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Future of Automobile future

4^th part

In this part we shall consider prospects of using lipid exudations from an alga called,

Bytryococcus braunii Kurtz.

This article contains very special technical terms and that might detract some ordinary readers but it is essential that these terms are retained so that more knowledgeable readers can understand the subject properly. Wherever possible these terms are explained so that reading of the article can be easy for ordinary readers also.

Botryococcus is a freshwater, autotrophic, green alga which produces large quantities of lipids (fatty substance) in the form of hydrocarbons. It has been proposed as a potential renewable source of energy (Tornabene 1982). The production and storage of lipids by algae are usually regulated by environmental factors and are generally species specific (Shifrin & Chisholm 1981; Coleman et al. 1988). The enhancement of lipid storage during nitrogen-deficient conditions has been demonstrated in green algae (Shefrin & Chisholm 1981; Ben-Amtoz et al. 1985). Almost all green algae are susceptible for this but Botryococcus gives comparatively larger percentage of lipids. Lipids and carbohydrates are both used as energy reserves in algae and their synthesis is regulated qualitatively and quantitatively by a number of environmental factors. Lipids in Botryococcus are Triterpenes and not fatty acid triglycerides like in vegetable oils and so Transesterification possible with vegetable oils cannot be done with this oil. Only method usable is pyrolysis or cracking to produce fuel worthy products. Recent finding is that natural deposits of petroleum in petroleum wells are the residual oil of Miocene period deposits of Botryococcus algae.

During Miocene period, relating to the fourth epoch of the tertiary period that means almost 23.5 million to 5.3 million years ago, atmosphere had very little oxygen and greater percentage of carbon dioxide; this is the condition most suitable for Botryococcus algae to produce lipids and these lipids finally change out in the form of oil. Extremely large deposits of dead algae accumulated at the bottom of seas with frequent covering by debris from calcareous creatures made what we today call, petroleum wells. By accepting Botryococcus algae as our final oil producing material, we in a way return to the original source of our petroleum oil.

Today our atmosphere is much different from that of Miocene period. We have now oxygen percentage much higher and carbon dioxide very small. This is the principle difficulty in producing lipid rich algae under atmospheric condition. Because oxygen is more and carbon dioxide very less instead of lipids, they produce protein. Nevertheless, being epilimnion (breeding on the surface of water), they get good supply of oxygen and that reduced oil percentage. This is a disadvantage. A special arrangement made to keep natural atmosphere from reaching to this alga, which is always floating on the surface of the water (epilimnion). Other things such as growth rate and protection against predators are important. Growth rate of other algae is very fast; few hours but for Botryococcus this is very slow. It takes about 78 hours to multiply once; this is the main hurdle in producing oil from this alga. Extensive research is underway in Australia and they say that, a variety of Botryococcus is developed; which multiplies in about 48 hours. Scientists are not satisfied with this speed of multiplication; they want to bring that to 24 hours. Introducing a growth-promoting gene from related other variety into this alga could do the miracle. Other scientist suggests that even at this growth rate, we can produce oil at acceptable speed and price provided we harvest this alga in very large water bodies such as open seas. Some of them claim having faster growth rate in not enough. Lipid exudation rate is more important and to see at what life cycle of this algae maximum lipid it exude? This, easy said, than done. Predators from open sea such as whales and other big fishes as well as other vegetation and zooplanktons in the open sea can create problems.

The goal is to reduce the protein percentage of biomass to minimize the amount of fertilizer (nitrogen) that you will need to supply. This is the reason that Bb, with its high oil output, is so popular among the biofuel community.

However, in some investigations, it did not show that, the Botryococcus could inhibit zooplankton grazing. The guess was that, they produce oil as a flocculation mechanism to increase surface area so that they may float better in colder water because; most coldwater pelagic diatoms clump together like this (like meridion, pinnularia, stauroneis). These, aggregate clumps are like happy meals for hungry zooplankton and increase grazing rates. Some suggest, oil production/clumping is good to a certain point, (to get them closer to the surface) but then this gets to be too much and makes them more susceptible to herbivorous grazing by being such a big target, therefore scientists are sceptical of the suggestion that lipid exudation is a defence mechanism. Exudation continues irrespective of whether predators are present or not.

Producing oil from this alga is an art. Botryococcus exudes oily substance from its outer layers and spreads around the colony of the algae. Allowing the algae grow and only to take this oil is the art. Dr. Jian Qin of Flinders University is developing techniques. Dr. Jian Qin is working in a project, funded by the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation.

Y. Singh and H.D.Kumar of Banaras Hindu University are working on variety of Botryococcus found in fresh water ponds in India. Oil producing power of algae is not affected by water conditions such as fresh or brackish. How to supply large doses of carbon dioxide to algae through controlled atmosphere and starving it of oxygen and nitrogen based nutrient is the topic for research of these two scientists.

Binomial name

Botryococcus braunii
Kützing

Botryococcus braunii (Bb) is a green, pyramid shaped planktonic micro alga of the order Chlorococcales (class Chlorophyceae) that is of potentially great importance in the field of biotechnology. Colonies held together by a lipid bio-film matrix can be found in temperate or tropical oligotrophic lakes and estuaries, and will bloom when in the presence of elevated levels of dissolved inorganic phosphorus. The species is notable for its ability to produce high amounts of hydrocarbons, especially oils in the form of Triterpenes, which are typically around 30-40 percent of their dry weight. Compared to other green algae species it has a relatively thick cell wall due to accumulation from previous cellular divisions; making extraction of cytoplasmic components rather difficult. Fortunately, much of the useful hydrocarbon oil is outside of the cell. Optimum temperature for lipid formation is 23^o Centigrade. This makes the alga most suitable growing in temperate and warm zones of the seas.

Professor Watanabe’s vision arises from the extraordinary properties of the Botryococcus braunii algae: give the microscopic green strands enough light – and plenty of carbon dioxide – and they excrete oil. The tiny globules of oil that form on the surface of the algae can be easily harvested and then refined using the same “cracking” technologies with which the oil industry now converts crude into everything from jet fuel to plastics.

The Japanese Government has supplied him with hefty grants to work on ways of industrialising the algae cultures. The professor admits that there is much work to be done to bring the financial and environmental costs of creating algae oilfields down to reasonable levels: to meet Japan’s current oil needs would require an algae-filled paddy field the size of Yorkshire. But in laboratory conditions at least – the powers of Botryococcus braunii are astonishing.

A field of corn, when converted into biofuel ethanol, may produce about 0.2 tonnes of oil equivalent per hectare. Rapeseed may generate around 1.2 tonnes. Micro algae can theoretically produce between 50 and 140 tonnes using the same plot of land.

These articles will help you understand the issue in the right perspective so that you will not be fooled by any propagandistic writing supporting any of the options mentioned in the list given above.

I am surprised that excepting Banaras Hindu University no other University or research institute has shown interest in this important alga in India. India must take up the subject and I request all the readers of this blog to persuade Universities and research institute and ask them to take this alga for research. What we have to do in the research is very simple, find faster growing variety, use genetic engineering techniques to improve growth rate, find how to increase lipid percentage in the exudations and last but not the least is, develop technique to monitor environmental factors. I say simple because, all the techniques are already available. The point is they are applied for this alga, Botryococcus Braunii Kurtz.

In the next, in this series we shall study age-old application of producer and water gases for use as alternative fuel for petrol driven public transport. I said age-old because, this was done during second world war in our country. Only we have to think of renewing it in present situation.

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