PNNL

Abstract

Rotating Algae Biofilm Reactors (RABRs) are a promising technology for efficient treatment of wastewater and production of algae-based bioproducts. However, RABR-grown algae can contain a high content of ash (30-60 wt%, dry basis), which influences the technical and economic feasibility of bioproduct conversion processes. In this report, experimental studies and economic analysis were conducted to compare different processes for bioproduct conversion of a high-ash microalgae biofilm grown using a RABR treating 0.6 million gallons per day of anaerobic digestion centrate at the Central Valley Water Reclamation Facility in Salt Lake City, UT. Process and economic models were developed and compared for three conversion processes: 1) the production of bioplastics, 2) the production of bioplastics with a lipid-extraction pretreatment, and 3) the production of biocrude via hydrothermal liquefaction. Techno-economic analysis was performed for each conversion process, including three cases for algae productivity: 231, 391, and 577 metric tons per year (dry basis). The relatively small production scale and complex processing for hydrothermal liquefaction resulted in a minimum fuel selling price of the biocrude of $5.32 per gallon of gasoline equivalent. The calculated value for the minimum plastic selling price (MPSP) of bioplastics produced from algae ranges from $4,050 to $3,520 per metric ton based on the baseline and final productivity cases of the RABR, respectively. The extraction of lipids in addition to bioplastic production results in an MPSP of $4,570 to $4,000 per metric ton for the same productivity cases. The conversion process for bioplastics has the most cost-competitive pricing as well as the highest carbon and energy efficiency compared to the other conversion processes.