WRI s Chemoautotrophic (CAT ) Process A Biofuel-Based Carbon Emissions Capture/Re-Use Technology

Transcription

1 WRI s Chemoautotrophic (CAT ) Process A Biofuel-Based Carbon Emissions Capture/Re-Use Technology Karen Wawrousek, Tengyan Zhang, and Alan E. Bland, Western Research Institute Laramie, Wyoming June 18, 2013 BIO World Congress 2013 Montreal, Canada

2 Presentation Outline Outline Basics of the CAT Process Technology Benefits of CAT Process Compared to Algae CAT Application at a 100K ton/yr Emission Source Discussion and Questions Sustainability with Profitability 2

3 Basics of the CAT Process 3

4 CAT Process Description Traditional Sources of CO 2 Emissions Proposed Technology to Capture CO 2 Biogenic Asphalt Production Equivalent Fleet CO 2 Emissions Trade-off Reduced Supply of Imported Oil as CO 2 Source Oil Refinery Stationary CO 2 Source Biologic CO 2 Conversion Biodiesel Production Biodiesel Transportation Fuels Recycle for Nutrient Reduction Power Generation Oil Imports Residue Use or Conversion Chemicals and Transportation Fuels (Drop In Fuels) CAT is a biological process for carbon capture and re-use as biofuels. Reduces net CO 2 emissions by displacing emissions from fossil transportation fuels. 4

5 How it Works Chemoautotrophic (CAT) bacteria to fix CO 2 and utilize inorganic material as energy source. Reducing bacteria (RB) reduce oxidized inorganic shuttling materials. Biomass harvested from CAT and RB reactors for biodiesel production Biomass residue is recycled for nutrients for RB. Unique inorganic shuttling and biomass recycle step minimizes inputs. Can be added directly onto an existing facility. 5

6 Technology Benefits of CAT Process Compared to Algae 6

7 Technology Benefits of CAT Process Compared to Algae Productivities on par with algae Lipid chain length consistent Light-independent growth Reactor design Land requirements Climactic requirements Water use 7

8 CAT v. Algae Productivities Species Volumetric Productivity Reference (g/l/hr) CAT Process CAT WRI RB WRI RB WRI Algae Chlamydomonas reinhardtii Bogen et al., 2013, Bioresour. Technol. 133, Chlorella vulgaris 0.042, 0.25 Morita et al., 2000, Biotechnol. Bioeng. 69, , Kong et al., 2013, Biotechnol. Bioeng. Dunaliella spec (SAG 48.89) Bogen et al., 2013, Bioresour. Technol. 133, Monoraphidium terrestre (SAG 49.89) Bogen et al., 2013, Bioresour. Technol. 133, Scenedesmus costatus Bogen et al., 2013, Bioresour. Technol. 133, Cyanobacteria Arthrospira platensis Carlozzi P., 2003, Biotechnol. Bioeng. 81,

9 Lipid/Product Characteristics Fuel Type Major Components Properties Potential Advanced Biofuels Gasoline C 4-C 12 hydrocarbons Linear, branched, cyclic aromatics Diesel CAT Bio- Diesel Jet Fuel C 9 -C 23 hydrocarbons Linear, branched, cyclic aromatics C 9 -C 23 hydrocarbons have been defined making it similar to diesel composition C 8 -C 16 hydrocarbons Linear, branched, cyclic aromatics Octane number (87-91) Energy content Cetane number (40-60) Good cold properties Cetane number and other properties yet to be defined Heat density Very low freezing temperature Butanol, isobutanol, shortchain alcohols, short branched-chain alkanes Fatty alcohols, alkanes, linear or cyclic isoprenoids Advanced fuels and bioproducts not yet defined. Branched Alkanes, linear or cyclic isoprenoids Adapted from Peralta-Yahya, OP.P., et al., Nature,

10 Land and Water Requirements Plant Size and CAT Plant Footprint Estimated land necessary to generate lipids for 1.5 million gallons biodiesel crude Algae-based processes: 300 acres CAT process: 2.5 acres This 97% reduction in footprint results from the lack of need for sunlight and deployment of large reactors buried in part underground. Water Use Significantly less water needed for CAT process since reactors are closed and water can be recycled. Sapphire Energy, one of nine companies selected by DOE for a demonstration scale biorefinery project, is building an integrated algae-toenergy farm in Columbus, New Mexico. (Artist s rendering courtesy of Sapphire Energy) 10

11 Key Comparisons CAT Process Algae Productivities On par with algae On par with CAT Reactor Type Climatic Requirements Land Requirements Closed reactors, commercially available No particular requirements. Reactors may be insulated or buried to maintain temperature Relatively small footprint due to deep cylindrical reactors. A 95-98% reduction is estimated for larger CO 2 sources. Open raceway ponds, high surface area photobioreactors Reduced performance in climatic extremes or locations with reduced sunlight. Reactors may require heating Large foot print, productivity maximized when reactors are no greater than cm deep Water Use No evaporative losses High evaporative losses 11

12 CAT Application at 100,000 tons/yr CO 2 Emission Source 12

13 . 100K tons/yr CO 2 Emissions Source Assumes 90% carbon capture Biodiesel produced = 15,989,790 gallons/yr Limited carbon life cycle analysis 80.16% carbon capture 78.43% is bioresidue is used for methanogenesis Preliminary assessments: Capital: $40.85M Operation and management: $7.60M Revenue: $55.26M (assumes $2.90/gallon biodiesel) 13

14 CAT Co-location Economically advantageous CAT Process needs a stationary CO 2 source CAT and RB reactors located near CO 2 emission source Transport of waste materials for nutrient conversion step doesn t make sense Better for the Nutrient reactor to be located near the nutrient source Nutrient conversion at the source, only transport nutrients that will be used for CAT process Waste from Nutrient reactor can be sold as animal feed, etc. along with other waste source RB Organics Biomass Ox -> Red -> NUTRIENT Wastes -> Organics Reduced Inorganics Oxidized Inorganics CAT CO 2 -> Biomass Red -> Ox Wastes from the CAT Process and other processes CO 2 O 2 14

15 CAT Process is non-photosynthetic carbon capture and re-use process biodiesel, others Economically viable (assumed biodiesel price of $2.90/gallon) Benefits over other systems Closed system no evaporative losses Deep, cylindrical reactors can be partially buried Small footprint (97% reduction compared to open ponds) Appropriate for a variety of climates Synthetic symbioses, nutrient reactor to recycle materials and reduce inputs Summary 15

16 CAT Process Contact Information Contact Information Dr. Alan E. Bland 365 North 9 th Street Laramie, WY (307) abland@uwyo.edu Dr. Karen Wawrousek 365 North 9 th Street Laramie, WY (307) kwawrous@uwyo.edu Funding DOE Contract DE-FC26-08NT