Towards an Integrated Algae Biorefinery: Extraction, Fractionation, Purification, and Transformations

A barrel of microalgae offers chemicals to make biodiesel, pharmaceuticals, infant formula and cleaning agents, to name a only a few resources. However, to efficiently capture all of the high-value products, new integrated processes in research and development are necessary. Currently, various strategies have been presented for conversion of algal-based biomass to fuel and fine chemicals, however, it is still challenging to prove that strategies are economically viable and energetically feasible.

Join Editor-in-Chief of Environmental Science & Technology, Professor Julie Zimmerman of Yale University who will outline strategies for developing integrated algal biorefineries through a concerted development of processes for extraction, fractionation, purification, and chemical transformation of products. Register now to discover a method that not only extracts, but also separates compounds by type for different applications using CO2, an alternative to volatile organic solvents. In addition, life cycle analysis and other metrics will be discussed in the context of evaluating economic and energy viability of processes.

This ACS Webinar is moderated by Adelina Voutchkova-Kostal, Director of the Office of Sustainability at ACS and David Laviska, Portfolio Manager, Green Chemistry & Sustainability in Education at ACS and is co-produced with Chemists Celebrate Earth Week, the ACS Green Chemistry Institute, and ACS Publications.

What You Will Learn

• What processes are involved in converting algae into valuable chemicals, and the types of chemicals that can be obtained.
• The types of extraction, fractionation, purification and conversion processes that are in use in algae biorefineries today and how metrics are used to evaluate integrated algae biorefinery processes.
• Challenges in developing economically viable and energetically feasible algae biorefinery processes and the innovation gaps that need to be addressed to minimize footprint of algae biorefining and expand its scale.

Meet the Experts

Julie Zimmerman Senior Associate Dean of Academic Affairs, Professor of Green Engineering, Assistant Director for Research at Center for Green Chemistry and Green Engineering, Yale University

Adelina Voutchkova-Kostal Director, Office of Sustainablity, American Chemical Society

David A. Laviska Portfolio Manager, Green Chemistry & Sustainability in Education, Green Chemistry Institute, American Chemical Society