SOUTH AUSTRALIAN RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE (SARDI)
ADELAIDE, SOUTH AUSTRALIA

Biofuels


SARDI is developing a research capability in biofuels with an initial focus on biodiesel.

The Australian Government has set a target for the production of 350 million litres (ML) of biofuels per annum by 2010, representing 1% of total Australian transport and fuel consumption (currently around 35 000 ML).

The biodiesel industry is already a significant force in the United States and Europe and is rapidly emerging as a new industry sector in Australia, with approximately 450 ML of production capacity coming on stream in 2006, up from only 10 ML in 2004.



Australian Renewable Fuels (ARF) has commissioned its first biodiesel production plant in South Australia and its second plant in Western Australia will be opened in June 2006. Using waste oil and tallow as feedstock, these plants will enable ARF to supply up to 2% of the diesel market in those States. ARF’s long-term objective is to supply up to 8% of the South Australian and Western Australian markets and 5% of the Australian markets.

To do this will require enhanced varieties in crop-based feedstocks and the development of additional novel feedstocks (e.g. microalgae) for biodiesel production. It is proposed that research funded through SARDI will be pivotal in addressing this need.


Through research and innovation, Australia could become an international leader in biodiesel systems and technologies thus underpinning emerging manufacturing and primary production industries.

SARDI Biofuels Research Program includes two subprograms - breeding and microalgae.

The Sustainable Systems Research Division, led by the Chief Rob Thomas, has developed a new program focusing on Biofuels (with an initial focus on Biodiesel). This program is led by A/Principal Scientist Dr Eric Capelle.  The primary role of the program is to use existing and new SARDI expertise and infrastructure to research and develop feedstocks for biofuel production. Reliable, affordable sources of feedstock are needed to underpin the rapidly developing Biofuels industry.



SARDI has a strategic relationship with Australian Renewable Fuels (ARF).  This company was recently listed on the Australian Stock Exchange. Its strategy is to become the leader in biodiesel production in Australia.  ARF’s first 45 000 million litre per annum production plant has been built in Adelaide and will initially use tallow as feedstock. ARF intends to expand its production capacity to 220 000 million litres per annum and to do that it will need new sources of feedstock. ARF has engaged SARDI to research and develop new (and improved) feedstocks from crops, 

microalgae and other sources.



In order to establish this position, SARDI has restructured its research groups.  Under the new structure, the Biofuels group will include two subprograms –  breeding and microalgae.

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SARDI will use current breeding and farming systems capabilities to evaluate and develop canola and mustard varieties specifically tailored to biodiesel production. Some of these varieties will be targeted to cultivation in low-rainfall areas of the state, providing farmers with more crop choice in rotations.

The SARDI aquatic science research capability will also be used to select and develop microalgae as a source of oil for biodiesel. Studies show that algae can produce up to 60% of their biomass in the form of oil. Because the cells grow in aqueous suspension where they have more efficient access to water, CO2 and dissolved nutrients, microalgae are capable of producing large amounts of oil in either pond culture of bioreactors. Both technologies will be researched at SARDI.

Projects related to Biofuels

Sustainable production of biodiesel from microalgae
Collaborators:
  • SARDI
  • Centre for Natural Resource Management
  • Australian Renewable Fuels
Objectives:
  • Bioprospecting native algae strains, laboratory culture and lipid profiling
  • Critical control studies to increase oil production
  • Evaluation of existing technologies
  • Development of labscale bioreactors and optimisation of algal oil production
  • Construction of demonstration scale bioreactors and evaluation of economic and environmental benefits. 
Budget:
  • A$1 million over three years
Leader:

Evaluation and development of new crops as feedstocks for biodiesel production
Collaborators:
  • SARDI
  • Australian Renewable Fuels
Objectives:
  • Selection and breeding of varieties tailored to biodiesel production
  • Development of agronomic packages to enhance adoption
  • Economic and environmental evaluation of new varieties in farming systems
Budget:
  • A$1.1 million over three years
Leader:


New Biofuels Research Infrastructure



The SARDI Biofuels group has been successful in winning funds of A$5 million to develop a National Photobioreactor Facility in South Australia, based at SARDI’s West Beach site. This will be one of two pilot scale facilities in Australia for developing novel biofuel production technologies and is supported by the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS). The NCRIS program is run by the Commonwealth Government and requires State Government co-investment.

The NCRIS facilities will create new research infrastructure focused on developing new technologies for producing biodiesel and bioethanol from non-food biomass, based on models which productively utilise the whole of the biomass feedstock. The facility at SARDI will enable lab-scale photobioreactor results to be validated at pilot and demonstration-scale, an essential step in taking new biofuel feedstock technologies towards full commercialisation.
Contact Biofuels

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ILLUSTRATIONS..Top....15L photobioreactor
                                 BOTTOM ..Analytical Laboratory,

SARDI 
ADELAIDE, SOUTH AUSTRALIA

NCRIS Photobioreactor Facility

Background

The new $5 million National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS) National Photobioreactor Facility is located at the South Australian Research and Development Institute’s (SARDI), Aquatic Sciences facility at West Beach, Adelaide.  The NCRIS facility provides the capability for clients to research microalgal growth in experimental photobioreactors and raceways and in real time, to manipulate and monitor the system’s operational parameters and algal photophysiological parameters whilst optimising the production of algal biomass and overall lipid yield.

Microalgal culture systems


Three systems are available:
  • The pilot-scale photobioreactor system comprises a 3.5m3 Algelink Solutions, tubular bioreactor, which is illuminated with natural sunlight. A regulated automated injection of nutrients (particularly inorganic sources of nitrogen and phosphorus) and carbon dioxide (dissolved in the water) can be achieved.
  • Three 20m2 (10 x 2 x 0.5m) raceway ponds.
  • A controlled environment room where manipulative small-scale physiological experiments can be carried out in a 15L Applikon Autoclavable photobioreactor or flasks
The facility also provides a range of microalgal harvesting systems (e.g. centrifuges) and facilities to store and process the harvested algal biomass.

The overall facility therefore includes testing and optimisation of microalgal growth, lipid and carbohydrate production, harvesting and dewatering technologies and extraction systems. 

Analytical capability



The physiological monitoring system comprises a state of the art relocatable laboratory with instrumentation selected to monitor the health and productivity of the microalgae and environment of the culture system and the water quality parameters of the growth medium.

There are three separate laboratories which in general house the:
  • analytical microalgal photophysiological equipment;
  • equipment to isolate and maintain pure cultures of microalgae; and
equipment to extract and quantify microalgal lipids and measure microalgal productivity

Laboratory equipment includes:



  • Spectrophotometer (Shimadzu UV-1700) to determine cell densities and the grow rates of the microalgae cultures.
  • Spectrofluorometer (Hitachi) to determine the lipid and chlorophyll content in algal media.
  • Automatic Soxhlet system (Gerhardt Soxtherm) to extract the lipids out of the microalgae or other oil containing organisms to determine the oil content.
  • Nutrient analyser (Aquakem 200cd) to determines the nutrient concentrations in the growing media. It also could be used to adjust the output of the automated nutrient injection system.
  • Fluorescent microscope (Olympus BX-61) to enable quantification of intracellular lipid production and the general health of the microalgal cells.
  • Flow cytometer (Beckman-coulter Cell lab Quanta SC) to simultaneously measures electronic volume, side scatter and three fluorescent colours to provide unsurpassed population resolution and accurate cell counting. Additionally it provides information on lipid and chlorophyll content, plus the health of the cells.
  • Liquid Scintillation Counter (Perkin Elmer) to measure overall productivity, carbon uptake rates and to trace lipid and carbon pathways.
  • Rotovap including classic Soxhlet extraction unit (Buchi R210, Buchi V700 and V850) to remove the remaining solvents after the hot soxhlet extraction unit. Or provide an all in one step oil cold soxhlet extraction method.
  • TOC / TN Analyser (Analytic Jenna) to analyse the total organic carbon and total bound nitrogen in liquid and solid samples.
  • Phytoplankton physiology analyser to evaluate photosynthetic yield in response to environmental conditions.
  • Gas Chromatography system to determine the ester profile of algal oil and will also determine the conversion of the oil into biodiesel.
  • HPLC system to determine the phospholipids and sterol glucosides in the microalgal oil and used for protein anlyses.
  • Gel Electrophoresis to identify and quantitate the proteins present in the algal samples.
  • Freeze Dryer to process and stabilize harvested algal samples.
  • Incubator for carbon uptake analyses

A range of additional laboratory equipment exists, including:
  • Dishwasher (Miele G7804)
  • Light meter (Li-cor LI-1400)
  • Moisture balance (Mettler-Toledo HG63)
  • Balance 3100g (Mettler-Toledo PB3001-L)
  • Micro-balance (Mettler-Toledo AB204-S/FACT)
  • Fume cupboard (Dynasafe MK3)
  • Laboratory fridge (Thermoline scientific)
  • Laboratory freezer (Thermoline scientific)
  • Refrigerated centrifuge (Eppendorf 5810 R)
  • Millipore Elix 5 Reverse Osmosis system
  • Autoclave (Hirayama HV-110L)
  • Flammable storage cabinet (Safe-T-Store 250L)
  • Corrosives storage cabinet (Storemasta 80L)
  • Heater - stirrer (VELP)
  • Platform mixer (Ratek)
  • Ultrasonic cleaner (Unisonics)
  • Oven (Invitro UNB500)
  • Laminar flow cabinet (Clyde Apac HWS Series II)

Service and costs



We offer access to quality facilities, technical expertise and advanced equipment at a subsidised rate for eligible researchers. The overall objectives are to encourage collaboration and reduce duplication of research infrastructure, nationally.
NCRIS provides the technical expertise to operate and conduct analyses at the request of customers or provide customer with the training they require to undertake the work themselves.
A comprehensive cost structure is under development and will be made available in the near future.

How to get access?



Researchers wishing to apply for access to the facilities should contact the Ausbiotech NCRIS Program Manager or contact the respective NCRIS Photobioreactor Facility Manager.

Contact

Nicole Bleasdale
NCRIS Program Manager
AusBiotech
Level 1, 322 Glenferrie Road, Malvern VIC 3144
Phone +61 3 9828 1416
Fax +61 3 9824 5188
nbleasdale@ausbiotech.org
http://www.ausbiotech.org
http://www.ncrisbiofuels.org

Dr Eric Capelle
NCRIS Photobioreactor Facility Manager
South Australian Research and Development Institute
SA Aquatic Science Centre
2 Hamra Avenue, West Beach SA 5024
Phone +61 8 8207 5369
Fax +61 8 8207 5390
Mobile 0422 004 771
capelle.eric@saugov.sa.gov.au
http://www.ncrisbiofuels.org

Staff

Dr Eric Capelle - NCRIS Photobioreactor Facility Manager
Eric holds a bachelors degree in Organic Chemistry and Analytical Chemistry and was awarded a doctorate in applied science by the University of South Australia in 2006. He was the laboratory and quality assurance manager responsible for the design, construction and operation of the Australian Renewable Fuels analytical laboratories (ASG Analytik) in Adelaide and Picton, WA. He has more than 20 years experience in quality assurance laboratories for materials manufacturing plants, as well as several years of postgraduate study in this field. He has vast experience in analytical chemistry and quality control and standards for biodiesel in Australia.
Barbara Rone-Clarke - NCRIS Laboratory Manager
Barbara holds a BSc (Hons) degree from Birkbeck College, University of London. Before joining NCRIS she was Quality Control Manager for Novozymes Biopharma. She has over 12 years experience managing quality control laboratories, both in Australia and New Zealand in a biopharmaceutical/biotechnology environment. Barbara also has considerable experience analysing oil, gas and water samples having worked in the petroleum industry in the UK and the geothermal industry in Indonesia.
Maria-Eugenia Segade-Enrique - NCRIS Technical Officer
Maria-Eugenia holds a Licenciatura en Ciencias Biologicas (M.Sc. equivalent) from the University of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Before coming to Australia, she was working for the Invertebrate laboratory of the Argentine Museum of Natural Sciences. Since arriving in Australia, she has worked for the Southern Seas Ecology Lab, Adelaide University, conducting chlorophyll analysis and processing water samples as well as rearing animals in aquaria. From January 2008 until starting with NCRIS she worked for the Environment and Ecology and Wild Fisheries science program areas at SARDI Aquatic Sciences. She has more than 6 years experience working in a variety of laboratory environments

Figure 3. Outdoor area 3 x 3000-4000l raceway ponds 
Figure 4. Flow cytometer

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