To measure the growth and to estimate the total lipid yield of one or more indigenous algal strains in ‘open batch culture conditions’ in the North West UK climate in order to assess their contribution towards local/ regional domestic and/ or commercial bio-fuel production requirements.

Abstract

This dissertation investigates the use of algae as an energy source for bio fuels for transportation.
Bio-diesel is of particular interest due to the growing trend towards using diesel fuel in favour of
petroleum fuel in the transport sector over the past 10-15 years. The use of an alga for producing
bio-fuels has a longer history than most of us probably imagine. Specific research efforts began
during and following the oil embargos of the mid 1970’s largely conducted in the USA using
government funding. There has been a renewed enthusiasm in this area because, not only does the
subject now include the depletion of fossil fuels (or a constraint on the availability of this resource) it
also includes an ongoing debate around the use of agricultural land for growing fuel crops or food
crops. Other tangible problems to this food versus fuel debate include an increasing pressure on our
hydrological and subsurface water (fossil aquifers) resources, extensive soil degradation problems
and a rising population which serve to compound and complicate the issue. It doesn’t end here, it
continues when we consider our future energy supplies, the transition to them and the infrastructure
required. The role of algae as a residual biomass, for example, in combined heat and power
applications along with sustainable energy methods also needs to be considered.
With respect to using algae and the oils which can be extracted from them, the main interest
motivating this research lies in using the marine environment for mass culturing, growing and
harvesting of native algae for their lipid yield. Algae have a far higher lipid mass by weight, than
terrestrial plants and these can be converted into a bio-oil using several processes with the
application of heat and pressure (replicating earth’s natural geological processes). The bio-oil
produced can be processed and transported using existing fossil fuel oil infrastructure. This
approach is far more favourable than the hydrogen approach which has limitations, such as large
industrial capital expenses and the consumption of large amounts of fossil fuel resources. It also has
significant ongoing and problematic safety issues and requires a complete modification or rebuilding
of the infrastructure for use in transportation.
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This dissertation investigates how realistic it might be to culture and harvest algae in the North West
UK environment during the summer months, to contribute towards supplementing its annual
transport fuel requirements. It is also a pre-requisite to any potential studies in the marine
environment which attempt to produce sufficient biomass for conversion into bio-oil using pyrolysis
techniques involving the application of heat and pressure.
This investigation involved the collection of samples from local streams and ponds, laboratory
isolation, identification and culturing, and outdoor batch culture trials. Data were collected during
outdoor trials on the growth conditions, and samples were analysed for oil production under
laboratory condition. It was found that algae can grow well in our northern climate however, the
accumulation of useful oil baring lipids does not compare as well with studies conducted in more
favourable climates.