The MacroAlgaeBiorefinery - sustainable
production of bioenergy carriers and high value
aquatic fish feed from macroalgae
- the MAB3 project
Anne-Belinda Bjerre, Teknologisk Institut, Denmark
Lars Nikolaisen, Teknologisk Institut, Denmark
16th November 2012.
Workshop in Nordic Algae Network and Blue Bio, Ås, Norway
Algae
More than 1500 species in
the Danish sea waters all
with different chemical
compositions.
The MacroAlgaeBiorefinery : MAB3
Title: Sustainable production of 3G energy carriers (ethanol,
butanol og biogas) and fish feed from macroalgae (Laminaria
digitata and Saccharina latissima)
 Project period: 1st of March 2012 - 1st of March 2016
 Financied by the Danish Strategic Research Council
(20,4 mill. DKK total budget på 24 mill. DKK)
 12 Partnere from Denmark, Irland, Italy, Germany
 Education of 4 ph.d. and 2 post docs
 Coordinator: Danish Technological Institute
v/ Anne-Belinda Bjerre
Partners
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Danish Technological Institute (Coordinator)
Aarhus University (AaU) (2 institutes)
Technical University of Denmark (DTU) (2 institutes)
National University of Ireland, Galway
University of Hamburg
University of Siena
Danish Shellfish Centre
Orbicon A/S
DONG Energy A/S
Aller Aqua A/S
Vitalys I/S
Dangrønt Products A/S
Novozymes participates as affiliated partner (delivery of enzymes
and participating in the advisory board)
Biorefinery
Definition:
Integrated and combined processes for the conversion of biomass
into a variety of food, feed, chemicals, biomaterials, and energy – at
the same time maximising the value of the biomass and minimising
the waste
Transportation fuel from algae
Macroalgae: High
contents of
carbohydrates (45-65%)
Microalgae: High
contents of lipids (2535%)
History of bio-ethanol (fuel ethanol) production
in USA , the driver in biorefinery development
Ethanol Production in US
12000
All 1G ethanol
8000
6000
4000
2000
0
19
80
19
82
19
84
19
86
19
88
19
90
19
92
19
94
19
96
19
98
20
00
20
02
20
04
20
06
20
08
20
10
Millon of Gallons per Year
10000
In MAB3, fish feed (protein) will be the value added product,
derived from production of energy carriers e.g. ethanol or
biogas
Introduction to MAB3
Hypothesis:
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1) Two brown macroalgae can be upgraded to energy carriers (either
bioethanol, buthanol or biogas or combinations hereof) by conversion of 80%
of the fermentable sugars, leaving behind a concentrated solid fraction rich in
protein and (for liquid biofuels also) lipids, which can be used for fish feed.
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2) A substantial amount (90%) of the remaining, undigested sugars i.e. the C5
sugars can be converted to additional value-added amino acids (isoleucine
and arginine) for fish feed supplement.
The project
Best practical methods, processes and technologies will be tested
and optimised to meet these goals
MAB3: Financed by the Danish Strategic Research Counsil
WP8:
Management
WP1: Cultivation and
harvesting
WP2: Pretreatment and storage
WP3: Liquid biofuels.
Ethanol and butanol
WP4: Gaseous biofuel
and amino acids
WP5: Fish feed
WP6: Sustainability and feasibility
WP7: Dissemination
How brown algae are composed
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Brown Algae lack real, distinct, secondary cell walls (no lignin).
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The cell walls in brown algae thalli are made up mainly of cellulose “microfibrils” or fibrils forming a felty network.
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The fibrils are rarely ordered in parallel manner as in higher plants or even
some green algal species.
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In brown algae, these felty fibre networks are layered and embedded in a
polysaccharide matrix.
Gentle pretreatment technologies will be needed for
disrupting the biomass before enzyme hydrolysis
Production of ethanol (or butanol) and protein from
algae biomass
Pretreatment
Enzymatic
hydrolysis
Ethanol
fermenting
strains
Fermentation
Filtration and
destillation
Protein (s)
Ethanol (l)
Auger pressing of Laminaria digitata
from August harvest 2012
Ethanol production from Chaetomorpha linum testing
different pretreatment conditions
Schultz-Jensen et al 2012, in
preparation
Ball milling most
efficient
pretreatment
method for
ethanol
production
(19 g/100g)
Conclusions:
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Brown algae are fine substrates for ethanol production due to high contents of
polysaccharides. Challenges are:
– Identification of most suitable enzyme mixtures for fully hydrolysis to
monomeric sugars
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Washing and auger pressing were efficient pretreatment methods for water
and salt removal in green algae, new test on brown algae have been
performed.
– Room for improvement e.g. by enzyme treatment.
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Brown algae lack real, distinct, secondary cell walls (no lignin).
– Pretreatment conditions (prior to enzymatic hydrolysis) are less severe
than for lignocellulosic biomass materials:
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Ball milling was the most effective pretretment of Chatamorpha linum prior to
SSF with Baker’s yeast fermentation in combination with Celluclast and
Novozym 188.
– Improved yields are expected using more targeting enzymes and other
microorganisms during fermentation.
Acknowledgements
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Danish Strategic Research Council, Programkomiteen for
Bæredygtig Energi og Miljø, for financial support
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Project partners for co-financing the project
Novozymes for delivery of enzymes and chairing the
advisory board
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Thank you for your attention
 Web-site about MAB3 www.mab3.dk
 Contacts about MAB3:
Anne-Belinda Bjerre: [email protected]
Karin Svane Bech: [email protected]
Lars Nikolaisen: [email protected]
Annette Bruhn: [email protected]