CSU Engineering Professor Highlighted at Denmark Climate Conference
Colorado State University associate professor Anthony Marchese discussed biofuel at the International Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark on Thursday as part of a panel on Renewable Energies: How Far Can They Take Us?
Marchese presented the properties and suitability of liquid fuels derived from microalgae. Marchese said that because of their potentially high productivity, microalgae are receiving intense focus as a potential source of biofuels, particularly for use in diesel engines and aircraft.
The three-day conference in Copenhagen helps scientists share knowledge on climate change and how to handle any risks or opportunities that may arise from it. The abstract of Dr. Marchese's talk is below.
PROPERTIES AND SUITABILITY OF LIQUID FUELS DERIVED FROM MICROALGAE
Due to their potentially high productivity, microalgae are now receiving intense focus as a potential source of biofuels, particularly for use in diesel engines and aircraft. It is commonly assumed the biofuels from algae are structurally the same as biofuels from standard oil crops such as soy, canola, rapeseed, palm, etc. However, the chemical structure of fuels derived from microalgae strains can be quite different from that of terrestrial plants. This paper discusses the raw structure of algal fuels, including both storage lipids and membrane lipids. The algal lipids include components with carbon chain lengths ranging from 10 to 24 carbon atoms, with saturation states ranging from saturated to highly unsaturated. The lipid profile can vary with species/strain, algal growth techniques (nutrients, growth/stress state), and extraction and processing techniques. These properties could have significant implications for fuel processing and subsequent utilization, including exhaust emissions and associated health effects. This presentation discusses structure of algal oils and the suitability of algal-derived fuels for a variety of fuel applications, including as diesel fuel and aviation fuel. The presentation also includes a discussion of processing techniques and the subsequent impact on fuel properties and suitability for use.
Sarah Millett, a CSU media relations intern and technical journalism student, provided this news release.