Comprehensive techno-economic analysis of wastewater-based algal biofuel production: A case study

Chunhua Xin; Min M Addy; Jinyu Zhao; Yanling Cheng; Sibo Cheng; Dongyan Mu; Yuhuan Liu; Rijia Ding; Paul Chen; Roger Ruan

doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2016.03.102

Comprehensive techno-economic analysis of wastewater-based algal biofuel production: A case study

Bioresour Technol. 2016 Jul:211:584-93. doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2016.03.102. Epub 2016 Mar 22.

Authors

Chunhua Xin¹, Min M Addy², Jinyu Zhao³, Yanling Cheng², Sibo Cheng², Dongyan Mu⁴, Yuhuan Liu⁵, Rijia Ding⁶, Paul Chen², Roger Ruan⁷

Affiliations

¹ School of Management, China University of Mining and Technology (Beijing Campus), Ding 11 Xueyuan Road, Beijing 100083, China; Center for Biorefining and Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering, University of Minnesota, 1390 Eckles Ave., St. Paul, MN 55108, USA.
² Center for Biorefining and Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering, University of Minnesota, 1390 Eckles Ave., St. Paul, MN 55108, USA.
³ School of Economic and Management, Beijing University Of Civil Engineering And Architecture, No 1 Zhanlan Road, Beijing 100044, China.
⁴ School of Environmental and Sustainability Science, Kean University, USA.
⁵ The MOE Engineering Research Center for Biomass Conversion, Nanchang University, 235 Nanjing Road, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330047, China.
⁶ School of Management, China University of Mining and Technology (Beijing Campus), Ding 11 Xueyuan Road, Beijing 100083, China.
⁷ Center for Biorefining and Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering, University of Minnesota, 1390 Eckles Ave., St. Paul, MN 55108, USA; The MOE Engineering Research Center for Biomass Conversion, Nanchang University, 235 Nanjing Road, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330047, China. Electronic address: ruanx001@umn.edu.

PMID: 27039331
DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2016.03.102

Abstract

Combining algae cultivation and wastewater treatment for biofuel production is considered the feasible way for resource utilization. An updated comprehensive techno-economic analysis method that integrates resources availability into techno-economic analysis was employed to evaluate the wastewater-based algal biofuel production with the consideration of wastewater treatment improvement, greenhouse gases emissions, biofuel production costs, and coproduct utilization. An innovative approach consisting of microalgae cultivation on centrate wastewater, microalgae harvest through flocculation, solar drying of biomass, pyrolysis of biomass to bio-oil, and utilization of co-products, was analyzed and shown to yield profound positive results in comparison with others. The estimated break even selling price of biofuel ($2.23/gallon) is very close to the acceptable level. The approach would have better overall benefits and the internal rate of return would increase up to 18.7% if three critical components, namely cultivation, harvest, and downstream conversion could achieve breakthroughs.

Keywords: Algal biofuel; Centrate wastewater; Microalgae; Pyrolysis; Techno-economic analysis.

MeSH terms

Biofuels / economics*
Biomass
Costs and Cost Analysis / economics*
Costs and Cost Analysis / statistics & numerical data*
Flocculation
Gases
Microalgae / metabolism*
Wastewater / economics*

Substances

Biofuels
Gases
Waste Water