Algae and Environmental Sustainability

194 Pages·2015·6.99 MB·English

by  Bhaskar Singh

Developments in Applied Phycology 7
Bhaskar Singh
Kuldeep Bauddh
Faizal Bux Editors
Algae and
Environmental
Sustainability
Developments in Applied Phycology 7
Series editor
Michael Borowitzka, School of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Murdoch University,
Murdoch, Western Australia, Australia
More information about this series at http://www.springer.com/series/7591
Bhaskar Singh (cid:129) K uldeep Bauddh (cid:129) Faizal Bux
Editors
Algae and Environmental
Sustainability
Editors
Bhaskar Singh Kuldeep Bauddh
Centre for Environmental Sciences Centre for Environmental Sciences
Central University of Jharkhand Central University of Jharkhand
Ranchi , Jharkhand , India Ranchi , Jharkhand , India
Faizal Bux
Institute for Water and Wastewater Technology
Durban University of Technology
Durban , South Africa
Developments in Applied Phycology
ISBN 978-81-322-2639-0 ISBN 978-81-322-2641-3 (eBook)
DOI 10.1007/978-81-322-2641-3
Library of Congress Control Number: 2015959697
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Dedicated to the memories of my late grandfather
Shri Sukhari Garain
Bhaskar Singh
Dedicated to the memories of my late grandfather
Shri Jagannath Prasad
Kuldeep Bauddh

Foreword
The benefi ts of using algae for biofuels are multifaceted and include the following:
1 . N oncompetitive with food crops and land use (as long as ponds are not built on agricultural
land).
2. By most, but not all, estimates, prospective/proven oil content from algae biomass is orders
of magnitude higher than from other feedstocks like corn, sugar cane, Jatropha, etc.
3. Algae need CO to photosynthesize and can be used to sequester CO from industrial
2 2
sources of fl ue and fl aring gas. Algae-based fuels are thus C-neutral or even C-positive (i.e.,
more C-capturing than releasing).
4. Algae can be used to remediate high-nutrient water sources such as sewage treatment
plants, agricultural runoff, and landfi ll leachate basins. This linkage not only cleans up the
water but may also lower the cost for nutrients needed to culture algae.
5. End products can be biofuel along with other higher value products such as feed (protein),
cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and health-related products (e.g., omega-3 fatty acids).
6. Different species of algae can be grown in polluted, saline, brackish, and freshwater.
7. Algae can be used as one component of an aquaculture-centered system where fi sh like
Tilapia are grown for food in a recirculating and hydroponic system.
8. Algae do not contribute to acid deposition (i.e., no SO emissions).
2
9. Some species of blue-green algae utilize N to produce NO (a process called “biological
2 3
nitrogen fi xation”), thus sequestering atmospheric nitrogen and eliminating or at least less-
ening the need for nitrogen fertilizers. This can help reduce the need for nitrogen fertilizers
and, more importantly, help confront the expanding “dead zone” in the Gulf of Mexico.
Bhaskar Singh, Kuldeep Bauddh, and Faizal Bux have successfully compiled a group of 14
scientifi c papers to discuss most of these benefi ts. We can dream together that one day (hope-
fully soon) we will link algae growing in sewage treatment ponds with carbon dioxide emis-
sions from local power plants, cement factories, and oil refi neries so that CO and nutrients are
2
reduced while sustainable energy is competitively produced.
Oral Roberts University John Korstad
Tulsa , OK , USA
July 5, 2015
vii

Pref ace
A lgae have long been an area of interest due to their usefulness as food (for protein, dietary
fi ber, mineral, antioxidants), other valuable products, and, more recently, as a potential feed-
stock for biofuels. Because algae grow much faster than terrestrial plants, there is immense
potential in harnessing it as a raw material in energy generation. However, there are a few
bottlenecks in the commercialization of algal-based biofuels, and thus the present mode of
biofuels synthesis is expensive. Growing algae for additional purposes such as treatment of
wastewater (phycoremediation) and sequestration of carbon may make the higher cost worth-
while. Through phycoremediation, various pollutants including toxic heavy metals can be
removed. A lgae and Environmental Sustainability aims to address recent advancements in the
role of algae in generation of biofuels and their diverse role in enhancing environmental
sustainability.
C hapters in the book include discussion on algae as a promising future feedstock for biofu-
els, phycoremediation potential of algae, role of algal biofi lms in treatment of wastewater,
mathematical modeling in predicting performance, scaling-up for production of algae bio-
mass, culturing algae for wastewater treatment, remediation of sewage water, role of anaerobic
digestion for production of biogas with a biorefi nery approach, integration of several technolo-
gies in a biorefi nery approach that maximizes the benefi ts and makes the overall process of
biofuels production economical, utilization of waste products obtained from biomass that
reduces the pollution load in the environment, biohydrogen production and its economical
assessment and major bottlenecks, techniques involved in the characterization of bio-oil and
biodiesel, remediation of dyes from aquatic environments through biosorption using algae, a
case study that reports algal bioremediation and decolorization of biomethanated distillery
effl uent, application of genetic engineering in the enhancement of algal lipid production and
its present scenario and future aspects, phycoremediation of emerging contaminants that fi nd
their way in the environment through personal care products, pesticides and endocrine disrup-
tors such as hormonally active agents, potential of algae in carbon dioxide, and role of remote
sensing in the monitoring of microalgae and life cycle analysis of algal biofuels to assess their
environmental, social, and economic perspectives.
Ranchi , India Bhaskar Singh
Kuldeep Bauddh
Durban , South Africa Faizal Bux
ix