The School of Energy Science and Engineering and the departments of Chemical Engineering and Bioscience and Bioengineering at IIT-G are actively working to contribute to a sustainable future.
Bullet Point Summary:
- Microalgae-based biorefinery model integrates wastewater treatment and biofuel production
- Efficient strategy for transforming residual microalgae into energy fuel and chemicals
- Advanced microalgal biorefinery process developed with collaboration from national and international organizations
- Lab-scale technology for producing bio-alcohols from invasive weeds
- Pilot scale technology demonstrated for producing liquid hydrocarbon oil as transportation fuel
The School of Energy Science and Engineering, department of Chemical Engineering, and department of Bioscience and Bioengineering at the Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (IIT-G) are actively working to make a major contribution to building a sustainable future. Under the Microalgae Biorefinery Model, multiple research projects are underway to develop a sustainable energy model.
Prof Parameswar K Iyer, the officiating director of IIT-G, highlighted the need for research on sustainable development and said, “Alternate fuel production is the need of the hour. IIT-G is working for the last 25 years in this domain where various researchers have contributed significantly in developing a microalgae-based biorefinery model under which waste treatment, as well as fuel production, can be carried out simultaneously. Efforts to utilize the rich biomass of NE reason for bioethanol/methanol/butanol production as an alternative to fossil fuels.”
Prof Vaibhav V Goud, head of the School of Energy Science and Engineering at IIT-G, and his research team have formulated an efficient strategy for transforming residual microalgae/biomass into energy fuel and chemicals. By implementing specific alteration strategies, such as inhibiting steps, researchers have diverted the process cycle to recover the product of choice (H2, biogas, and chemicals). Their findings showed that the combined use of residual microalgae with biomass (rice straw) enhanced energy recovery and provided a sustainable approach for developing a biomass/microalgae-based biorefinery.
Prof Kaustubha Mohanty, Adjunct Faculty at the School of Energy Science and Engineering, and his research team have developed an advanced microalgal biorefinery model that integrates wastewater treatment and high-value biofuel production via hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) where domestic sewage sludge and microalgal biomass are used as co-feedstock. The process resulted in 40% biocrude yield and properties comparable to petroleum crude. The developed biorefinery process suggests that one million domestic sewage wastewater will deliver 2,500 kg biomass feedstock and result in 980 Kg biocrude followed by 5,000 kg CO2 sequestration.
Outcomes:
- Multiple research projects underway to develop a sustainable energy model
- Development of a microalgae-based biorefinery model that integrates wastewater treatment and high-value biofuel production
- Efficient strategy to transform residual microalgae/biomass into energy fuel and chemicals
- Development of an advanced microalgal biorefinery process with the help of collaboration with national and international organizations
- Development of a lab-scale technology for producing bio-alcohols from invasive weeds
- Pilot scale technology demonstrated for the production of liquid hydrocarbon oil as a transportation fuel
Q: What is the goal of the School of Energy Science and Engineering, department of Chemical Engineering, and department of Bioscience and Bioengineering at IIT Guwahati?
A: The goal of these departments at IIT Guwahati is to make a major contribution to building a sustainable future.
Q: What research projects are being carried out under the Microalgae Biorefinery Model?
A: Multiple research projects are being carried out on renewable and sustainable energy under the Microalgae Biorefinery Model.
Q: What is the purpose of the Microalgae Biorefinery Model?
A: The purpose of the Microalgae Biorefinery Model is to simultaneously carry out waste treatment and fuel production using microalgae.
Q: What is the contribution of Prof Vaibhav V Goud and his research team in the Microalgae Biorefinery Model?
A: Prof Vaibhav V Goud and his research team have formulated an efficient strategy that transforms residual microalgae/biomass into energy fuel and chemicals.
Q: What is the result of combining residual microalgae with biomass (rice straw)?
A: The combined use of residual microalgae with biomass (rice straw) enhances energy recovery and provides a sustainable approach for developing a biomass/microalgae-based biorefinery for producing energy fuels and chemicals.
Q: What is the advanced microalgal biorefinery model developed by Prof Kaustubha Mohanty and his team?
A: Prof Kaustubha Mohanty and his team have developed an advanced microalgal biorefinery model that integrates wastewater treatment and high-value biofuel production via hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) where domestic sewage sludge and microalgal biomass are used as co-feedstock.
Q: What is the result of using microalgal biomass and sewage sludge as co-feedstock in the Co-HTL process?
A: The use of microalgal biomass and sewage sludge as co-feedstock in the Co-HTL process resulted in 40% biocrude yield and properties comparable to petroleum crude.
Q: Who are the partners in the development of the advanced biorefinery process?
A: The research team has collaborated with scientists from organizations such as IIT Kharagpur, CSIR-IICT Hyderabad, and Technical University Denmark, and with industry partners such as Purabi Diary Assam, Symbiosis Center, Denmark, and HPCL.
Q: What is the contribution of Prof VS Moholkar and his research group in the field of bio-alcohols production?
A: Prof VS Moholkar and his research group have developed lab-scale know-how for producing bio-alcohols like bioethanol and biobutanol from waste invasive weeds. They have also developed the sonic fermentation technique for the synthesis of bio-alcohols from mixed invasive weeds.
Q: What is the contribution of Debasish Das and his research group in the field of liquid hydrocarbon oil production?
A: Debasish Das and his research group in collaboration with Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) have demonstrated a pilot scale technology for the production of liquid hydrocarbon oil ALGLIQOL, with a potential to be utilized as transportation fuel via hydrothermal liquification (HTL) of microalgae biomass.
