1a. Details of proposal
Theme: ● Micro algae, climate change, renewable energy
Title: The possibility for microalgae based biofuel production on Bonaire
Summary (max. 250 words):
Microalgae are a promising alternative source of lipid and biofuel production in the future.
Renewable, carbon neutral, transport fuels are necessary for environmental and economic
sustainability. Microalgae based biofuel production on Bonaire is very interesting due to the
location and potential. Bonaire is considered to be a “near ideal” algal cultivation site, having
very high solar irradiation throughout the year. A Case study with an overview of all the
possibilities of microalgal cultivation on Bonaire can be made relatively easy because of the
small size of the tropical island (281 km²).
Microalgal growth for the commercial production of biodiesel has not been done yet in
Holland yet. It is not grown commercially because it is still not economically feasible to
produce microalgae on a large scale in Holland. The costs to experiment with the production
of microalgae on Bonaire are up to 50 % more economic (Norsker et al, 2010). This case
study will give an indication on the costs and benefits of algae based biofuel production on
Bonaire.
Comparing the pros and cons of different types of photo bioreactors or raceway ponds shall
be done in this specific case study on Bonaire. This includes the calculated costs of the
different microalgae biomass production methods. Moreover, the specific costs for the
external input that is needed for algal production (e.g. sweet/salt water, nutrient and energy
addition), can be assessed specifically for Bonaire. An “in depth” study on Bonaire shall be
done when this proposal is accepted. All possibilities shall be analyzed and a best case
scenario shall be proposed as an outcome of the study.
1b. Details of applicant
Name: BSc A.P.J.Ebbing
Gender: ● Male Ο Female
Date of birth: 25 september 1986
Institution: Institute of Environmental Biology, Biomarine Sciences, Utrecht University
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Position: Ο Professor Ο Associate professor (UHD) Ο Assistant professor (UD)
● Other: Student
Permanent position: Ο Yes ●No, end date contract: August 2012
E-mail: A.P.J.Ebbing@students.uu.nl
Research School: NSG
1c. Alternative contact
Name: Dr A. Sluijs
Tel: +31 30 2532419
Email: A.Sluijs@uu.nl
1d. Composition of the research group
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2. Summary for the general public (preferably in Dutch, max. 100 words)
Alternatieve brandstoffen worden steeds interessanter en onderzoek naar de productie van
biobrandstof uit microalgen op het eiland van Bonaire kan, voor het Nederlands onderzoek
naar alternatieve brandstof, een buitenkans zijn. De mogelijkheden en benodigdheden op
Bonaire zijn overzichtelijk en de klimaatsomstandigheden zijn ideaal. Productie van
microalgen op Bonaire is een ideale testcase voor het commercieel produceren van
biobrandstof. Commerciële productie van biobrandstof uit microalgen is tot 50% goedkoper
op Bonaire dan alg productie in Nederland (Norsker et al, 2010). Bonaire is op papier een
ideale locatie voor experimenten met microalgen en deze studie zal uitwijzen of dit in de
praktijk ook het geval is.
3. Description of the proposed research – Background and Project Rationale
The search for new ways in producing renewable energy is of great scientific interest
throughout the world. The need for sustainable biodiesel is evident with an ever growing
demand for energy, depleting supplies of fossil fuels and a growing awareness for global
warming (Christi et al, 2007; Kone et al, 2010). Unfortunately, first generation biodiesel from
oil crops, waste cooking or animal fat cannot realistically satisfy the existing demand for fuel.
Biodiesel derived from microalgae appears to be the most capable source of renewable
energy in meeting global fuel demands (Wijfels et al, 2010). Reducing the cost of microalgal
biofuel production is the biggest hurdle that needs to be tackled in order to make algal
biofuel competitive to fossil fuel (Norsker et al, 2011). The potential advantages of algae as
feedstocks for biofuels include their ability to (Hu et al, 2008):
-
-
Synthesize and accumulate quantities of neutral lipids/oils (20-50% dry cell weight)
Grow at high rates (e.g. 1-3 doublings per day)
Thrive in saline/brackish water/coastal seawater for which there are few competing
demands
Tolerate marginal lands (e.g. desert, arid- and semi arid lands) that are not suitable
for conventional agriculture
Utilize growth nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus from a variety of
wastewater sources (e.g. agriculture run-off, concentrated animal food operations,
and industrial and municipal wastewaters), providing the additional benefit of
wastewater bio-remediation.
Sequester carbon dioxide from flue gases emitted from fossil fuel-fired power plants
and other sources, thereby reducing emissions of a major greenhouse gas
Grow in suitable culture vessels (photo-bioreactors) throughout the year with an
annual biomass productivity, on an area basis, exceeding that of terrestrial plants by
approxamitely tenfold.
Different factors influence the productivity, economics, sustainability and thus possibility of
algal biofuel production on Bonaire. The main reason of producing micro algae on Bonaire is
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the relatively low production costs per kg of biomass. The high daily irradiation on Bonaire
increases the biomass production of the algae and production becomes therefore up to 50%
cheaper then algae grown in the Netherlands (Norsker et al, 2010). However, Bonaire is
considered to have one of the most beautiful underwater reserves in the Caribbean and the
sustainability of the produced algal biomass is therefore a priority. It is crucial to consider
every possible option in the production process in order to have the best view of the most
economic way of algal biofuel production on Bonaire. This study will eventually result in
answering the following research question:
Is the industrialized growth of microalgae for biodiesel on Bonaire possible in terms of
environment, space, logistics and economics.
The proposal eventually results in a best case scenario that is best suited for Bonaire. The
eventual outcome can furthermore be used complementary to other studies when future
innovations are making the production of microalgae for biofuels more economic.
Choosing the best species of microalgae
Microalgae are photosynthetic microorganisms that can produce lipids, proteins and
carbohydrates. These products can be converted into end products such as biodiesel, syngas,
electricity, hydrogen or ethanol (Brennan et al, 2011). A division can be made within the
microalgae, with on one hand the prokaryotes and on the other hand the Eukaryotes.
Prokaryotic microalgae (cyanobacteria) lack membrane-bound organelles (plastids,
mitochondria, nuclei, Golgi apparatus and flagella). Eukaryotic cells however, do have these
organelles that control the functions of the cell, allowing them to survive and reproduce in
changing habitats (Brennan et al, 2011).
The most abundant classes of these eukaryotic microalgea are: green algae (Chlorophyta),
red algae (Rhodophyta) and diatoms (Bacillariophyta). Many of these microalgae have the
ability to produce substantial amounts of storage lipids (20-50% dry cell weight). These lipids
are built up out of fatty acids, which are building blocks and can be assembled into various
types of lipids (Hu et al, 2008). In most algae examined the lipids consist mainly of saturated
and monounsaturated fatty acids. The relative abundance of polyunsaturated fatty acids
(PUFAs) with four or more double bonds is nonetheless higher in algae than most vegetable
oils (Borowitzka et al, 1992). The high amount of PUFAs reduces the quality of the lipids from
algae, making them less usable as a source of biodiesel (Knothe et al., 2006).
Important characteristics of microalgae for biofuel produciton
The selection of an appropriate algal strain is an essential factor for the production of algal
based biofuels. The ideal strain should: (1) have high lipid production; (2) be robust and able
to survive some shear stress; (3) be able to dominate wild strains in open pond productions
(Griffiths et al., 2009). Table 1 shows the most important characteristics that need to be
considered when choosing a certain strain of algae. However, every algal species has
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different environmental requirements and specific niches in which they thrive. It is therefore
important to map all the potential external factors that could influence the growth of the
specific species of algae on Bonaire.
Table 1; Desirable characteristics of algae for mass culture (Griffiths et al., 2009)
Fatty acid composition
The fatty acid composition and the type of constructed lipids are of major importance if
biofuels are converted into biodiesel. For example (as described earlier), microalgal oils
differ from most vegetable oils in having relatively more polyunsaturated fatty acids. Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA’s) with four or more double bonds are very susceptible to
oxidation (Christi et al, 2007). The quality of diesel produced from PUFA rich lipids are
therefore of low quality. Countries use therefore certain Biodiesel standards for vehicle and
heating oil use (Knothe et al, 2006). These standards prohibit the use of biodiesels from
which the content exceeds certain percentages of PUFA’s. However, the excess amount of
PUFA’s with more than 4 double bonds can easily be reduced by catalytic hydrogenation of
the oil (Christi et al, 2007).
Choosing the best method for microalgal production
The production method that is used for producing the artificially grown microalgae has to be
chosen specifically for every individual location. The primary objective in choosing a
production method is to keep the costs as low as possible. However, adjacent to this
objective there are many other factors (e.g. sustainability, size of working area and
availability of needed materials) that could influence the economics significantly. For
example, in the case of Bonaire you could take into account the relative irradiation, the costs
for artificially produced imported nutrients, the possible lack of space and the possibility of
5
increased seasonal stress conditions. There are off course many more factors (locally and
globally) that needs to be taken into account in order to choose the right type of production
technology for Bonaire (Christi et al.,2007; Brennan et al.,2011; Norsker et al., 2010). The
advantages and limitations of the different production methods are summarized in table
2(adapted from Brennan et al., 2011).
Table 2; the advantages and limitations of different production methods. Note that the closed photo-bioreactor consists
of three types of sub-methods; Tubular photo bio reactor, Flat plate photobioreactor and a column photobioreactor.
Open pond production systems
Algae cultivation in open ponds is the oldest method of artificial algal production and can be
done in natural waters (e.g. lakes, lagoons and ponds) and artificial ponds (Borowitska et al.,
1999). These types of systems are characterized by closed loop, oval shaped recirculation
channels (Fig.1). The water track is usually 0.2-0.5m deep, with water column mixing
required to optimize and stabilize algal growth (Brennan et al, 2010).
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Table 3; unit biomass production cost (in cts, eurocents) from various capital and oiperating costs elements for raceway
ponds, tubular photobioreactors and flat panel photobioreactors (adapted from Norsker et al., 2010).
Open pond systems are considered to be relatively cheap, especially in comparison to e.g.
flat panel photobioreactors. These ponds have relative low energy input requirements,
maintaining and cleaning is cheaper and these ponds have therefore the potential for large
net energy productions (Brennan et al, 2010). However, these ponds require large areas of
land are limited to few strains of algae and are easily contaminated. Moreover, the
maximum production potential per m2 is much lower than producing microalgae with a
photobioreactor (Chen et al., 2011). The low productivity of the open pond system
eventually even leads to higher prices per Kg biomass than tubular photo bioreactors, which
are already considered to be costly to maintain (Table 3).
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Figure 1; arial view of an open pond system (Christi et al.,
2007).
Closed Photo bioreactor production systems
Microalgal production based on closed photobioreactors has tackled a lot of the problems
that occur with the open pond production system. These reactors consist of an array of glass
or plastic tubes. Algae cultures are re-circulated within these tubes via a mechanical pump or
airlift system (Fig. 2). Gasses such as CO2 and O2 need to be artificially induced and/ or
removed from the system in order to optimize algae growth and to prevent increased toxic
levels (Ugwu et al., 2008).
These closed photo bioreactors are designed to reduce the contamination and pollution risks
(Huang et al, 2010). It is therefore even possible to culture single-species for a prolonged
time due the closed characteristics of the growing environment. These systems can reach
relatively high mass transfers, creating a very promising potential for future algal growth
(Christi et al, 2007). The possibility to completely controle the in- and output makes it
relatively easy to monitor, improve and customize the reactor for specific places in the
world.
The biggest drawback in choosing the closed photobioreactor is the costs in terms of
operation and capital investment (See Table 3). In addition, the possible scale of production
is small due to the complexity of the bioreactor design. The high cost combined with the
necessary small scale production makes the production of biofuel from enclosed
photobioreactors not yet economically feasable in terms of very large scale production
(Huang et al, 2010).
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Figure 1; Schematic view of a tubular closed photobioreactor with horizontally placed tubes (Christi et al., 2007)
Type of cultivation conditions
When choosing a path into producing algae, a decision must be made on the cultivation
conditions. The growth characteristics and composition of the algae is heavily dependent
from these specific conditions (Chen et al, 2010). There are four major types of cultivation
conditions that are optional. Their specific issues and characteristics are summarized in table
4.
Table 4; Comparison of different cultivation conditions (Chen et al, 2010).
The difference between Mixotrophic and Photoheterotrophic cultivation is the necessity of
light in photoheterotrophic cultivation. Mixotrophic cultivations can use both inorganic
sources and organic compounds to get the needed energy (Chen et al, 2010).
Choosing the best microalgal harvesting techniques
The harvest of the grown end product is a major step in the production of biofuels.
Microalgae harvesting is considered to be a solid-liquid separation step. The collection of
biomass is considered to be problematic due to the small size (3–30 µm) of the microalgae
(Grima et al, 2003). Any harvesting method must be able to process large volumes of algae.
Some studies even claim that the harvesting of the algae contribute to 20-30% of the total
production cost of microalgae based biofuels (Gudin and Therpenier et al, 1986). There is no
9
optimal harvesting method that will be suited for all the production sites and an in-depth
local study is thus needed in order to find the most ideal harvesting method for Bonaire.
Harvesting the biomass will usually be done in two separate steps. The first step is called
Bulk-harvesting and the second step is called thickening. Bulk-harvesting is aimed to
separate the biomass from the bulk suspension. The aim of the thickening is to concentrate
the slurry that comes out of the first step (Brennan et al, 2010). Different techniques can be
used in both steps and will be further explained in detail:
Bulk-harvesting: Flocculation, flotation or gravity sedimentation
Thickening: centrifugation, filtration and ultrasonic aggregation
Flocculation
This is the first stage in the bulk harvesting process and is intended to aggregate the
microalgal cells in order to increase the effective particle size (Brennan et al, 2010).
Flocculation can therefore be considered to be the preparatory step before any other bulkharvesting methods (e.g. flotation and gravity sedimentation). The essence of flocculation is
to reduce or remove the negative charge that normally inhibits the algal cells. The removal
of the negative charge will reduce the natural ability of algae to reject neighboring cells.
There is a well known method that decreases the negative charge of algal cells by increasing
the pH, this was done by adding NaOH followed with the addition of a specific non-ionic
polymere (Knuckley et al, 2006). The biggest drawbacks of flocculation are the relatively
large space needed for the tanks and high costs of the flocculants that are needed.
Flotation Vs Gravity sedimentation
After the flocculation step a decision has to be made between to secondary methods in
order to separate the biomass from the bulk suspension. Some strains of algae naturally
float at the surface and can therefore easily be separated from the underlying suspension
(Brennan et al 2010). If this specific type of algae strain is not used then gravity or centrifugal
based sedimentation is needed to separate the biomass. Gravity based sedimentation can
only be achieved when the algae are big and the biomass generated is of low value (Munoz
et al., 2006).
Centrifugation
Using centrifugal force in order to thicken the algal biomass is the most known and applied
harvesting method. The applicability of this method is dependent on the type, size and
rigidness of the algae in use (Grima et al, 2003; Brennan et al, 2010). The Settling
characteristics of the algae as well as the retention time and settling depth of the slurry are
of major importance when looking at the applicability (Grima et al, 2003). The biggest
drawbacks are the large energy intensity needed and the mechanical force that is unleashed
10
on the delicate algal cells. Maintenance of the equipment is also considered to be costly due
to freely moving parts (Brennan et al, 2010).
Filtration and screening
Conventional filtration in order to thicken the slurry is most appropriate when using large
(>70µm) microalgae. Smaller algae approaching bacterial dimensions are not suitable for the
specific method. The filtration operates under pressure or suction and can be aided with
diatomaceous earth or cellulose (Grima et al., 2003). It is considered to be more cost
effective then centrifugation when dealing with low broth volumes (Brennan et al., 2010). A
big drawback is the possibility of clogging due to the small size of microalgae (Bosma et al.,
2002).
Ultrasonic aggregation
The gentle acoustically induced aggregation followed by enhanced sedimentation is proven
succesfull for harvesting microalgae (Bosma et al., 2002). Backdraws are the low reached
concentrations of the broths and the relative high costs in energy (Bosma et al., 2002).
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Choosing the best biofuel conversion technologies
This step is considered to be non essential for microalgae production on Bonaire and shall
therefore be skipped during the case study. The placement of a biorefenery on Bonaire is
probably not an option. The biomass end-product will not be affected whether it is produced
in open pond sytems or closed photobioreactors. In addition, transportation to specialized
biorefineries on other islands near Bonaire or even the mainland (e.g. Venezuela) is probably
more economic than placing a biorefinery on Bonaire. It will keep the island clean and the
already precious space will not be filled with big factories.
In short, biomass can be converted into three major products: power/heat generation,
transportation fuels and as a chemical feedstock (McKendry et al., 2001). The actual
conversion of biomass to energy however, can be subdivided into two major tracks (Fig.3).
The thermochemical conversion covers the thermal decomposition of organic components
into fuel. The biochemical conversion is the energy conversion of biomass into other fuels
that includes anaerobic digestion, alcoholic fermentation and photobiological hydrogen
production. This track is considered to be the greener option of making biofuels (McKendry
et al., 2001).
Figure 2; Potential algal biomass conversion processes (Adapted from Brennan et al., 2005)
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Future innovations
The possibilities of alternative technologies need to be considered in order to have a good
view of the possibilities of microalgal production. These innovations are still in their test
phase and are not fully applied in this branch of work yet. However, the applicability of many
innovations is considered to be realistic in the near future and may contribute considerable
to the economics of the end product (Christi et al., 2007).
Genetics
Innovations in the field of genetics are considered to be having the greatest impact on the
feasibility of algae biofuels (Christi et al., 2011). This includes improvements in the
separation of the algal biomass from the water and the extraction of the oil from the cell
(Christi et al., 2011). There are even algae strains engineered that uses nitrogen derived from
the atmosphere instead of fertilizers. Furthermore, genetic engineering can improve
photosynthetic efficiency, enhance biomass growth rate, increase oil content in biomass,
improve temperature tolerance and eliminate the light saturation phenomenon (Christi et
al., 2007). All these improvements can increase the economics considerable and the end of
the innovative aspect is not in sight.
Photobioreactor engineering
Algae have successfully been cultured in photobioreactors and are considered to be
produced in a reliable production chain (Chen et al., 2011). However, there are several fields
in this chain where an significant increase in efficiency can be reached. Improvements can be
reached by improving the mixing of the culture in order to divide the available light more
efficiently. New methods used for controlling wall growth of the algae are another way of
increasing the growth efficiency and therefore decreasing the costs.
Biorefinery based production strategy
A biorefenery uses every component of the produced biomass material, producing different
usable products. This method decreases the costs per Kg biomass considerable and is
already being operated in countries as Canada, United States and Germany. In addition to
oil, microalgae biomass contains significant quantities of proteins, carbohydrates and other
nutrients (Christi et al., 2007). Although a biorefinery on Bonaire is considered not likely
now, it will remain an option for the future. These refineries will become greener, cleaner
and will be able to produce more products.
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Characteristics of Bonaire and possibilities for production
The specific characteristics of Bonaire are probably the most important aspects that need to
be studied in order to assess the possibility of algal based biofuel production on the island.
There are major island related advantages as well as possible drawbacks that could prevent
the production of biofuels altogether. The assessment of the local possibilities is also the
major reason for visiting Bonaire. Before any in-debt analysis can be done on the possibilities
on Bonaire an analysis of the already known pros & cons can be done.
Table 5; pros & cons for the production of microalgae on Bonaire
Pros
Very high average irradiation per day (Norsker
et al., 2010)
Easy access to salt water
Low costs in terms of salary (Bonisha., 2007)
Biofuel prices are competing better to the ever
increasing local prices of crude oil
Bonaire is still part of the Dutch Kingdom
Cons
Little space for building
Little available nutrients for production
Building & operating knowledge not available
yet
Importing costs for prefabricated parts
Corruption (Bonisha., 2007)
High environmental standards
The biggest profit when producing microalgae on Bonaire is the low costs that can be
achieved due to the high irradiation reached near the equator (Norsker et al, 2010). Other
possible benefits, which are not yet tested properly, are excluded from the table. But profits
in decreasing oil dependence, recycling water from sewer treatments and producing jobs on
Bonaire are all possible profits that need to be incorporated in the possible outcome.
The biggest obstacle that needs to be overcome in order to produce microalgae is the lack of
space on Bonaire. The lack of available nutrients due to the size and nature of the island and
the increased costs for importing prefabricated parts are also major obstacles. The other
obstacles are relatively easy to overcome or are not yet known. Therefore it is a necessity to
go on a trip towards Bonaire and to have a good view on the possibilities and drawbacks on
the island.
Natural parks
The natural parks on Bonaire are limiting the space on which any microalgal growth facility
can be placed. They are also protected and have therefore very high standards concerning
contaminants. Several lakes on Bonaire are also part of natural parks limiting the possibility
of fresh-/brackish water algae production. Figure 4 shows all areas where a possible
placement of a biofuel facility cannot be realized or is very difficult to realize (area’s are dyed
red). The main reason no production facility will be placed south of Kralendijk is because
there are no sewers in the vicinity that can make the production more economic.
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Figure 4; Topographic picture of Bonaire, situated north from Venezuela. The areas in red are all national parks in which
microalgae production is impossible. This national parks include; Washington slagbaai national park (north west), klein
Bonaire (West) and Pekelmeer (South-west). Furthermore, the Bonaire national marine park surrounds the whole island
and includes all marine habitats of <60m depth. The area in yellow is the possible location of a sewer treatment facility
that is planned to be built before 2014 (MNO website., 2010) . In green is an area of the possible location of the other
sewer treatment that is already under construction.
Sewer treatment facility
The planned addition of sewer treatments on Bonaire can be used as a cost reducing facility
for the production of microalgae. The reason for the cost reduction is because the algae
production can be used as a green way of filtering the sewer water and the possibility to use
the sewer treatments as a free pool of available nutrients (Munoz et al., 2006). The actual
location of the building sites is not known but it is known that one sewer treatment is built
along Kaminda Lagun Street. This street and possible building location surrounding the street
are highlighted in green. The other sewer treatment building site is not known but is it likely
that it will be built near villages and therefore north from the capital Kralendijk (MNO
website., 2010). The possible building area is very large and highlighted in yellow.
The organic compounds (Nitrogen & Phosphorous) can be extracted from the waste waters
and used in producing the microalgae. This can only be done when heavy metals and
radioisotopes are absent from the waste water solvent (Mata et al., 2010). This has to be
tested intensively on the island prior to the incorporation of the idea of sewer treatment
derived nutrients.
Combining the sewer treatment with the production of microalgae has several promising
advantages. The most promising advantage from the point of view of the sewer treatment is
a green method of disposing nutrients instead of dumping these eutrophic waste waters in
the ocean. The other major advantage is an increase in the available stock of nutrients that
15
can be found on the island. It makes the island more self sufficient and therefore the
production of microalgae more economic.
Saltwater algae will probably be the only option
Freshwater is scarce on Bonaire and can only be found in underground lakes in the north.
This makes usage of freshwater algae not an option and needs therefore to be done with
saltwater algae strains. Several mangrove lakes on Bonaire, that aren’t considered a natural
park, can be used. Furthermore, the ocean is still a realistic option for possible microalgal
growth. A stroke of water surrounding the island is considered to be part of the natural
underwater park and is protected. However, this stroke protect waters of <60m deep,
making any possible production plan outside this stroke still plausible. Nonetheless, the
probable most economic and green option available is to just pump salt water from the
ocean and/or mangrove lakes for micro algal production. The specific costs are area
dependent but considering the costs to manufacture artificial sea water it is probably
cheaper.
Objectives
The main objective is to assess to possibility for any microalgal biomass production on
Bonaire. This will include the possibility of innovative techniques in order to cover the
feasibility for the next couple of years. However, this will not be the only objective for this
case study. A comparative study between the different production options shall be done
also. This will give a good view of the advantages and drawbacks that the different options
have on Bonaire.
Furthermore, the case study can easily be expanded into a case study that is not only
focusing on microalgae for biofuel production but also looks at algae as food supplements,
fertilizer or pollution control. This will alter the possibilities drastically but will be easily
accessible due to the comparative study done on all aspects of the production chain.
Innovative aspects
This case study will be the first time that a microalgal possibility study will be done on
Bonaire. Another innovative aspect is the comparative study applied within this case study.
This will increase the knowledge on the feasibility of microalgal production and this
knowledge can be used for many more years. This case study will assess the typical
characteristics of Bonaire and can therefore even be used in other fields of science. Such a
general overview of Bonaire has so far never been done and will give a good view of the
possibilities of the island. If any future production is possible it will boost the local economy
and decreases their income dependence of salt production and ecotourism.
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Scientific approach
The case study will be an indebt comparative study, where all the aspects in producing algal
biomass shall be analyzed. The needed information shall be retrieved from literature or
analyzed at the described location. A shortlist will be made of the ideal locations and from
those specific locations an in-depth study shall be done. Pros and cons will be weighted for
every independent option. These pros and cons can even, if necessary, be analyzed in a sort
of gradient system. These comparisons shall be done qualitatively and if possible even
quantitatively. Calculations can be done when data is available about the costs of placement,
operations and maintenance. These calculations shall also take into account the import
costs of nutrients, machinery and the salaries if possible.
Methods
This case study will be for the most part a literature study, combined with the mapping of all
possible locations for the bioreactors on Bonaire. Literature can provide almost all the
information needed, from the size of different bioreactors to the price of the different
bioreactor parts. If any practical work is needed, it will probably be a research on the
availability, quantity and characteristics of nutrients obtained from the island itself. These
nutrients can be from animal waste, sewer treatments or even the ocean. An analysis on the
water characteristics and average temperatures of the ocean and the mangrove lakes will be
done complementary to the nutrient study, in order to have a good view of the algal strain
possibilities.
17
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Huang G, Chen F, Wei D, Zhang X, Chen G. (2010), Biodiesel production by microalgal
biotechnology. Appl Energy 87(1):38-46.
Knuckey, R.M (2009), Production of microalgal concentrates by flocculation and their
assessment as aquaculture feeds
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Knothe, G. (2006), Analyzing biodiesel: standards and other methods. J Am Oil Chem Soc
83:823–33.
Köne, A.Ç and Büke T.(2010), Forecasting of CO2 emissions from fuel combustion using trend
analysis. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 14(9):2906-15.
Mata, T.M, Martins A.A, Caetano N.S. (2010), Microalgae for biodiesel production and other
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Bioresource Technology 2002;83(1):47–54.
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Munoz, R, Guieysse B. (2006), Algal–bacterial processes for the treatment of hazardous
contaminants: a review. Water Res 40:2799–815.
Norsker, N. (2011), Microalgal production — A close look at the economics
Ugwu, C.U, Aoyagi H, Uchiyama H. (2008), Photobioreactors for mass cultivation of
algae. Bioresource Technology 99(10):4021–8.
Wijffels, R.H.(2010), Microalgae for the production of bulk chemicals and biofuels
5. Timetable of the project
Activity
Literature study
In debt analysis on Bonaire
Writing of scientific publications
Year 1/2
. .
.
Year 2/2
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
6. Societal significance
When successful, it will benefit a great deal of global problems. The biggest gain is the
availability of affordable green energy that can help reduce global warming. Algal biofuels
can decrease the international dependence of oil and therefore decrease international
tensions. It will decrease international pollution of the oceans and stop the completely
inefficient production of soja and palm oil based green fuel. When altered genetically it can
even replace soja as a food supplement and therefore save rainforests. It can help clean
polluted waters from sewer systems , oil refineries and food factories and can even be used
in manufacturing medicines.
7a. Legal requirements
Do you plan to visit Bonaire? Yes
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If the above question is answered with `yes´ you have to comply with national and
international regulations. For information please contact the NNPP coordinator, L.H.W.
Noor.
Has been complied with the law and legal requirements with respect to the proposed
research, such as ‘DNA-recombinant legislation’, ‘Code Openness Animal Experiments’,
and/or ‘Code of conduct on Biosecurity’ (if applicable)?
● Yes Ο No
7b. Fieldwork
When fieldwork is part of the research proposal, indicate the proposed fieldwork
locations, periods of fieldwork and ways of transportation to the fieldwork location(s)
Fieldwork: Bonaire, flight, 6 months, E 1200,- (included into research costs)
Budget
Personnel per month
Research costs
Equipment
Consumables
Year 1
E 600,E 1200,E200,- - E800,E 0,-
Year 2
E 600,E 300,E 0,E 0,-
8a. Fieldwork
When fieldwork is part of the research proposal, indicate the proposed fieldwork
locations, periods of fieldwork and ways of transportation to the fieldwork location(s)
8b. Will you be making use of the NIOZ-MRF pool of equipment?
Ο Yes ● No
9. Financial assistance from other sources
None
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