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Algae Fractionation Platform Creates Value from Biofuels to Bioplastics

What does it do, how does it work, who is it aimed at?

NREL teams developed and demonstrated a unique and game-changing fractionation-based algae biorefinery process with acid pretreatment of algal biomass, releasing major biochemical constituents into respective fractions for further upgrading. Polysaccharides were converted to sugars, proteins to amino acids and peptides, leaving a residue rich in oils, for hexane extraction. This technology is a first demonstration of biomass component valorization in algae beyond lipid-based fuels. NREL demonstrated the synthesis of fuels and bioproducts, e.g. ethanol, succinic and butyric acid, from sugars, with yeast and bacteria. The extractable oils yielded renewable diesel by catalytic hydrotreating, with additional value from oleochemicals by parallel purification. Renewable biopolyurethanes from polyunsaturated lipids were synthesized, with a patented technology that replaces toxic isocyanates with protein-derived diamines, providing a safe and renewable applications in foams and coatings.

Competitively, what gives this technology an edge?

The Algae Fractionation process is unique among algae conversion processes in providing an economical route for the complete valorization of all major components of algal biomass. This technology removes a reliance of primary algae producers for bioenergy on high-lipid content biomass and is currently the only route to stringent cost and sustainability targets. The new process options developed at NREL expand the algae product portfolio and provide new routes to price-competitive biofuels despite the high-cost of algal biomass production. NREL demonstrated high yield fermentation of algae sugars to carboxylates, and 2,3 butanediol as intermediates for hydrocarbon biofuel synthesis. The modular nature of the biorefinery allows for the addition of novel products such as fully-renewable non-isocyanate polyurethanes for applications in foams and coatings using a slipstream of the oil fraction. A commercialization strategy is being developed in collaboration with plastics manufacturers.

What stage of development is this technology at right now?

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