We are also considering various methods to extract the oil/lipids from the algae. A couple of possibilities are: 1. Oil Press Extraction This method involves drying the algae and then pushing it through an oil press like the one shown below. The machine would press out the oil which we could easily collect. This procedure would require purchasing an oil press which would be around $150 and it can extract up to about 75% or the oil in the algae. 2. Solvent Extraction This method involves mixing the algae slurry with an organic solvent such as hexane or benzene. The chemical will break down the algae cell walls and dissolve the oil from the algae which can in turn be extracted through distillation or filtration. This process is more dangerous than the previous mechanical process due to the use of toxic chemicals but it does have the potential to extract 95% of the oil from the algae. The solvent and oil press extractions can be used together to achieve a higher extraction yield, but it may not be cost effective for us to invest in both procedures.
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The finished steel platform: the platform was painted and primed in order to improve light reflection as well as deter rusting. Platform is about six feet long on the inclined side. The polycarbonate tubes will be clamped onto the inclined face of the platform and the algae will be grown there. Air pumps and carbon dioxide will be stored and locked in the inside of the platform. Platform before paint: the platform was constructed using steel on all sides, with galvanized steel on the bottom. The steel was bent and welded by my dad at a South San Francisco sheet metal shop. (Berlin Food Equipment) The platform will be placed somewhere on campus within the next month and a small scale tubing design will be constructed.
We are currently looking at the most efficient and effective way to filter the algae once it has accumulated in the tubes. Two possible options are shown below: a very small sieve or a cheesecloth. Since the sieve is exponentially more expensive, we are thinking of purchasing the cheesecloth and testing its effectiveness. If it is not a viable option we will go ahead and purchase the sieve to compare test results. If neither of these methods are effective we will have to research more and find some new options to test.
We have also looked into creating a built-in system that can automatically strain the algae and recycle the water; at this point in our prototype, that seems to be a lofty goal. Once we find the right straining mechanism, we will then go on to improve our manual straining system into an automatic one. |
SUSTAINABLE ALGAE PHOTOBIOREACTORThe Sustainable Algae Photobioreactor Project is one of the various projects developed through the UC Berkeley division of Engineers for a Sustainable World (ESW). A special thanks to The Green Initiative Fund (TGIF) here at UC Berkeley for providing the grant to make this project possible.
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