Microalgae Biomass as a New Source of Sustainable Aviation

Microalgae Biomass as a New Source of Sustainable Aviation

Project Partners
Technische Universität München
Fachgebiet Industrielle Biokatalyse
Lichtenbergstraße 4, 85748 Garching
Technische Universität München
Lehrstuhl Bioverfahrenstechnik
Boltzmannstraße 15, 85748 Garching
Advanced Biomass Value
Technische Universität München
Lehrstuhl Chemie Biogener Rohstoffe
Schulgasse 16, 94315 Straubing
Technische Universität München
Lehrstuhl Technische Chemie II
Lichtenbergstraße 4, 85748 Garching
Ernst-Moritz-Arndt-Universität Greifswald
Friedrich-Ludwig-Jahn-Straße 17, 17489 Greifswald
Bauhaus Luftfahrt e.V.
Willy-Messerschmitt-Str. 1, 82024 Taufkirchen
Airbus Group Innovations
TX6SG, 81663 München
Fuchs Schmierstoffe GmbH
Friesenheimer Straße 19, 68169 Mannheim
NATECO2 GmbH & Co KG
Auenstraße 18-20, 85283 Wolnzach
BBSI-UG
Kattowitzer Straße 34, 51065 Köln
SPEETECT
Willy-Messerschmitt-Straße 1, 82024 Taufkirchen
IBB Netzwerk GmbH
Am Klopferspitz 19, 82152 Martinsried
More Information
Prof. Dr. Thomas Brück
Technische Universität München (TUM)
Department of Chemistry / Head of Industrial Biocatalysis
Lichtenbergstr. 4, 85748 Garching
Email: brueck@tum.de
BǀBǀSI
Sustainable Innovations
Microalgae Biomass as a
New Source of Sustainable
Aviation Biofuels and
Lubricant Production
Advanced Biomass Value: Microalgae biomass
as a new source of sustainable aviation biofuels
and lubricant production
The aviation industry grows 5% p.a. and by 2020 has to comply
with strict governmental emission standards that mandate a 20%
CO2 reduction compared to the emission levels measured at 2005.
Microalgae
Lipids
Concept
Together with the eminent end of fossil resources these drivers
force the development of sustainable aviation fuel alternatives that
are carbon neutral and in compliance fuel standard regulations
such as Jet A.
Algae Biomass
The same emission and CO2 standards imposed on the aviation
industry also hold for both the lubricant and building industry, which
likewise seek sustainable product alternatives.
Algae Hydrolyzate
Fermentation with Oleaginous Yeasts
In this project a new, mass- and energy efficient algae biorefinery
concept for the integrated production of aviation fuels, industrial
lubricants and CO2 adsorbing building materials has been developed.
The process chain is based on production of fast growing microalgae biomass containing up to 20% w/w lipids.
Oleaginous Yeasts Biomass
Biolipids
Formulation
Bio-Lubricants
Residue
CO2-Adsorbing
Building Materials
Chemical
Conversion
Aviation Fuel
Subsequently, algae lipids are separated from the biomass fraction
and converted to high performance, high value lubricants by targeted
functionalisation using a cascade of optimized biocatalytic processes.
The biomass residue is enzymatically hydrolyzed and used as a
fermentation substrate for oleaginous yeast strains.
Since these fast growing, oleaginous yeasts can accumulate up to
80% w/w lipids, they are the ideal biomass base for the production of
drop-in aviation fuels.
Conversion of wet yeast biomass is accomplished using a streamlined
thermochemical process that features optimized heterogenous
catalysts. In this process carbon rich coke is a residue of the thermochemical biomass processing. This residue stream is used as a settling
modifier in the production of CO2 adsorbing building materials. The
integrated biorefinery process does not produce any waste streams
and adds value to every process intermediate.