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Life cycle assessment: heterotrophic cultivation of thraustochytrids for biodiesel production

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Abstract

This study provides a life cycle assessment of the energy balance and the potential greenhouse gas impacts of heterotrophic microalgal-derived biodiesel estimated from the upstream biomass production to the downstream emissions from biodiesel combustion. Heterotrophic microalgae can be cultivated using a by-product from biodiesel production such as glycerol as a carbon source. The oils within the algal biomass can then be converted to biodiesel using transesterification or hydroprocessing techniques. This approach may provide a solution to the limited availability of biomass feedstock for production of biorefined transportation fuels. The life cycle assessment of a virtual production facility, modeled on experimental yield data, has demonstrated that cultivation of heterotrophic microalgae for the production of biodiesel is comparable, in terms of greenhouse gas emissions and energy usage (90 g CO2e MJ−1), to fossil diesel (85 g CO2e MJ−1). The life cycle assessment identified that improvement in cultivation conditions, in particular the bioreactor energy inputs and microalgae yield, will be critical in developing a sustainable production system. Our research shows the potential of heterotrophic microalgae to provide Australia’s transportation fleet with a secure, environmentally sustainable alternative fuel.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) Energy Flagship and Food Futures Flagship for their support, Dr. David Batten for comments on an earlier version of this manuscript, and the helpful comments from two anonymous journal referees and Prof. Michael A. Borowitzka. Kim Jye Lee Chang was supported by a CSIRO Office of the Chief Executive (OCE) postdoctoral fellowship through the CSIRO Intelligent Processing Transformational Capability Platform (IP-TCP).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research, GPO Box 1538, Hobart, TAS, 7001, Australia

    Kim Jye Lee Chang, Lucas Rye, Graeme A. Dunstan, Peter D. Nichols & Susan I. Blackburn

  2. CSIRO Intelligent Processing Transformational Capability Platform, GPO Box 1538, Hobart, TAS, 7001, Australia

    Kim Jye Lee Chang & Susan I. Blackburn

  3. Life Cycle Strategies, Suite 12 Level 11, Century Building, 125 Swanston Street, Melbourne, VIC, 3000, Australia

    Tim Grant

  4. Food Future National Research Flagship, CSIRO, GPO Box 1538, Hobart, TAS, 7001, Australia

    Peter D. Nichols

  5. School of Biological Science, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 55, Hobart, TAS, 7001, Australia

    Kim Jye Lee Chang & Anthony Koutoulis

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  1. Kim Jye Lee Chang
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  2. Lucas Rye
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  3. Graeme A. Dunstan
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Correspondence to Kim Jye Lee Chang.

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Lee Chang, K.J., Rye, L., Dunstan, G.A. et al. Life cycle assessment: heterotrophic cultivation of thraustochytrids for biodiesel production. J Appl Phycol 27, 639–647 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10811-014-0364-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10811-014-0364-9

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