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Abstract
Crude glycerol is the main by-product of many renewable diesel production platforms. However, the process of refining glycerol from this crude by-product stream is very expensive, and thus does not currently compete with alternative processes. The acetylation of glycerol provides an intriguing strategy to recover value-added products that are employable as fuel additives. In this work, the conversion of glycerol to acetyl derivatives was facilitated by a heterogeneous catalyst generated from the thermal hydrolysis of biosolids obtained from a municipal wastewater treatment facility. The reaction was studied using several conditions including temperature, catalyst loading, acetic acid:glycerol molar ratio, and reaction time. The data demonstrate the potential for using two distinct by-product streams to generate fuel additives that can help improve the process economics of renewable diesel production.
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Xia L, Chae M, Asomaning J, Omidghane M, Zhu C, Bressler DC. Incorporation of Biosolids as Water Replacement in a Two-Step Renewable Hydrocarbon Process: Hydrolysis of Brown Grease with Biosolids. WASTE AND BIOMASS VALORIZATION 2019; 11:6769-6780. [PMID: 33269033 PMCID: PMC7674370 DOI: 10.1007/s12649-019-00897-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2019] [Accepted: 11/18/2019] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
ABSTRACT The accumulating volumes of biosolids in lagoons worldwide have intensified the need to develop innovative wastewater treatment strategies. Here, we provide proof-of-concept for the incorporation of biosolids into the hydrolysis step of a two-step thermal conversion of lipids for production of renewable hydrocarbons, which can be utilized as renewable fuels. Brown grease was hydrolysed with biosolids or water at 260-280 °C for 60 min at a mass ratio of 1:1 feed to water or biosolids. The feedstock and products were characterized using various analytical techniques to compare the performance of biosolids to water. The results indicated that there was no significant difference in the degree of hydrolysis of brown grease when biosolids was used as water replacement. The fatty acids composition after hydrolysis when biosolids was used as a water replacement also remained largely unchanged. Hydrolysis of brown grease with biosolids could be achieved at pH ranging from 3.3 to 8.9, and at a lower than previously established temperature. Significantly, the rapid settling of solid material in biosolids observed after thermal hydrolysis of brown grease may reduce the necessity of biosolids settling lagoons. Thus, incorporation of biosolids into a lipid hydrolysis-pyrolysis process may simultaneously benefit the biofuel and waste management sectors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Xia
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, T6G 2P5 Canada
| | - Michael Chae
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, T6G 2P5 Canada
| | - Justice Asomaning
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, T6G 2P5 Canada
| | - Mehdi Omidghane
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, T6G 2P5 Canada
| | - Chengyong Zhu
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, T6G 2P5 Canada
| | - David C. Bressler
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, T6G 2P5 Canada
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Chen J, Zhang X, Drogui P, Tyagi RD. The pH-based fed-batch for lipid production from Trichosporon oleaginosus with crude glycerol. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2018; 259:237-243. [PMID: 29567595 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2018.03.045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2018] [Revised: 03/06/2018] [Accepted: 03/09/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
In this study, it was found that the optimal pH for the growth of Trichosporon oleaginosus was related to the fermentation medium. A neutral or weak acid pH condition was optimal for the growth of Trichosporon oleaginosus in the extract-peptone-dextrose and wastewater sludge medium. Significant inhibition was observed at neutral pH in the wastewater sludge + crude glycerol medium due to the high soap content of the crude glycerol. By converting the soap to free fatty acid (FFA) at pH 5, the soap inhibition could be prevented. Fed-batch fermentation was employed to produce lipid from Trichosporon oleaginosus at pH 5 controlled by feeding crude glycerol. A remarkably high biomass (65.63 g/L) and lipid (35.79 g/L) concentration were achieved from the pH-based fed-batch fermentation in this study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaxin Chen
- INRS Eau, Terre et Environnement, 490, rue de la Couronne, Québec G1K 9A9, Canada
| | - Xiaolei Zhang
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen 518055, PR China
| | - Patrick Drogui
- INRS Eau, Terre et Environnement, 490, rue de la Couronne, Québec G1K 9A9, Canada
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Summers HM, Ledbetter RN, McCurdy AT, Morgan MR, Seefeldt LC, Jena U, Hoekman SK, Quinn JC. Techno-economic feasibility and life cycle assessment of dairy effluent to renewable diesel via hydrothermal liquefaction. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2015; 196:431-440. [PMID: 26276094 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2015.07.077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2015] [Revised: 07/21/2015] [Accepted: 07/22/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
The economic feasibility and environmental impact is investigated for the conversion of agricultural waste, delactosed whey permeate, through yeast fermentation to a renewable diesel via hydrothermal liquefaction. Process feasibility was demonstrated at laboratory-scale with data leveraged to validate systems models used to perform industrial-scale economic and environmental impact analyses. Results show a minimum fuel selling price of $4.78 per gallon of renewable diesel, a net energy ratio of 0.81, and greenhouse gas emissions of 30.0g-CO2-eqMJ(-1). High production costs and greenhouse gas emissions can be attributed to operational temperatures and durations of both fermentation and hydrothermal liquefaction. However, high lipid yields of the yeast counter these operational demands, resulting in a favorable net energy ratio. Results are presented on the optimization of the process based on economy of scale and a sensitivity analysis highlights improvements in conversion efficiency, yeast biomass productivity and hydrotreating efficiency can dramatically improve commercial feasibility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hailey M Summers
- Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, Utah State University, 4130 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT 84321, USA
| | - Rhesa N Ledbetter
- Chemistry & Biochemistry, Utah State University, 0300 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT 84321, USA
| | - Alex T McCurdy
- Chemistry & Biochemistry, Utah State University, 0300 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT 84321, USA
| | - Michael R Morgan
- Chemistry & Biochemistry, Utah State University, 0300 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT 84321, USA
| | - Lance C Seefeldt
- Chemistry & Biochemistry, Utah State University, 0300 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT 84321, USA
| | - Umakanta Jena
- Division of Atmospheric Science, Desert Research Institute, 2215 Raggio Parkway, Reno, NV 89512, USA
| | - S Kent Hoekman
- Division of Atmospheric Science, Desert Research Institute, 2215 Raggio Parkway, Reno, NV 89512, USA
| | - Jason C Quinn
- Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, Utah State University, 4130 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT 84321, USA.
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Jena U, McCurdy AT, Warren A, Summers H, Ledbetter RN, Hoekman SK, Seefeldt LC, Quinn JC. Oleaginous yeast platform for producing biofuels via co-solvent hydrothermal liquefaction. BIOTECHNOLOGY FOR BIOFUELS 2015; 8:167. [PMID: 26468320 PMCID: PMC4605089 DOI: 10.1186/s13068-015-0345-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2015] [Accepted: 09/21/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Oleaginous microorganisms are attractive feedstock for production of liquid biofuels. Direct hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) is an efficient route that converts whole, wet biomass into an energy-dense liquid fuel precursor, called 'biocrude'. HTL represents a promising alternative to conventional lipid extraction methods as it does not require a dry feedstock or additional steps for lipid extraction. However, high operating pressure in HTL can pose challenges in reactor sizing and overall operating costs. Through the use of co-solvents the HTL operating pressure can be reduced. The present study investigates low-temperature co-solvent HTL of oleaginous yeast, Cryptococcus curvatus, using laboratory batch reactors. RESULTS In this study, we report the co-solvent HTL of microbial yeast biomass in an isopropanol-water binary system in the presence or absence of Na2CO3 catalyst. This novel approach proved to be effective and resulted in significantly higher yield of biocrude (56.4 ± 0.1 %) than that of HTL performed without a co-solvent (49.1 ± 0.4 %)(p = 0.001). Addition of Na2CO3 as a catalyst marginally improved the biocrude yield. The energy content of the resulting biocrude (~37 MJ kg(-1)) was only slightly lower than that of petroleum crude (42 MJ kg(-1)). The HTL process was successful in removing carboxyl groups from fatty acids and creating their associated straight-chain alkanes (C17-C21). Experimental results were leveraged to inform techno-economic analysis (TEA) of the baseline HTL conversion pathway to evaluate the commercial feasibility of this process. TEA results showed a renewable diesel fuel price of $5.09 per gallon, with the HTL-processing step accounting for approximately 23 % of the total cost for the baseline pathway. CONCLUSIONS This study shows the feasibility of co-solvent HTL of oleaginous yeast biomass in producing an energy-dense biocrude, and hence provides a platform for adding value to the current dairy industry. Co-solvents can be used to lower the HTL temperature and hence the operating pressure. This process results in a higher biocrude yield at a lower HTL temperature. A conceptual yeast HTL biofuel platform suggests the use of a dairy waste stream for increasing the productivity and sustainability of rural areas while providing a new feedstock (yeast) for generating biofuels.
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Probst KV, Schulte LR, Durrett TP, Rezac ME, Vadlani PV. Oleaginous yeast: a value-added platform for renewable oils. Crit Rev Biotechnol 2015; 36:942-55. [DOI: 10.3109/07388551.2015.1064855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Kyle V. Probst
- IGERT in Biorefining,
- Bioprocessing and Renewable Energy Laboratory, Department of Grain Science and Industry,
| | | | - Timothy P. Durrett
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, USA
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