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    Advantages and Disadvantages of Biofuel

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    Elzahrae
    The document summarizes advantages and disadvantages of using algae as a biofuel source. Key advantages include algae's ability to grow rapidly and use CO2 from industrial sources, naturally produce high levels of oil, and be used in existing engines. However, algae biofuel also has disadvantages such as producing unstable biodiesel, currently being an expensive production process in early stages of development, and posing a risk to oil company profits and growth in open ponds.

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    Advantages and Disadvantages of Biofuel

    Uploaded by

    Elzahrae
    143 views2 pages
    The document summarizes advantages and disadvantages of using algae as a biofuel source. Key advantages include algae's ability to grow rapidly and use CO2 from industrial sources, naturally produce high levels of oil, and be used in existing engines. However, algae biofuel also has disadvantages such as producing unstable biodiesel, currently being an expensive production process in early stages of development, and posing a risk to oil company profits and growth in open ponds.

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    Biofuel from algae advantages and disadvantages

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    The document summarizes advantages and disadvantages of using algae as a biofuel source. Key advantages include algae's ability to grow rapidly and use CO2 from industrial sources, naturally produce high levels of oil, and be used in existing engines. However, algae biofuel also has disadvantages such as producing unstable biodiesel, currently being an expensive production process in early stages of development, and posing a risk to oil company profits and growth in open ponds.

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    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as docx, pdf, or txt
    143 views2 pages

    Advantages and Disadvantages of Biofuel

    Uploaded by

    Elzahrae
    The document summarizes advantages and disadvantages of using algae as a biofuel source. Key advantages include algae's ability to grow rapidly and use CO2 from industrial sources, naturally produce high levels of oil, and be used in existing engines. However, algae biofuel also has disadvantages such as producing unstable biodiesel, currently being an expensive production process in early stages of development, and posing a risk to oil company profits and growth in open ponds.

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    Advantages of biofuel from Algae oil:

    1. Algal species grow in a wide range of aquatic environments, from freshwater through
    saturated saline and have very high diversity that would allow to select the best strains for
    biofuels production.

    2. Algae efficiently use CO2, and are responsible for more than 40% of the global carbon
    fixation, with the majority of this productivity coming from marine microalgae. Also they
    would capture CO2 from power stations and other industrial plant that would otherwise
    go into the atmosphere.

    3. Algae especially microalgae have an advantage over terrestrial plants that they can
    produce biomass very rapidly, with some species doubling in as few as 6 h, and many
    exhibiting two doublings per day.

    4. All algae have the capacity to produce energy-rich oils, and a number of microalgal
    species have been found to naturally accumulate high oil levels in total dry biomass.

    5. Algae fuel can be used in vehicles without converting them: the type of oil made by algae
    is usable in car, jet and other types of engines without having to change or replace them.

    6. Algae biofuel contains no sulphur, is non-toxic and is highly bio-degradable.

    7. Algae have a reduced impact on the environment compared with terrestrial sources of
    biomass used for biofuels (such as palm oil, corn and soybean).

    8. They can be grown on land that would not be used for traditional agricultural, and are
    very efficient at removing nutrients from water which would allow waste water
    remediation.

    9. Algae production strains also have the potential to be bioengineered, allowing


    improvement of specific traits.

    10. Production of valuable co-products, which may allow algal biofuels to compete
    economically with petroleum. These include pet food, fertilizer, feed stock, and even
    energy drinks.
    Disadvantages of biofuel from Algae oil:

    1. Produces unstable biodiesel with many polyunsaturates: Polyunsaturated fats are known
    for their ability to retain fluidity at lower temperatures. High water content in biodiesel
    can cause problems such as water accumulation and microbial growth in fuel tanks and
    transportation equipment.
    2. Algae as a bio-fuel is expensive to produce: it is relative new technology even though
    research began over 30 years ago, it was put on hold during the mid-1990s, mainly due to
    a lack of funding and a relatively low petroleum cost. So far the research and
    development of algae bio-fuel is limited to the private sector and it is still relatively
    expensive to produce.
    3. Algae bio-fuel is in its early stages of development: it will take decades to transition
    from oil to this type of bio-fuel.
    4. Algae as bio-fuel would threaten oil company profits: although some oil companies
    (Shell, Chevron, BP) are conducting research on this alternative energy source, they are
    not ready to fully commit to the idea of green crude.

    5. Growing algae can be risky: when algae is grown in a pond, it is cheaper to produce oil.
    However, the process can be disrupted by animals if not placed in a closed, controlled
    system.

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