News

1/21/2017

University of the Philippines Los Baños

Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research & Extension

Philippine Phycological Society, Inc. (PPSI)

Invite you to a lecture on

Microalgal Biotechnology for Oil and Biofuels Production

to be given by

 

Dr. Choul-Gyun Lee
Professor, Dept. of Biological Engineering
INHA University, South Korea

February 8, 2017, 4-5:30 pm
OVCRE-DA BAR Bldg., UPLB, College, Laguna

ABSTRACT

Algal biotechnology is drawing increasing interest again due to its potential of fixing carbon dioxide and producing biofuel at the same time. Consequently, microalgae may conquer the top three environmental problems (global warming, energy crisis, and environmental pollution) in a simultaneous manner is even more exciting.

Despite all the advantages of microalgae, there are quite a number of challenges to overcome before economic production of microalgal oil/biofuels can be achieved: (i) finding/constructing algae strain(s) suitable for mass culture and for wide range of climate; (ii) maximizing solar conversion efficiency in mass culture; (iii) achieving both high oil content and high productivity in mass culture; (iv) designing and engineering of cost effective sustainable mass culture systems; (v) harvesting microalgae and extracting microalgal oils with minimal use of energy; (vi) finding cheap (and renewable) sources for methanol and nutrients (such as phosphate and nitrate).

Most of the culture systems and bioprocesses available today would be suitable for the products that cost over $10 USD/kg. Some biooils may be sold at a rather higher prices, but biofuels must be produced at a much cheaper price than the most of the biologically-driven products.

The opportunities & challenges together with the recent trends of microalgal biotechnology will be discussed based on our experience in Korea along with some photos and videos.