"SRS Extraction Technology has allowed us to take our Algae-to-Fuel program to the next level. With the installation of the SRS AlgaFrac™ system in Carlsbad, we will be the first fully integrated site in the US."
-Douglas Lynn,
Executive Director,
CEHMM
Ethanol
Home » Technology » EthanolThe SRS platform provides for separation of carbohydrates distinctively conditioned and well suited to liquid or gas fuel conversion. Other technologies tend to leave these valuable streams comingled in the residual biomass and the carbohydrates that are liberated tend to be long chain polysaccharides. Wet fractionation provides for cleaving long chain complex carbohydrates and producing a high concentration of predominantly C6 and C5 mono and disaccharides capable of immediate and efficient energy conversion by either direct fermentation or heterotrophic algae digestion.
| Operating Cost/ Gallon Ethanol Produced | Cellulosic Ethanol Production | Dry Mill Corn Ethanol Production | SRS Defatted Algae Biomass Ethanol Production |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yeast and Bacteria Propagation Nutrients and Amino Acids | $1.20 | $0.10 | $0.00 |
| Yeast Cost | $0.10 | $0.10 | $0.10 |
| Enzymes | $0.50 | $0.25 | $0.00 |
| Process Operating | $0.75 | $0.40 | $0.30 |
| TOTAL OPERATING | $2.55 | $0.85 | $0.40 |
| Capital Cost ($/gal of annual capacity) | $5.00+ | $2.50 | $1.75 |
| Residual Protein Concentration | <5% | 30% | 60%-70% |
Yeast fermentation trials were conducted to evalauate the conversion of the simple sugars to ethanol for a liquid fuel. The concentrated carbohydrates and simple sugars proved to be an ideal low cost feedstock for ethanol fermentation, and will be sufficient to support cost effective ethanol production at approximately 50% of the cost of traditional corn ethanol. Further, this process will enable a closed loop system and the ethanol plant can return both water and nutrients to the algae ponds. This conversion significantly reduces the cost of energy creation as illustrated in the comparative ethanol fermentation table.