Biofuels and Bioenergy

Biography

Biography: Handan Erturk

Abstract

Microalga are known to have higher lipid contents and biodiesel efficiency than most plant oil sources e.g. palm oil. We conduct algae research at our laboratory in Konya, Turkey. We studied the growth of Chlorella vulgaris at the photobioreactor in our laboratory first. We aimed to use this photobioreactor of lab. scale as feed stream to an open pond larger scale bioreactor for future work. Photobioreactor had three compartments which had separate controls for light and air circulation. Temperature was kept at 22 C - 26 C. The circulation rate was 180 L/hr. The light intensity was set at 16 hours on and 8 hrs off. The nutrient powder was dissolved in sterile water and the pH of the solution was 6.5-6.7. Inoculation of culture was performed aseptically. The algae culture was an original strain of Chlorella vulgaris, supplied from the U.S.A. This specific culture was proposed for use as bioenergy and bio fertiliser due to high lipid content.  The continuous growth was achieved at the bioreactor without contamination for more than 9 months. Slurry was dried and algae biomass was obtained. Extraction of lipids of the dried algae was performed by Bligh and Dyer method (Onay et.al. 2014). Extracted lipid was subject to transesterification reaction for production of fatty acid methylesters (FAMES).The lipid contents of sample was analysed by GC. The results for the lipid contents were: Palmitic acid: 33%, Linoleic acid: 25%, Oleic acid: 11%, Palmitoleic acid: 8%, stearic acid, arachidic acid, myristic acid traces. The fatty acid profile was as expected from the literature except the lipid composition showed some changes due to photobioreactor configuration (Frumento D., 2013). We achieved successful growth of algae at the photobioreactor and extraction of lipids for biodiesel production. Future research for optimization of the conditions of the bioreactor should be performed.

Fig: A picture of the photobioreactor with the algae grown for nine weeks

Recent publications:

1. Erturk H., H.A. Öktem. 2015. Long term maintenance and use of microalgae cultures for R&D purposes. Biotechnology Congress, Konya, Turkey
2. Eligül H., M. Sudagidan, F.B. Bezirci, H. Erturk, H.A. Öktem. 2015.  Investigation of effects of CO₂, on microalgae cultures.  Biotechnology Congress, Konya
3. Erturk H. ve P.N. Walker, (2003). Effect of Atrazine On Algal Contamination And Sugarcane Shoots During Photoautotrophic Micropropagation, Transactions of the ASAE, 46, 189-191
4. Erturk H. ve P.N. Walker, (2000). Effects of Rooting Period, Clump Size And Growth Medium On Sugarcane Plantlets In Micropropagation During And After Transformation To Photoautotrophy," Transactions of the ASAE, 43, 499-504
5. Erturk H. ve P.N. Walker, (2000). Effects of Light, Carbondioxide And Hormone Levels On Transformation To Photoautotrophy Of Sugarcane Shoots In Micropropagation," Transactions of the ASAE, 43, 147-151 (2000).