Optimization of the Algal Biomass to Biodiesel Supply Chain: Case Studies of the State of Oklahoma and the United States

Abstract

The goal of this work is to design a supply chain network that distributes algae biomass from supply locations to meet biodiesel demand at specified demand locations, given a specified algae species, cultivation (i.e., supply) locations, demand locations, and demand requirements. The final supply chain topology includes the optimum sites to grow biomass, to extract algal oil from the biomass, and to convert the algae oil into biodiesel. The objective is to minimize the overall cost of the supply chain, which includes production, operation, and transportation costs over a planning horizon of ten years. Algae production was modeled both within the U.S. State of Oklahoma, as well as the entire contiguous United States. The biodiesel production cost was estimated at $7.07 per U.S. gallon ($1.87 per liter) for the State of Oklahoma case. For the contiguous United States case, a lower bound on costs of $13.68 per U.S. gallon ($3.62 per liter) and an upper bound of $61.69 ($16.32 per liter) were calculated, depending on the transportation distance of algal biomass from production locations.

Assessment of Supply Chain Agility to Foster Sustainability: Fuzzy-DSS for a Saudi Manufacturing Organization

“…√ √ √ √ √ [26,27] Have both hard and soft criteria, such as flexibility, profitability, quality, innovativeness, and proactive in response to cost, speed, and robustness.…”

Optimización de costos de transporte para el aprovechamiento energético de la biomasa

“…Estos modelos están basados en balances de materia, reglas heurísticas y restricciones lógicas y de factibilidad. Por ejemplo, Espinoza-Vázquez et al (2021) abordaron el efecto de las variaciones en la disponibilidad de materia prima y producto en una cadena de suministro basada en residuos lignocelulósicos, mientras que Yadala et al (2020) llevaron a cabo un estudio para el diseño de una cadena de suministro para producción de biodiesel a partir de algas considerando un modelo dependiente del tiempo. No obstante, la mayoría de estos trabajos no han considerado la relación existente entre la localización de los nodos en una cadena de suministro, el tipo de transporte y características de las carreteras.…”

Special Issue on “Bioenergy Systems, Material Management, and Sustainability”

“…This Special Issue, "Bioenergy Systems, Material Management, and Sustainability", encompasses a combination of contributed articles by a diverse set of worldwide experts in the Americas, Europe, and Asia, focusing on a multitude of concepts and topics. The following topics, along with the manuscript contributions, are addressed in this issue: Bio-based materials and processes [1,2], bioenergy systems optimization, advanced control for sustainability and state estimation [3][4][5][6][7], sustainability, life cycle assessment, and life cycle inventory analyses associated with biosystems and biofuels [8][9][10], sustainable management and valorization of organic/biomass waste, including energy production [11,12], and techno-economic analysis of novel routes for the sustainable utilization and reuse of biomass and waste [13]. Such topics are of great interest and critical relevance to the sustainable development of local, regional, national, and international communities.…”