Engineering Assessment of Algae Biofuel Production

Course Summary

This report assesses the economics of microalgae biofuels production through an analysis of five production scenarios. These scenarios, or cases, are based on technologies that currently exist or are expected to become available in the near-term, including raceway ponds for microalgae cultivation, bioflocculation for algae harvesting, and hexane for extraction of algae oil. Process flow diagrams, facility site layouts, and estimates for the capital and operations costs of each case were developed de novo. This report also reviews current and developing microalgae biofuel technologies for both oil and biogas production, provides an initial assessment of the US and California resource potential for microalgae biofuels, and recommends specific R&D efforts to advance the feasibility of large-scale algae biofuel production.

Learning Objectives

The student will learn the economic feasibility of making biofuels through different methods and future possibilities.

Course Author

T.J. Lundquist, I.C. Woertz, N.W.T. Quinn, and J.R. Benemann

Review the quiz before studying the course.

Certificate of completion of the course

This course comes with a multiple-choice quiz. You can view the quiz and take the quiz if you are logged in your account. You can take the quiz for this online PDH course as many times until passed. The passing grade is 70% and above. After you pass the quiz simply follow the page, to pay for the course and print your certificate instantly. A copy of the certificate and receipt for this course will always be in your account.

Acrobat Reader is required to view this document. Click here to download a free copy of Acrobat Reader.

This online PDH course can also be used as a continuing education course for the following.

Mechanical Engineering

Environmental Engineering

Oil & Gas and Petrochemical Engineering