Potential and properties of marine microalgae Nannochloropsis oculata as biomass fuel feedstock

Abstract

Microalgal biomass is the most promising and attractive alternative to replace the terrestrial crop utilization for renewable biomass fuel feedstock. The potential for biomass fuel is due to its fast growth rate and high ability for CO 2 fixation as compared to terrestrial vegetation. There are many species in the globe, growing both in marine and freshwater. In this work, the marine microalgae Nannochloropsis oculata (N. oculata) had been investigated in terms of potential abundance and physicochemical properties, which determine its feasibility as biomass fuel feedstock. The chemical composition was evaluated by energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry, and the proximate analysis was done by performing experiments in the thermal gravimetric analyzer. During 7 days of cultivation, the average rate of increase in algal biomass was about 1.5 9 10 6 cells/ml/day. The proximate analysis of N. oculata indicated that it had compositions of low moisture content and fixed carbon, whereas high volatile matter and ash content, i.e., 3.99, 8.08, 67.45, and 24.47 %, respectively. The energy content, which was calculated through the proximate analysis results, was 16.80 MJ/kg. The algal biomass and its residue after 1,200°C were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy to investigate their chemical macromolecular compounds. This present study concludes that N. oculata is feasible as biomass fuel feedstock, either to direct or co-combustion mode by giving special attention to high ash content.

A biorefinery for Nannochloropsis: Induction, harvesting, and extraction of EPA-rich oil and high-value protein

“…Its cell wall is composed of two different components: fibrillar and amorphous. The most common fibrillar component is cellulose, while the amorphous component is a mixture of polysaccharides, proteins, and lipids (Sukarni et al, 2014). For Nannochloropsis gaditana, the cell wall is a bilayer structure consisting of a cellulosic inner wall, which is protected by an outer hydrophobic algaenan layer (Scholz et al, 2014).…”

Physicochemical characteristics of various inorganic combustible solid waste (ICSW) mixed as sustainable solid fuel

“…This content was two times higher compared to the volatile content of lignite coal from Batulicin mine (36.37wt%, adb) [12]. Sukarni et al [2] have stated that volatile was a reactive substance, higher the volatile content of material; the material will be more flammable. Therefore, the ICSW is more flammable than lignite coal from the Batulicin mine.…”

“…The fixed carbon content of the material would affect the calorific value and it also as the main heat generators during the combustion process [2]. Based on this result, it can be estimated that the ICSW has become an excellent heat generator.…”

“…As the fossil fuels are becoming exhausted [1], alternative energy sources are crucial to explore to guarantee the world is not threatened by a vacuum of energy [2]. One of alternative energy sources which can be used in preference to the conventional fuels is a municipal solid waste (MSW) [3].…”

Exploring the potential of municipal solid waste (MSW) as solid fuel for energy generation: Case study in the Malang City, Indonesia

“…It could be observed that carbon dominates the elemental content of MSW (70.40 ± 3.82, wt%), followed by oxygen (21.43 ± 2.61, wt%). Carbon would be oxidized throughout combustion by an exothermic reaction formed CO2 and released significant amounts of energy [11]. Oxygen which was released during thermal cracking of organically component contributed to the reactivities of fuel material in the combustion process.…”