Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Reaction Kinetics
and Evolutionary
Model
Accelerated
reaction agents
Symbiotic Model
Estimation of lead
time and other
vital parameters
of the system
Genetic
Engineering Model
Process
Engineering Model
Validation via
Simulation
Stabilization
Division Rates
Optimized Yield
related cost
effective Model
Schematic model for microalgal biotechnology.
FIGURE 13.1
efficiency, growth media, and CO
2
costs, the overall cost of production could be
reduced to Euro 0.68 per kilogram, which would be economically acceptable for
using algae as feedstock for biodiesel and chemicals. Alternative metabolic pathways
such as heterotrophy and mixotrophy should be explored to maximize algal growth
without a shift to energetically inefficient metabolism. Service (2008) states that
algae grown in dark stainless steel fermenters convert sugars to oils more efficiently.
Heterotrophic and mixotrophic cultivation of microalgae in fermentation systems for
commercial viability should be explored (Gladue and Maxey, 1994; Xu et al., 2006;
Chi et al., 2007).
Microalgae hold great potential as a source of cheap and environmentally friendly
biofuel. The total annual production of microalgae in 2004 was 5,000 tons, with global
sales worth about US$1.25 billion (Pulz and Gross, 2004). However, we believe that
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