[Digestion] Microlagae feedstock

[Paul Harris]

G'day All,

Well said Duncan Martin! 

BTW, as traffic/discussion appears to be on the increase can people try
to remember to delete all except the latest post when replying, so we
don't clutter the web/archives with multiple copies of each post.

Again, we need a "system" approach (rather than a "unit" appraoch) to
look at what energy we REALLY need and what is the most energy efficient
way of getting it. Algael farms are terrific if treating waste water and
needing biogas - they may also produce biodiesel, which is probably
needed more than biogas and the biodiesel waste may then be used for
biogas or possibly feed (human or stock?). If we need electricity then
solar is terrific (and wind/hydro!).

To quote Lord Thomas Dewar - "Minds are like parachutes; they work best
when open." and both are often only used in emergencies.

Happy Digesting,
HOOROO

Duncan Martin wrote:
> 
> Mr Karve is right about the protein.
> 
> Microalgae were once strongly promoted as sources of single-cell protein
> (SCP), which we were assured would solve the world's food problems. Their
> protein content is very high.
> 
> Unfortunately, starving people are as reluctant as the well-fed to eat
> wholly novel foods - and I recall that these SCP products tasted anything
> but appetizing. There was talk of blending them with other stuff, to
> "dilute" the taste - but it all petered out. SCP can also be high in nucleic
> acids, which could lead to toxicity problems if SCP was a major component of
> the diet.
> 
> I think the economics were unhelpful too. It's hard to undercut
> "industrially farned" soya.
> 
> So I'd be surprised if microalgae were too high in C to digest well. They
> might even be too high in N - but a mixed feedstock would solve that one.
> 
> However, as so often, I find myself questioning the basic premise of a
> proposal. If you have tonnes of microalgae that you need to dispose of, AD
> might be a good idea. But why use an expensive  multistep process (growth of
> algae, harvesting, AD), all using large-scale costly equipment (albeit with
> low running costs) to convert solar energy into biogas energy? Even if land
> is so cheap that lagoons cost little, you might do better to cover it in
> solar panels and get your energy directly.
> 
> Duncan
-- 
Mr. Paul Harris
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