ABSTRACT

There is still much discussion about the best process for scaling-up algae for biofuels and other uses.  The projected costs of a barrel of algal oil, for example, varies significantly across the sector and there is a recognised need for the development of reliable models for sustainable biofuels production that have the ability to address the issues of biochemical processes based on algae.

This paper examines the use of mainstream process simulators originally developed for the petrochemical and related industries that have needed revision and expansion to create such models. More specifically, it reports on how such process simulations can be used before the commitment of capital to objectively examine competing process routes and find solutions to reduce capital and operating expenses that can lead to the cost-effective production of a barrel of algal oil.