Abstract
The high cost of axenic microalgae cultivation in photobioreactors limits nowadays the potential uses of microalgal biomass as a feedstock for the production of biodiesel or bioethanol. In this context, microalgae-based wastewater treatment (WWT) has emerged as the leading method of cultivation for supplying microalgae at low cost and low environmental impacts, while achieving sewage treatment. Nonetheless, the year-round dynamics in microalgae population and cell composition when grown in WWTPs restrict the use of this low-quality biomass to biogas production via anaerobic digestion. Although the macromolecular composition of the microalgae produced during wastewater treatment is similar to that of sewage sludge, the recalcitrant nature of microalgae cell walls requires an optimisation of pretreatment technologies for enhancing microalgae biodegradability. In addition, the low C/N ratio, the high water content and the suspended nature of microalgae suggest that microalgal biomass will also benefit from anaerobic co-digestion with carbon-rich substrates, which constitutes a field for further research. Photosynthetic microalgae growth can also support an effective CO2 capture and H2S oxidation from biogas, which would generate a high-quality biomethane complying with most international regulations for injection into natural gas grids or use as autogas. This book chapter will critically review the most recent advances in biogas production from microalgae, with a special focus on pretreatment technologies, co-digestion opportunities, modelling strategies, biogas upgrading and process microbiology.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Abatzoglou, N., & Boivin, S. (2009). A review of biogas purification processes. Biofuels Bioproducts Biorefining, 3, 42–71.
Abo-Shady, A. M., Mohamed., Y. A., & Lasheen T. (1993). Chemical composition of the cell wall in some green algae species. Biologia Plantarum, 35(4), 629–632.
Accettola, F., Guebitz, G., & Schoeftner, R. (2008). Siloxane removal from biogas by biofiltration: Biodegradation studies. Clean Technologies and Environmental Policy, 10, 211–218.
Alzate, M. E., Muñoz, R., Rogalla, F., Fdz-Polanco, F., & Pérez-Elvira, S. I. (2012). Biochemical methane potential of microalgae: Influence of substrate to inoculum ratio, biomass concentration and pretreatment. Bioresource Technology, 123, 488–494.
Angelidaki I., & Ahring B. K., 2000. Methods for increasing the biogas potential from the recalcitrant organic matter contained in manure. Water Science and Technology, 41(3), 189–194.
Arnell, M., Astals, S., Åmand, L., Batstone, D. J., Jensen, P. D., & Jeppsson, U. (2016). Modelling anaerobic co-digestion in Benchmark Simulation Model No. 2: Parameter estimation, substrate characterisation and plant-wide integration. Water Research, 98, 138–146.
Astals, S., Batstone, D. J., Mata-Alvarez, J., & Jensen, P. D. (2014). Identification of synergistic impacts during anaerobic co-digestion of organic wastes. Bioresource Technology, 169, 421–427.
Bailón, L., & Hinge, J. (2012). Report: Biogas and bio-syngas upgrading. Danish Technological Institute. http://www.teknologisk.dk/_root/media/52679_ReportBiogas%20and%20syngas%20upgrading.pdf.
Batstone, D. J. (2006). Mathematical modelling of anaerobic reactors treating domestic wastewater: Rational criteria for model use. Review Environment Science Bio/Technology, 5, 57–71.
Batstone, D. J., & Keller, J. (2002). Industrial applications of the IWA anaerobic digestion. Water Science and Technology, 1, 199–206.
Batstone, D. J., Puyol, D., Flores-Alsina, X., & Rodríguez, J. (2015). Mathematical modelling of anaerobic digestion processes: Applications and future needs. Rev: Environment Science Bio/Technology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11157-015-9376-4.
Bauer, F., Hulteberg, C., Persson, T., & Tamm, D. (2013). Biogas upgrading—Review of commercial technologies. SGC Rapport 2013:270. SGC. http://vav.griffel.net/filer/C_SGC2013-270.pdf.
Beltrán, C., Jeison, D., Fermoso, F. G., & Borja, R. (2016). Batch anaerobic co-digestion of waste activated sludge and microalgae (Chlorella sorokiniana) at mesophilic temperature. Journal of Environmental Science and Health—Part A, 51(10), 847–850.
Blumreisinger, M., Meindl, D., & Loos, E. (1983). Cell wall composition of chlorococcal algae. Phytochemistry, 22(7), 1603–1604.
Bohutskyi, P., Betenbaugh, M. J., & Bouwer, E. J. (2014). The effects of alternative pretreatment strategies on anaerobic digestion and methane production from different algal strains. Bioresource Technology, 155, 366–372.
Brown, M. R., Jeffrey, S. W., Volkman, J. K., & Dunstan, G. A. (1997). Nutritional properties of microalgae for mariculture. Aquaculture, 151, 315–331.
Capson-Tojo, G., Torres, A., Munoz, R., Bartacek, J., & Jeison, D. (2017). Mesophilic and thermophilic anaerobic digestion of lipid-extracted microalgae N-gaditana for methane production. Renewable Energy, 105, 539–546.
Cea-Barcia, G., Moreno, G., & Buitron, G. (2015). Anaerobic digestion of mixed microalgae cultivated in secondary effluent under mesophilic and thermophilic conditions. Water Science and Technology, 72(8), 1398–1403.
Chen, P. H., & Oswald, W. J. (1998). Thermochemical pretreatment for algal fermentation. Environment International, 24(8), 889–897.
Chisti, Y. (2007). Biodiesel from microalgae. Biotechnology Advances, 25(3), 294–306.
Díaz, I., Pérez, C., Alfaro, N., & Fdz-Polanco, F. (2015). A feasibility study on the bioconversion of CO2 and H2 to biomethane by gas sparging through polymeric membranes. Bioresource Technology, 185, 246–253.
Derenne, S., Largeau, C., Berkaloff, C., Rousseau, B., Wilhelm, C., & Hatcher, P. G. (1992). Non-hydrolysable macromolecular constituents from outer walls of Chlorella fusca and Nanochlorum eucaryotum. Phytochemistry, 31(6), 1923–1929.
Domozych, D. S., Stewart, K. D., & Mattox, K. R. (1980). The comparative aspects of cell wall chemistry in the green algae (Chlorophyta). Journal of Molecular Evolution, 15(1), 1–12, ISSN: 1432-1432.
Donoso-Bravo, A., Mailier, J., Martin, C., Rodríguez, J., Aceves-Lara, C. A., & Vande Wouwer, A. (2011). Model selection, identification and validation in anaerobic digestion: A review. Water Research, 45, 5347–5364.
Donoso-Bravo, A., Pérez-Elvira, S. I., & Fdz-Polanco, F. (2010). Application of simplified models for anaerobic biodegradability tests. Evaluation of pre-treatment processes. Chemical Engineering Journal, 160, 607–614.
Ehimen, E. A., Sun, Z. F., Carrington, C. G., Birch, E. J., & Eaton-Rye, J. J. (2011). Anaerobic digestion of microalgae residues resulting from the biodiesel production process. Applied Energy, 88(10), 3454–3463.
Fernandez-Rodriguez, M. J., Rincon, B., Fermoso, F. G., Jimenez, A. M., & Borja, R. (2014). Assessment of two-phase olive mill solid waste and microalgae co-digestion to improve methane production and process kinetics. Bioresource Technology, 157, 263–269.
Gabriel, D., Deshusses, M. A., & Gamisans, X. (2013). Desulfurization of biogas in biotrickling filter. In: John Wiley & Sons (Ed.), Air pollution prevention and control: Bioreactors and bioenergy (1st ed., pp. 513–523). Wiley: Hoboken.
Gelin, F., Boogers, I., Noordeloos, A. A. M., Damsté J. S. S., Riegman, R., & De Leeuw J. W. (1997). Resistant biomacromolecules in marine microalgae of the classes eustigmatophyceae and chlorophyceae: Geochemical implications. Organic Geochemistry, 26(11–12), 659–675.
Giménez, J. B., Aguado, D., Bouzas, A., Ferrer, J., & Seco, A. (2017). Use of rumen microorganisms to boost the anaerobic biodegradability of microalgae. Algal Research, 24, 309–316.
Golueke, C. G., Oswald, W. J., & Gotaas, H. B. (1957). Anaerobic digestion of Algae. Applied Microbiology, 5(1), 47–55.
González-Fernández, C., Sialve, B., Bernet, N., & Steyer, J. P. (2012). Impact of micro- algae characteristics on their conversion to biofuel. Part II: Focus on biomethane production. Biofuels, Bioproducts and Biorefining, 6(2), 205–218.
Grobbelaar, J. U. (2004). Algal nutrition. In A. Richmond (Ed.), Handbook of microalgal culture: Biotechnology and applied phycology, Hoboken: Wiley-Blackwell.
Herrmann, C., Kalita, N., Wall, D., Xia, A., & Murphy, J. D. (2016). Optimised biogas production from microalgae through co-digestion with carbon-rich co-substrates. Bioresource Technology, 214, 328–337.
Hidaka, T., Takabe, Y., Tsumori, J., & Minamiyama, M. (2017). Characterization of microalgae cultivated in continuous operation combined with anaerobic co-digestion of sewage sludge and microalgae. Biomass and Bioenergy, 99, 139–146.
IEA, Task 40 and Task 37 Joint Study. http://task40.ieabioenergy.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/t40-t37-biomethane-2014.pdf.
Jankowska, E., Sahu, A. K., & Oleskowicz-Popiel, P. (2017). Biogas from microalgae: Review on microalgae’s cultivation, harvesting and pretreatment for anaerobic digestion. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 75, 692–709.
Kadouri, A., Derenne, S., Largeau, C., Casadevall, E., & Berkaloff, C. (1988). Resistant biopolymer in the outer walls of Botryococcus braunii, B race. Phytochemistry, 27(2), 551–557.
Kinnunen, V., Craggs, R., & Rintala, J. (2014). Influence of temperature and pretreatments on the anaerobic digestion of wastewater grown microalgae in a laboratory-scale accumulating volume reactor. Water Research, 57, 247–257.
Klassen, V., Blifernez-Klassen, O., Wobbe, L., Schlüter, A., Kruse, O., & Mussgnug, J. H. (2016). Efficiency and biotechnological aspects of biogas production from microalgal substrates. Journal of Biotechnology, 234, 7–26.
Lardon, L., Helias, A., Sialve, B., Steyer, J. P., & Bernard, O. (2009). Life-cycle assessment of biodiesel production from microalgae. Environmental Science and Technology, 43(17), 6475–6481.
Lee, E., Cumberbatch, J., Wang, M., & Zhang, Q. (2017). Kinetic parameter estimation model for anaerobic co-digestion of waste activated sludge and microalgae. Bioresource technology, 228, 9–17.
Loos, E., & Meindl, D. (1982). Composition of the cell wall of Chlorellafusca. Planta, 156(3), 270–273.
Mahdy, A., Mendez, L., Ballesteros, M., & González-Fernández, C. (2015). Protease pretreated Chlorella vulgaris biomass conversion to methane via semi-continuous anaerobic digestion. Fuel, 158, 35–41.
Mahdy, A., Fotidis, I. A., Mancini, E., Ballesteros, M., González-Fernández, C., & Angelidaki, I. (2017). Ammonia tolerant inocula provide a good base for anaerobic digestion of microalgae in third generation biogas process. Bioresource Technology, 225, 272–278.
Mairet, F., Bernard, O., Cameron, E., Ras, M., Lardon, L., Steyer, J.-P., et al. (2012). Three-reaction model for the anaerobic digestion of microalgae. Biotechnology and Bioengineering, 109, 415–425.
Mairet, F., Bernard, O., Ras, M., Lardon, L., & Steyer, J.-P. (2011). Modeling anaerobic digestion of microalgae using ADM1. Bioresource Technology, 102, 6823–6829.
Mata, T. M., Martins, A. A., & Caetano, N. S. (2010). Microalgae for biodiesel production and other applications: A review. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 14(1), 217–232.
Mata-Alvarez, J., Dosta, J., Romero-Güiza, M. S., Fonoll, X., Peces, M., & Astals, S. (2014). A critical review on anaerobic co-digestion achievements between 2010 and 2013. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 36, 412–427.
Meier, L., Pérez, R., Azócar, L., Rivas, M., & Jeison, D. (2015). Photosynthetic CO2 uptake by microalgae: An attractive tool for biogas upgrading. Biomass and Bioenergy, 73, 102–109.
Montingelli, M. E., Tedesco, S., & Olabi, A. G. (2015). Biogas production from algal biomass: A review. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 43, 961–972.
Muñoz, R., Meier, L., Diaz, I., & Jeison, D. (2015). A critical review on the state-of-the-art of physical/chemical and biological technologies for an integral biogas upgrading. Reviews in Environmental Science and Biotechnology, 14, 727–759.
Neumann, P., Torres, A., Fermoso, F. G., Borja, R., & Jeison, D. (2015). Anaerobic co-digestion of lipid-spent microalgae with waste activated sludge and glycerol in batch mode. International Biodeterioration and Biodegradation, 100, 85–88.
Okuda, K. (2002). Structure and phylogeny of cell coverings. Journal of Plant Research, 115, 283–288.
Ometto, F., Quiroga, G., Psenicka, P., Whitton, R., Jefferson, B., & Villa, R. (2014). Impacts of microalgae pre-treatments for improved anaerobic digestion: Thermal treatment, thermal hydrolysis, ultrasound and enzymatic hydrolysis. Water Research, 65, 350–361.
Park, J. B. K., Craggs, R. J., & Shilton, A. N. (2011). Wastewater treatment high rate algal ponds for biofuel production. Bioresource Technology, 102(1), 35–42.
Park, S., & Li, Y. (2012). Evaluation of methane production and macronutrient degradation in the anaerobic co-digestion of algae biomass residue and lipid waste. Bioresource Technology, 111, 42–48.
Passos, F., Uggetti, E., Carrère, H., & Ferrer, I. (2014a). Pretreatment of microalgae to improve biogas production: A review. Bioresource Technology, 172, 403–412.
Passos, F., Hernández-Mariné, M., García, J., & Ferrer, I. (2014b). Long-term anaerobic digestion of microalgae grown in HRAP for wastewater treatment. Effect of microwave pretreatment. Water Research, 49, 351–359.
Passos, F., & Ferrer, I. (2014). Microalgae conversion to biogas: Thermal pretreatment contribution on net energy production. Environmental Science and Technology, 48(12), 7171–7178.
Passos, F., Gutiérrez, R., Brockmann, D., Steyer, J. P., García, J., & Ferrer, I. (2015). Microalgae production in wastewater treatment systems, anaerobic digestion and modelling using ADM1. Algal Research, 10, 55–63.
Passos, F., & Ferrer, I. (2015). Influence of hydrothermal pretreatment on microalgal biomass anaerobic digestion and bioenergy production. Water Research, 68, 364–373.
Peng, S., & Colosi, L. M. (2016). Anaerobic digestion of algae biomass to produce energy during wastewater treatment. Water Environment Research, 88(1), 29–39.
Rajagopal, R., Massé, D.I., Singh, G. 2013. A critical review on inhibition of anaerobic digestion process by excess ammonia. Bioresource Technology, 143, 632–641. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960852413009498
Rizwan, M., Lee, J. H., & Gani, R. (2015). Optimal design of microalgae-based biorefinery: Economics, opportunities and challenges. Applied Energy, 150, 69–79.
Rodriguez, C., Alaswad, A., Mooney, J., Prescott, T., & Olabi, A. G. (2015). Pre-treatment techniques used for anaerobic digestion of algae. Fuel Processing Technology, 138, 765–779.
Rusten, B., & Sahu, A. K. (2011). Microalgae growth for nutrient recovery from sludge liquor and production of renewable bioenergy. Water Science and Technology, 64, 1195–1201.
Sahu, A. K., Siljudalen, J., Trydal, T., & Rusten, B. (2013). Utilisation of wastewater nutrients for microalgae growth for anaerobic co-digestion. Journal of Environmental Management, 122, 113–120.
Sanz, J. L., Rojas, P., Morato, A., Mendez, L., Ballesteros, M., & González-Fernández, C. (2017). Microbial communities of biomethanization digesters fed with raw and heat pre-treated microalgae biomasses. Chemosphere, 168, 1013–1021.
Schwede, S., Kowalczyk, A., Gerber, M., & Span, R. (2013). Anaerobic co-digestion of the marine microalga Nannochloropsis salina with energy crops. Bioresource Technology, 148, 428–435.
Scott, S. A., Davey, M. P., Dennis, J. S., Horst, I., Howe, C. J., Lea-Smith, D. J., et al. (2010). Biodiesel from algae: Challenges and prospects. Current Opinion in Biotechnology, 21(3), 277–286.
Sialve, B., Bernet, N., & Bernard, O. (2009). Anaerobic digestion of microalgae as a necessary step to make microalgal biodiesel sustainable. Biotechnology Advances, 27(4), 409–416.
Simpson, A. J., Zang, X., Kramer, R., & Hatcher, P. G. (2003). New insights on the structure of algaenan from Botryoccocus braunii race A and its hexane insoluble botryals based on multidimensional NMR spectroscopy and electrospray-mass spectrometry techniques. Phytochemistry, 62(5), 96–783.
Solé-Bundó, M., Carrère, H., Garfí, M., & Ferrer, I. (2017). Enhancement of microalgae anaerobic digestion by thermo-alkaline pretreatment with lime (CaO). Algal Research, 24, 199–206.
Stephens, E., Ross, I. L., King, Z., Mussgnug, J. H., Kruse, O., Posten, C., et al. (2010). An economic and technical evaluation of microalgal biofuels. Nature Biotechnology, 28(2), 126–128.
Tartakovsky, B., Lebrun, F. M., & Guiot, S. R. (2015). High-rate biomethane production from microalgal biomass in a UASB reactor. Algal Research-Biomass Biofuels and Bioproducts, 7, 86–91.
Thrän, D., Persson, T., Daniel-Gromke, J., Ponitka, J., Seiffert, M., Boldwin, D., & et al. (2014). Biomethane—status and factors affecting market development and trade. IEA.
Toledo-Cervantes, A., Estrada, J. M., Lebrero, R., & Muñoz, R. (2017). A comparative analysis of biogas upgrading technologies: Photosynthetic versus physical/chemical processes. Algal Research, 25, 237–243.
Tomei, M. C., Braguglia, C. M., Cento, G., & Mininni, G. (2009). Modeling of anaerobic digestion of sludge. Critical Reviews in Environment Science and Technology, 39, 1003–1051.
Torres, A., Fermoso, F.G., Rincón, B., Bartacek, J., Borja, R., & Jeison, D. (2013). Challenges for cost-effective microalgae anaerobic digestion. In R. Chamy & F. Rosenkranz (Eds.) Biodegradation—Engineering and Technology. Intech: Croatia.
Wang, M., Lee, E., Zhang, Q., & Ergas, S. J. (2016a). Anaerobic co-digestion of swine manure and microalgae chlorella sp.: Experimental studies and energy analysis. Bioenergy Research, 9(4), 1204–1215.
Wang, M., Lee, E., Dilbeck, M.P., Liebelt, M., & Zhang, Q., Ergas, S. J. (2016b). Thermal pretreatment of microalgae for biomethane production: Experimental studies, kinetics and energy analysis. Journal of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology. https://doi.org/10.1002/jctb.5018.
Ward, A. J., Lewis, D. M., & Green, B. (2014). Anaerobic digestion of algae biomass: A review. Algal Research-Biomass Biofuels and Bioproducts, 5, 204–214.
Weyer, K. M., Bush, D. R., Darzins, A., & Willson, B. D. (2010). Theoretical maximum algal oil production. Bioenergy Research, 3(2), 204–213.
Yen, H. W., & Brune, D. E. (2007). Anaerobic co-digestion of algal sludge and waste paper to produce methane. Bioresource Technology, 98(1), 130–134.
Yuan, X., Wang, M., Park, C., Sahu, A. K., & Ergas, S. J. (2012). Microalgae growth using high-strength wastewater followed by anaerobic co-digestion. Water Environment Research, 84(5), 396–404.
Zamalloa, C., Boon, N., & Verstraete, W. (2012a). Anaerobic digestibility of Scenedesmus obliquus and Phaeodactylum tricornutum under mesophilic and thermophilic conditions. Applied Energy, 92, 733–738.
Zamalloa, C., De Vrieze, J., Boon, N., & Verstraete, W. (2012b). Anaerobic digestibility of marine microalgae Phaeodactylum tricornutum in a lab-scale anaerobic membrane bioreactor. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, 93(2), 859–869.
Zhen, G., Lu, X., Kobayashi, T., Kumar, G., & Xu, K. (2016). Anaerobic co-digestion on improving methane production from mixed microalgae (Scenedesmus sp., Chlorella sp.) and food waste: Kinetic modeling and synergistic impact evaluation. Chemical Engineering Journal, 299, 332–341.
Zhong, W., Chi, L., Luo, Y., Zhang, Z., Zhang, Z., & Wu, W. M. (2013). Enhanced methane production from Taihu Lake blue algae by anaerobic co-digestion with corn straw in continuous feed digesters. Bioresource Technology, 134, 264–270.
Acknowledgements
The financial support from MINECO and the FEDER funding programme is gratefully acknowledged (CTM2015-70442-R). The project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No. 689242. David Jeison acknowledges the support provided by CRHIAM Centre (CONICYT/FONDAP/15130015).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2018 Springer International Publishing AG
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Passos, F., Mota, C., Donoso-Bravo, A., Astals, S., Jeison, D., Muñoz, R. (2018). Biofuels from Microalgae: Biomethane. In: Jacob-Lopes, E., Queiroz Zepka, L., Queiroz, M. (eds) Energy from Microalgae . Green Energy and Technology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-69093-3_12
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-69093-3_12
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-69092-6
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-69093-3
eBook Packages: EnergyEnergy (R0)