Emerging Researchers National (ERN) Conference

nsf-logo[1]

  • About
    • About AAAS
    • About the NSF
    • About the Conference
    • Partners/Supporters
    • Project Team
  • Registration
    • Conference Registration
    • Exhibitor Registration
    • Hotel Reservations
  • Abstracts
    • Abstract Submission Process
    • Presentation Schedules
    • Abstract Submission Guidelines
    • Presentation Guidelines
    • Undergraduate Abstract Locator (2020)
    • Graduate Abstract Locator (2020)
    • Faculty Abstract Locator (2020)
  • Travel Awards
  • Resources
    • App
    • Award Winners
    • Code of Conduct-AAAS Meetings
    • Code of Conduct-ERN Conference
    • Conference Agenda
    • Conference Materials
    • Conference Program Books
    • ERN Photo Galleries
    • Events | Opportunities
    • Exhibitor Info
    • HBCU-UP/CREST PI/PD Meeting
    • In the News
    • NSF Harassment Policy
    • Plenary Session Videos
    • Professional Development
    • Science Careers Handbook
    • Additional Resources
    • Archives
  • Engage
    • Webinars
    • Video Contest
    • Video Contest Winners
    • ERN 10-Year Anniversary Videos
    • Plenary Session Videos
  • Contact Us
  • App View

Biofuel Yields of Various Freshwater Nuisance Algae

Undergraduate #130
Discipline: Biological Sciences
Subcategory: Plant Research

Alexander Goodwyn - Eastern Michigan University
Co-Author(s): Johnathan Henderson



Many lakes, ponds, and rivers in North America are overrun with nuisance, sometimes-toxic algae that bloom due to unnaturally high levels of nitrogen and phosphorus. These nuisance algal blooms are often harmful to the both the ecology and economic value of aquatic environments. However, some have proposed these nuisance algal blooms might be harvested and used for production of biocrude oil – a proposition that would help improve the aquatic ecosystem while also providing the raw material needed to make algal biofuels. We tested the hypothesis that nuisance algae that form blooms in lakes and streams are a source of biocrude oil, with values that are comparable to leading cultures of algae that are presently used for biofuel research. To test this hypothesis, we collected many forms of nuisance algae from ponds and lakes in southeastern Michigan and used a process known as hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) to extract and quantify biocrude oil as a percentage of algal biomass. Our highest yielding species was a Cladaphora sample collected from Ford Lake giving a 18.5% BYC (Biocrude yield) and the lowest yield coming from a sample of Zygnema, collected from Eastern Michigan University, giving 7.6% BCY. Our study leads us to conclude that nuisance algae are much less efficient sources of biofuel than typical laboratory strains of algae used in biofuel research, suggesting that economically-viable use of nuisance algal blooms is unlikely to be feasible.

Funder Acknowledgement(s): This work was funded by a Research Experience and Mentoring (REM) supplement to grant 1332342 from NSF’s Emerging Frontiers in Research and Innovation (EFRI) Program. The supplement supported development of an undergraduate internship program co-run by Dr. Bradley Cardinale (University of Michigan) and Dr. Steve Francoeur (Eastern Michigan University).

Faculty Advisor: Bradley Cardinale,

ERN Conference

Celebrating 10 years of ERN!

What’s New

  • Webinars
  • Events|Opportunities
  • AAAS CEO Comments on Social Unrest, Racism, and Inequality
  • Maintaining Accessibility in Online Teaching During COVID-19
  • In the News
  • #ShutDownSTEM
  • HBCU/CREST PI/PD Meeting

Conference Photos

ERN Conference Photo Galleries

Awards

ERN Conference Award Winners

Checking In

Navigation

  • About the ERN Conference
  • Partners/Supporters
  • Abstracts
  • Travel Awards
  • Conference Registration
  • Exhibitor Registration
  • Hotel Reservations

nsf-logo[1]

This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF) under Grant No. DUE-1930047. Any opinions, findings, interpretations, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of its authors and do not represent the views of the AAAS Board of Directors, the Council of AAAS, AAAS’ membership or the National Science Foundation.

AAAS

1200 New York Ave, NW Washington,DC 20005
202-326-6400
Contact Us
About Us

The World's Largest General Scientific Society

Useful Links

  • Membership
  • Careers at AAAS
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use

Focus Areas

  • Science Education
  • Science Diplomacy
  • Public Engagement
  • Careers in STEM

 

  • Shaping Science Policy
  • Advocacy for Evidence
  • R&D Budget Analysis
  • Human Rights, Ethics & Law
© 2021 American Association for the Advancement of Science