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dc.contributor.advisorOgden, Kimen
dc.contributor.authorBalch, Brian Palmer
dc.creatorBalch, Brian Palmeren
dc.date.accessioned2016-06-10T19:01:20Z
dc.date.available2016-06-10T19:01:20Z
dc.date.issued2016
dc.identifier.citationBalch, Brian Palmer. (2016). Industrial Transesterification of Cultivated Algae for Biofuel (Bachelor's thesis, University of Arizona, Tucson, USA).
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10150/612548
dc.description.abstractThe objective of our design was to create a chemical plant that uses cultivated algae grown on site in order to produce a biofuel as an alternative energy source. Currently there is a push for sustainable energy sources and biologically produced fuels are attractive due to their near net-zero carbon emissions. Algae provides a valuable source of energy due to its growth rate and sustainability. Chemical engineering principles were utilized in design; a supercritical carbon dioxide extractor for the triglycerides in the algae cells, base catalyzed transesterification reaction in continuously stirred reactors in series and separation processes at the end in order to produce a high grade biofuel for consumer applications. Emphasis on environmental consideration also went into the design, such as the use of carbon dioxide for both the growth of the algae and solid extraction process and methanol used for the transesterification and liquid extraction, allowing for easy recycle and further reducing the environmental footprint the product fuel will have.
dc.language.isoen_USen
dc.publisherThe University of Arizona.en
dc.rightsCopyright © is held by the author. Digital access to this material is made possible by the University Libraries, University of Arizona. Further transmission, reproduction or presentation (such as public display or performance) of protected items is prohibited except with permission of the author.en
dc.rights.urihttp://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/
dc.titleIndustrial Transesterification of Cultivated Algae for Biofuelen_US
dc.typetexten
dc.typeElectronic Thesisen
thesis.degree.grantorUniversity of Arizonaen
thesis.degree.levelBachelorsen
thesis.degree.disciplineHonors Collegeen
thesis.degree.disciplineChemical Engineeringen
thesis.degree.nameB.S.E.en
refterms.dateFOA2018-04-25T15:31:40Z
html.description.abstractThe objective of our design was to create a chemical plant that uses cultivated algae grown on site in order to produce a biofuel as an alternative energy source. Currently there is a push for sustainable energy sources and biologically produced fuels are attractive due to their near net-zero carbon emissions. Algae provides a valuable source of energy due to its growth rate and sustainability. Chemical engineering principles were utilized in design; a supercritical carbon dioxide extractor for the triglycerides in the algae cells, base catalyzed transesterification reaction in continuously stirred reactors in series and separation processes at the end in order to produce a high grade biofuel for consumer applications. Emphasis on environmental consideration also went into the design, such as the use of carbon dioxide for both the growth of the algae and solid extraction process and methanol used for the transesterification and liquid extraction, allowing for easy recycle and further reducing the environmental footprint the product fuel will have.


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