Netherlands-based TNO has collaborated with algae cultivator 'Algae Food and Fuel' to establish a mobile algae bio-refinery, which will be used in locations where algae can be cultivated.
The algae is refined into purified raw materials, which can be used as food ingredients and chemicals, replacing substances with a high carbon footprint with sustainable algae-based ingredients.
The construction of the bio-refinery is expected to be completed after the first quarter of 2014, following which it will be installed at various locations for algae cultivation.
Bio-refining process involves a challenging task, to retain the functionalities of the different algae ingredients, which requires a mild process technology that will be installed in the mobile refinery.
The mobile installation also comprises membrane modules, extraction equipment and a number of reactor vessels.
Ingredients such as nutritional proteins, oil, omega-3 fatty acids, emulsifiers, pigments, antioxidants and fibers would be produced at the facility.
Algae has been considered as crop of the future and a potentially sustainable source for the production of all kinds of products. However, it is being produced on a small scale due to high costs associated with the process.
Refining the algae on site and purifying the ingredients could help reduce cultivation costs, TNO said. Getting Algae Ingredients Applied (GAIA) is a program, commenced by TNO, Sabic, van Wijhe Verf and de Wit Oils, which focuses on this strategy.
The value of a kilo algae can be boosted by opening the algae cells through refining and then separating and purifying the proteins, fats and carbohydrates.
