Anglais> Méthanisation des microalgues (Algal Biomass Summit - 09, San Diego)
07-10-09 par Symbiose
Dans le cadre du sommet sur la biomasse algale à San Diego du 6 au 9 Octobre 2009 organisé par l'Organisation de la Biomasse Algale a été présenté un poster qui illustre les enjeux et les défis associés à la méthanisation des microalgues. (contact bruno.sialve(at)naskeo.com)
Anaerobic Digestion of photosynthetic biomass toward sustainable production of bioenergy.
Sialve Brunoa, Bernet Nicolasb, Olivier Bernardc , Monique Rasb, Laurent Lardonb and Steyer Jean-Philippeb
a Naskeo Environnement, Avenue des Etangs, Narbonne F-11100, France
bINRA, UR050, Laboratoire de Biotechnologie de l'Environnement, Avenue des Etangs, Narbonne F-11100, France
cINRIA-COMORE, 2004 Avenue des lucioles, BP93, Sophia-Antipolis F-06902, France
Abstract :
Cultivation of microalgae as energetic biomass or as for CO2 fixation is subject to intense academic and industrial research. Whatever the energetic valorization strategies, massive cultures require high amounts of fertilizers and the management of residual biomass nitrogen and phosphorus rich. Anaerobic digestion is a process that can solve these issues. Indeed, it makes possible the production of energy from organic waste together the recovery of essentials nutrients such as ammonium and phosphate. However, microalgae conversion into methane is limited by three main bottlenecks: potential resistance of cell walls, high protein content (potential risk of toxic ammonia release) and presence of sodium for marine species. Several strategies are available to efficiently increase the conversion yield. Co-digestion with various types of substrates, physicochemical pretreatments of biomass and control of gross composition can be successfully applied. The ability of algal biomass to consume CO2 from flux gases or biogas, reinforce the interest of closely associating microalgal cultures and anaerobic digestion.
The Symbiose research project has recently been launched with the ambition to develop an integrated system designed to produce methane using a source of industrial CO2, a source of organic waste and solar energy. Research of ecosystems with a tolerance to the process conditions and the understanding of their ecology, two steps anaerobic digestion for improved conversion yields, modelisation and ecodesign of the integrated process are the principal fields of research addressed. Symbiose relies on recent advances in both control of microalgae cultivation and anaerobic digestion processes and it integrates ecology of pond ecosystems and ecodesign. Expected results from this program will be of key interest for most of the projects dealing with mass cultivation of microalgae.