherbrand™ Traceable™ Conductivity, Resistivity, and TDS Meter, Fisher Scientific, USA) (He et al. 2012). In this study, the photosynthetic efficiency was estimated by measuring chlorophyl fluorescence using a chlorophyl fluorometer (Model Opti-Sciences OS-30P, USA). Minimal fluorescence (F0), maximal fluorescence (Fm), and variable fluorescence (Fv) of mature leaves were measured to obtain maximum quantum yield of photosystem ΙΙ (PSI); Fv/Fm is an indicator of leaf photosynthetic performance (Maxwell and Johnson 2000; Ritchie 2006; Murchie and Lawson 2013).
Comparison of fuel characteristics of green (renewable) diesel with biodiesel obtainable from algal oil and vegetable oil
Published in Energy Sources, Part A: Recovery, Utilization, and Environmental Effects, 2018
Tanisha Manchanda, Rashmi Tyagi, Durlubh Kumar Sharma
Biodiesel is generally obtained from the edible crop plants such as palm oil, rapeseed oil etc. or from non-edible oils (Jatropha curcas, Pongamia pinnata etc.). Microalgae have gained lot of attention in recent years and are recognized as a promising alternative of biodiesel because of its numerous advantages over land-based crops (Gautam, Pareek, and Sharma 2015). Photosynthetic efficiency of algae is higher than that of land plants.