The Po

otential fo
or an Alga
ae-Based Biorefine
B ery
The term “algae” is com mmonly used d to describe a variety of organisms
o fouund throughout the world in or
near bodies of water. TheT number of o species of algae
a is estim
mated to be in
n the tens of thousands,
t th
hough
their classsification and study is still at an early sttage.

The naturral abilities off algae to rapiidly replicate and to produ

uce oils, proteeins, alcohols, and biomass
have attraacted the atte ention of biottech research hers and industrial produceers. An algae‐‐based bioreffinery
– making multiple end products from algal feedsstocks, just ass an oil refineery makes multiple products
from petrroleum – coulld exploit the natural qualities of algae for diverse co oncurrent pro oduct streams,
including biofuels, chemicals, food ingredients, and a drugs.

•Organic
carbon/CCO2 •Oil & Lipids •Biofuells
Inputs •Nitrogen
n Bioreactor •Proteins Produ
ucts •Chemiccals
•Phosphoorus •Biomass •Foods
•Water

Figure 1: An
n Algae Biorefinery Process

Through genetic
g and metabolic
m enggineering, inclluding syntheetic biology teechniques, alggae could beccome
a producttion platform for proteins, enzymes and d other moleccules. Biotech hnology is currrently being
employed d to study andd characterizee algae, increase the reprooductive rate of target speecies, improvee
metabolissm of inputs, and enhancee the productiion of desired d oils, fuel–grrade
alcohols, or proteins.

Algae Strains and

d Classifica
ation
Macroalgae or seawee eds are used in a number of
o countries as a food sourcees and
fertilizers. They also prrovide environmental beneefits, includin
ng habitats fo
or aquatic
animals.
Figure 2: Miccroalgae
Microalgaae are often classified
c accoording to colo
or, in categories such as grreen, yellow‐
green, golden, red, andd brown. Diattoms, dinoflaagellates and picoplankton n – including
blue‐greeen algae, or cyyanobacteria, which are photosynthetic microorgan nisms related
to the chloroplasts in eukaryotic
e alggae – are also
o considered microalgae.
m

Though most
m algae are e photosyntheetic, some deerive energy from
f the uptaake of
organic caarbon, such as cellulosic material.
m Algaee thrive on orrganic carbon
n or CO2 and
nutrients such as nitrogen and phossphorus. Theyy are found in n diverse ecosystems, Figure 4: Diattom
including seawater, freeshwater, braackish water, snow, hot springs, soil and d biofilms. A
few, such as lichens, occur in symbiiotic relationsships with oth
her organismss.

Figure 3: Cyanobacteria
Bioproducts from Algae
Some algae naturally produce as much as 50 percent of their weight as oil – fatty acids and lipids.

Both the oil and fuel alcohol production potential of Table 1: Oil Production Potential for Biofuel
algae have been estimated to exceed that of Feedstocks
currently grown agricultural crops on a per‐acre Crop Oil yield
basis. And algae production facilities can be located (gallons/acre/year)
Soy 48
in diverse locations on non‐arable land.
Camelina/Mustard Seed 62
Some strains of algae produce primarily hydrocarbon Sunflower 102
molecules or isoprenoids, similar to petroleum, Rapeseed 127
Jatropha 202
while others produce molecules that resemble
Oil palm 635
vegetable oils. These oils can be converted to
Algae >1,000
biodiesel or even “cracked” to form a variety of fuels
and chemicals that directly replace petroleum‐derived products currently in use for cosmetics and
personal care products. Other strains, such as cyanobacteria, produce alcohol through fermentation.
Ethanol, for instance, can be used as biofuel or to make plastics such as polyethylene.

Because some microalgae are high in Omega‐3 fatty acids, they are used as health foods or supplements
(such as spirulina) and as animal and fish feeds. Algae are also composed of polysaccharides, starches,
and proteins and they produce pigments and antioxidants, such as the carotenoids lutein and beta
carotene. The current market for these products is estimated at $6.25 billion.

•Polyunsaturated
Fats
Food & •Vitamins &
•Biodiesel Animal Supplements
Feed
•Alkanes •Proteins
Crude Oil •Jet Fuel •Carbohydrates
•Alcohols
•Antibiotics
Drugs •Vaccines
•Metabolites

•Polysaccharides
Chemicals •Enzymes
Environmental •Carbon Capture
& •Pigments Management •Wastewater Treatment
Polymers •Minerals

Figure 5: Potential Product Streams from an Algae Biorefinery

The potential for additional products includes biofuels, enzymes, polymers and therapeutic proteins.
Biotechnology can enable the commercialization of these products, for example by modifying or
selecting algae strains to optimize generation of useful oils, ethanol, and proteins.
Environmental Benefits
Algae already play an important role in the global carbon cycle, enabling the ocean to absorb
atmospheric carbon. While algae comprise less than 2 percent of global plant carbon, they absorb and
fix up to 50 percent of atmospheric carbon dioxide(30 billion to 50 billion metric tons per year),
converting it to organic carbon, and produce up to 50 percent of global oxygen.

Figure 6: Algae's (Marine Biota) Role in the Global Carbon Cycle

Renewable and Sustainable

Ideal natural growing conditions occur in warm latitudes, and blooms naturally grow and recede on an
annual cycle, but algae are not seasonal and so can be cultivated year round. Because they thrive on
nitrogen and phosphorus, they can be grown in wastewater. And because algae production facilities can
be located on non‐arable land, they can avoid utilizing acreage better suited for food and feed
production.