Aquatic Biorefinery

Figure 17.7 Schematic diagram of an aquatic biorefinery. Reproduced with permission from Joint European Biorefinery Vision for 2030, Strategic Targets for 2020 - Collaboration Initiative on Biorefineries, Star-COLIBRI Project.

The biorefinery approach is the most sound in terms of truly exploiting the potential of an aquatic biomass, and this concept is now becoming accepted on a worldwide basis. In the biorefinery approach, the economic and energetic value of the biomass is maximized, although it must be emphasized that fluctuations in the prices of fossil carbon (coal, oil, gas) raises uncertainty regarding the opportunity to produce biodiesel from aquatic biomass. For example, when the oil price is below US 120 per barrel it is uneconomic to produce biodiesel in this way. On the other hand, an aquatic biomass demonstrates an excellent potential for use as a source of specialty chemicals, with some components also having added value as animal feeds or fertilizers. 

Bharathiraja, B., Chakravarthy, M., Rar TthKumar, R., Yogendran, D., Yuvaraj, D., Jayamuthunagai, J., Praveen Kumar, R., Palani, S., 2015. Aquatic biomass (Algae) as a future feedstock for biorefineries a review on cultivation, processing and products. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 47,634-653. 

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