Dr. Philip T's Talk

Nov 27, 2018 - 16:00

Nov 27, 2018 - 17:00

Room 118 Chemical Engg Dept

Seminars

Dr. Philip T. Pienkos NREL USA

Abstract: Although algal biomass is significantly more costly to produce than lignocellulosic biomass this situation can be at least partially mitigated by the composition of the biomass which provides opportunities for conversion to a portfolio of biofuels and bioproducts. Many algal biomass conversion schemes for the production of fuels focus on either lipid extraction or hydrothermal liquefaction considering no higher value coproducts resulting in extremely challenging economics for commercialization. This presentation will summarize our work in the fully integrated processing of algal biomass starting with dilute acid pretreatment to rupture the cells allowing for both hydrolysis of carbohydrates to monomeric sugars and separation of the sugars and lipids. The sugars can be fermented to biofuels such as ethanol or higher value products such as succinic acid. Lipids can be recovered either before or after fermentation and hydrotreated to produce renewable diesel blendstock without the need for costly cleanup steps. A number of additional options for coproducts from lipid and protein streams will also be described. The portfolio of products will be discussed in a techno-economic analysis framework with implications for reducing the minimum fuel selling price to a level competitive with petroleum based diesel.Bio: Philip T. Pienkos earned his BS in Honors Biology at the University of Illinois and his Ph.D in Molecular Biology at the University of Wisconsin. He has more than 30 years of biotechnology experience in the pharmaceutical chemical and energy sectors. He is a co-founder of two companies: Celgene an established biotech/pharma company and Molecular Logix a case study for a technology-rich/funding-poor biotech startup. He joined NREL in 2007 as a section supervisor and was promoted to Principal Group Manager in 2010. He now holds the title of Strategic Project Lead managing projects in conversion of algal biomass and wet wastes to biofuels and bioproducts as well as conducting business development efforts for growth in these areas. His work involves various aspects of strain development process integration compositional analysis catalytic upgrading and molecular modeling for advanced biofuels and bioproducts based. He is part of a team of algae experts from NREL and Sandia National Laboratories who worked with the DOE to organize National Algal Biofuels Technology Roadmap Workshop held in December 2008 and was a contributor to the National Algal Biofuels Technology Roadmap document published in May 2010. Philip is a founding member of the Algae Biomass Organization and the Algae Foundation and has served as a member of the board of directors for both of those organizations. He has been named in Biofuels Digest’s list of the top 100 people in biofuels every year since that survey was established.