original slides by: Drew Sowersby (May 2011) - PowerPoint Presentation

Slide1

original slides by: Drew Sowersby (May 2011) _technical contributor for Advanced Biofuels USA

Fuels of the FutureThe Bioalcohol Paradigm

CDC PHIL /James Gathany

yeast

ethanol

liquid fuel

advanced biofuels

phytomass

fermentation

lignocellulosic

feedstocks

synthetic biology

main

topics

branched-chain

alcohols

bridge fuels

energy

www.AdvancedBiofuelsUSA.org

Slide2

Message to the reader The following slide document has been created to inform a broad audience about the importance and likely dominance of

bioalcohols in the transportation industry as the global transition from non-renewable fossil fuels to renewable advanced biofuels gains momentum. The information contained in these slides stands in support of the Advanced Biofuels USA mission.

“The Mission of Advanced Biofuels USA is to promote public understanding, acceptance, and use of advanced biofuels by promoting research, development and improvement of advanced biofuels technologies, production, marketing and delivery; and by promoting the sustainable development, cultivation and processing of advanced biofuels crops, and agricultural and forestry residues and wastes.”

These slides are for public consumption and can be duplicated, replicated, modified, adapted, distributed, transmitted, and/or shared as seen fit by the reader. Please credit sources accordingly. If you wish to modify this document, just add your name under mine on the first slide.

Note: Some slides contain additional information in notes section below

Slide3

Concerted efforts from scientists, farmers, politicians, and grassroots organizations like Advanced Biofuels USA to understand and advocate for sustainability are ongoing. Most of us are seeking the promise of global security, the development of a sustainable workforce, and an endless supply of clean renewable energy. Converting

biomass

to biofuels

for transportation fuel applications is currently one of the most active areas of investigative research in science and engineering. The following sections will offer an in-depth technical perspective of liquid fuels and demonstrate the overriding potential of bioalcohols to bridge transportation energy needs of modern society with the future of the human race.

Energy: The Root of All Civilization

2. Why

Bioalcohols

?

Blending Bridges to Sustainability

3. Leaping Barriers: Squeezing the Sun

Slide4

Section 1

Energy: The root of all civilization

Slide5

1 EJ = 1018 J

The post civil war exploitation of coal helped spawn the Industrial Age, while the subsequent incorporation of crude-oil and natural gas fossil resources helped spawn what has become a global economy. Is this pattern sustainable? Most believe the answer to this question is NO! Why?

In the beginning there was…..biofuels?

Slide6

In this section the ongoing energy crisis can be visualized in a series of graphs depicting the startling connection between:Energy ConsumptionGDP per capita (prosperity)

Population growthDebt (deficit spending)

Slide7

Slide8

chart by : http://perotcharts.com/2008/05/growth-of-us-population-1790-2050/

Slide9

http://8020vision.com/2010/06/21/the-real-population-problem/

Slide10

U.S. Energy Information Administration (Washington, DC, June 2009) Projections: AEO2010 National Energy Modeling System

U.S. primary energy use by fuel (1980-2035)

1.0 × 10

15

Btu

40%

Slide11

Breakdown of the U.S.liquid fuel market

35 quadrillion Btu’s (37 EJ) of liquid energy annually

~

95% of all liquids since 1958 have come from petroleum

1

63%

of refined petroleum was delivered to market as motor gasoline for transportation2

less than

3% biofuels

Energy Information Administration, Annual Energy Review 2008, Petroleum Consumption: Transportation Sector, 1949-2008.

2009

, U.S. Department of Energy, Washington, D.CO’Donnell, M

. Master’s Thesis, University of Texas at Austin,

2009

Slide12

Global transportation energy consumption vs. GDP in 2006

Slide13

graph from: http://environmentalresearchweb.org/blog/2009/07/high-debt-and-energy-return-on.html

Slide14

Slide15

Slide16

Energy and Economic Interconnectedness

http://tclocal.org/images/failure-feedback.jpg

Slide17

SummaryIt appears there exists a positive correlation between energy consumption, population growth rate, GDP, and the abstractions of expanding debt and monetary instability. So now what?We must now consider alternatives to the current trends of fossil fuel dependence and moves toward sustainability. The next section will discuss the

biofuels option with an in-depth analysis of the bioalcohol paradigm.

Slide18

Why Bioalcohols?

Blending Bridges to Sustainability

Section 2

Slide19

In contrast to fossil fuels, biofuels….Are sustainable (1-100 yrs vs. 106

-108 yrs)

Can be carbon neutral or negative

Have a more diversified, distributed means of production4. Can be created as reagent grade molecules (pure)

Bi

ofuels

are any biologically derived solid, liquid, or gas that stores energy used in combustion applications.

What are biofuels?

Slide20

Biowaste

Biocrude

Bioalcohol

Biogasoline (grassoline)

Biogas

Biodiesel

BIOFUEL

TYPES

Biomass

Slide21

Commercially available

Methanol

Natural Gas

PropaneBiodiesel Electricity

Ethanol

Hydrogen

Under investigation and development

Biobutanol

Fischer-

Tropsch

(FT) diesel

Gas to Liquids (GTL)Biogas Biomass to Liquids (BTL) Coal to Liquids (CTL)

Hydrogenation-Derived Renewable Diesel (HDRD)P-Series (gasoline substitute)

Alternative Transportation Fuels

Source: The Energy Policy Act (

EPAct) of 1992

Slide22

biomass

biofuels

adapted by: Drew Sowersby

conversion

Slide23

Million Barrels per Day

chart by: http://tclocal.org/images/eia-liquidfuels.jpg

Source: U.S. Department of Energy’s Energy Information Agency (EIA).

Slide24

Global biofuel supplies expected to increase dramatically

BP p.l.c., Statistical Review

, BP Energy Outlook 2030, London, January 2011

Million barrels day

less than 2% of total

liquid consumption

more than 90% of all cars

use sugarcane ethanol

Slide25

1st

generation fuels corn-starch

sugar from cane and beets soy for diesel

2nd

generation –

multi-component cellulose

switchgrass

miscanthus

agriculture

and food processing residues poplar trees

3

rd generation –

high quality cellulose microalgae

macroalgae (seaweed

)cyanobacteria

4th generation -

sun fuels carbon

dioxide + light + biocatalyst…

The evolution of biofuels is defined in terms of the carbon feedstock used for production

CO

2

impact factor

net 0

(medium to high lignin content)

(low to no lignin)

Slide26

The BioalcoholParadigm

biomass

sugar

feedstocks

fermentation

product recovery

market 1

chemical Storage

market 2

market 3

Bioalcohols currently dominate

commercially available biofuels

Slide27

http://www.vsjf.org/project-details/13/biomass-to-biofuels-resources

Biomass to

Biofuels

Slide28

biomass

bioalcohols

process generalization

Slide29

Lignocelluloses represent the most abundant source of bioenergy

Rubin, E. Nature, 2008

, 454

, 841-845.

Glucose

Treatment with

cellulases

and/or acids releases glucose monomers for fermentation

Most cellulosic material, like woods and grasses, contains lignin

Slide30

Liu, Z. L.; Slininger, P. J.; Gorsich, Appl Biochem. Biotechnol., 2005

, 124, 451-460.

organic acids

phenols

aldehydes

ketones

CLASSES of inhibitors

But lignocellulosic feedstocks are not easily converted to sugar substrate and can introduce

over

100

inhibitors into fermentation batches

1

Slide31

The yeast cell factory has been used by humans for over 8000 years to create a host of useful renewable productsAdvantages

Are the most common microorganisms used for production of biofuels (primarily alcohols) Are eukaryotic

Have simple nutrient requirements

Are prime targets for bioengineering Convert glucose to ethanol with unusual efficiency (FERMENTATION)

insulin

lactic acid

carotenoids

alcohols

carbon dioxide

polymer precursors

So far,

Saccharomyces cerevisiae

have demonstrated the ability to perform with a

lignocellulosic

feedstock.

Slide32

Ehrlich

Pathway

Glucose

Pyruvate

O

2

Glycolysis

(regulated and irreversible steps)

CO

2

+

H

2

O respiration

Fermentation

amino

acid

synthesis

CO

2

+

CH

3

CH

2

OH

Standard fermentation in yeast

Higher alcohol synthesis

Slide33

Ketoaldehydes+ CO

2

BCAAs

Branched-chain alcohols

decarboxylation

(step 2)

NADH-dependent reduction

(step 3)

transamination

(step 1)

BAT1, BAT2

PDC1

, PDC2,

PDC3

, PDC5, PDC6, ARO10, THI3 (KID1)

ADH1, ADH2, ADH3, ADH4, ADH5, ADH6, SFA1, etc.

2MB

2MP

3MB

(leucine, valine, isoleucine)

2-Keto

acids

Ehrlich Pathway

branched-chain alcohol synthesis

Yeast cells naturally create C

4

and C

5

alcohols using fermentation enzymes

superior alcohol fuel surrogates

Slide34

Nitrogen Source

Gases (CO

2 and O

2)

Water

Excess sugar

Ionic Strength

pH

Inhibitors

Viscosity

Fluid Motion

Temperature

Biocatalyst

Fermentation as a complex adaptive system

Hypothetical Interaction Map

Slide35

Isobutanol (2MP) is a viableplatform molecule

conventional motor

gasoline

isobutanol

GEVO, Inc.

Highlights

High yield isobutanol yeast fermentation (

105 g/L per batch)

Conversion to hydrocarbons

Carbon emissions reduction of 85%

Competes with oil at $65 a barrel

source: GEVO, Inc.

Slide36

C4-C5

Alcohol Platform

Case Study:

“Production of Butyric Acid and Butanol from Biomass”

Ramey D and Yang S-T, Phase II STTR Final Report for D.O.E.

(2004)

Highlights

After logging 10,000 miles butanol….

increased auto mileage by 9%

reduced oxides of nitrogen by 37%

reduced carbon monoxide to 0.01%

reduced hydrocarbons by 95%

first American company to commercialize butanol

ButylFuel

, LLC

Slide37

C4-C5

alcohols have advantagescompared to ethanol higher energy density

lower vapor pressure

lower air/fuel ratio less corrosive

less hygroscopic

higher gasoline blend ratios

“drop-in” fuel

compatible with gasoline engines, existing storage facilities, and

distribution infrastructure

Harvey, B. J.;

Meylemans, H. A.

J Chem Technol Biotechnol., 2011

, 86, 2–9.

Dürre

, P. Biotechnol. J., 2007

, 2, 1525-1534.

Slide38

Fuel

CnEnergy density(MJ/L)

Boiling point (°C )

Solubility in water at 20°C

(g/L)

Vapor pressure at 20°C (mm Hg)

Gasoline

4-12

33

38-204

negligable

275-475

Ethanol

2

21

78miscible59

2-methyl-1-propanol*

4

26

108

95

9

3-methyl-1-butanol

5

28

130

30

2

2-methyl-1-butanol

5

28

128

36

(at 30°C )

3

--information obtained from MSDSs, Sigma-Aldrich website, and NIST chemistry

WebBook

.

* a.k.a.

isobutanol

~ 1-butanol

Selected bioalcohol and gasoline properties

Slide39

Liquid Fuel Energy Densities

MJ/L

MJ/kg

Adapted by Drew Sowersby

Source:Scott

dial

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Energy_density.svg

butanol/

pentanol

sweet spot?

Slide40

Right now fuel blends are showing up at pumps across the U.S.

E10 Up to 10% ethanol to replace MTBEE15 - E85

contains 15% to 85% ethanol

requires post 2001 or Flexfuel engine technology

B20

contains 20% biodiesel / 80% diesel

made commercially from soybeans

How long until we see C

4 and C5

advanced alcohols at the pump?

BRIDGE FUELS

Slide41

Section 3

Leaping Barriers:

Squeezing the Sun

Slide42

The Obstacle Course It would be irresponsible to assume that human energy needs will be fulfilled in a timely fashion. The transition to sustainable energy will likely be a long arduous process.

Moore’s Curse and the Great Energy Delusion (The American Magazine, November 19, 2008)

“There is one thing all energy transitions have in common: they are prolonged affairs that take decades to accomplish, and the greater the scale of prevailing uses and conversions the longer the substitutions will take. The second part of this statement seems to be a truism but it is ignored as often as the first part: otherwise we would not have all those unrealized predicted milestones for new energy sources.”

- Vaclav

Smil

-

Distinguished Professor at the University of Manitoba.

Slide43

Technical Barriers

Low crop

energy density

Kerr, R.

Science,

2010

,

329

, 780-781

Supply continuity

Geographic distribution

Sheer size required for economic growth

GOAL

START

Slide44

The Bright Side

The sun delivers about 1000 W/m2

of power to Earth’s surface.

1000

Wh

= 1 kWh = 3.6 mega Joules (MJ)

peak sun hour = 1 kWh peak sun hours per day based on geo location

http://pvcdrom.pveducation.org/SUNLIGHT/AVG.HTM

Slide45

≈ 4.00 peak sun hours avg./day

11 peak sun hour = 3.6 MJ

14.4 MJ/(m

2)day × 365 days × 9.83 × 1012

m

2

≈ 5.20 × 1016

MJ/year1 MJ = 994.78 Btu

≈ 4.90 × 10

19 Btu/year

1. Solar Radiation Data Manual for Flat-Plate and Concentrating Collectors

National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL),

2006

U.S. example?

US land area

this is roughly 500X the current amount of US energy usage

Slide46

≈ 2.00-3.00 peak sun hours/day

7.2 MJ/(m2)day × 365 days × 5.14 × 1014

m2

≈ 1.35 × 10

18

MJ/year

≈ 1.28 × 10

21

Btu/year

Earth?

Slide47

“Using detailed land analysis, Illinois researchers have found that biofuel crops cultivated on available land could produce up to half of the world's current fuel consumption – without affecting food crops or pastureland. Adding LIHD (low input high density) crops grown on marginal grassland to the marginal cropland estimate from earlier scenarios nearly doubled the estimated land area to 1,107 million hectares globally, even after subtracting possible pasture land – an area that would produce 26 to 56 percent of the world's current liquid fuel consumption.” --

http://cee.illinois.edu/cai_biofuel_landPublished in the journal Environmental Science and Technology, the study led by civil and environmental engineering professor

Ximing Cai identified land around the globe available to produce grass crops for biofuels, with minimal impact on agriculture or the environment.

Slide48

What will the next transition be?

Paradigm Shiftstandard fermentation

toadvanced fermentation

2

nd

generation

biofuels1

st generation

biofuels

NON-FOOD

crops and waste/residues

FOOD

crops

CO

2

and the SUN

Slide49

Taking Us from the Present to the FutureMany companies are engaged in making these transitions happen.See a list of more than 400 companies in the Resources section on the Advanced Biofuels USA web site: http://

advancedbiofuelsusa.info/resources/companies-involved-with-advanced-biofuelsFind out more at www.AdvancedBiofuelsUSA.org