Posters presented at the November 29-30, 2006 Energy Research Engagement Showcase
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43: Producing Omega-3 Fatty Acids-rich Microalgae from Biodiesel Byproduct for Use as Animal FeedsGlycerol represents the major byproduct in the biodiesel industry. In general, production of 100 pound of biodiesel yields ~10 pound of glycerol. The current market demand for glycerol in the U.S is about 600 million. With the expansion of biodiesel industry, it is estimated that there will be 1 billion pounds of glycerol produced in next few years. In general, the glycerol derived from biodiesel industry is impure and of little economic value, it is prohibitively expensive to convert and purify this crude glycerol into material that can be used for the pharmaceutical, food, and cosmetics industries. As a result, biodiesel producers must seek other methods for its disposal. In this project, we proposed to develop an alternative for utilizing those excess glycerol by growing microalgae. The algae can use glycerol as "food source" to support their growth. At the same time, the algae accumulate large quantity of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in their bodies. Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids have proved therapeutic capabilities against cardiovascular diseases, cancers, schizophrenia, and most recently noted, Alzheimers. By feeding algae with glycerol produced from biodiesel plants, the omega-3 algae biomass can be produced at a low cost. Currently, Dr. Wen at Biological System Engineering Department is collaborating with Dr. Curtis Novak at Animal and Poultry Sciences Department to explore the possibility of feeding the algal biomass to laying hens. By this practice, the omega-3 fatty acids will be converted into eggs, which will benefit the consumers eventually.
©2006
Virginia Tech Deans’ Task Force on Energy Security and Sustainability