Modelling of microalgae drying process using computational methods: A first step

• Main Authors: Manrique, Robby B., Ubando, Aristotle T., Culaba, Alvin B., Villagracia, Al Rey C., David, Melanie Y., Arboleda, Nelson B., Jr.
• Format: text
• Published: Animo Repository 2013
• Subjects: Microalgae; Drying; Microalgae—Drying; Molecular dynamics; Biochemical and Biomolecular Engineering; Engineering; Mechanical Engineering
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/faculty_research/12323
• Institution: De La Salle University

Biofuels are biomass derived fuels which is considered to have a low carbon emitting characteristics. Biodiesel is one type of biofuels that was introduced in the public and plays a crucial role in the global energy demand particularly in the transport sector. Challenges in making biodiesel commercialization include minimization of the energy inputs on the every process particularly the drying process. Drying microalgae is one of the post harvesting process in converting algal biomass to biodiesel which accounts for 20-30% of the total production cost and energy consumption. A Search for a drying method that requires less energy intensive is needed to address a more efficient production of oil from microalgae for biofuels. This paper is the first step in modelling the drying process wherein a nanoscale understanding on the structure and components of microalgae will be discussed. The main objective of this paper is to model the topology (molecular geometry) of microalgae particularly the lipid bilayer using GROMACS software. The lipid bilayer is made up of phospholipid molecules arranged parallel to each other which serves as a barrier of the many eukaryotic cells. The modelling of the topology includes energy minimization and equilibration which is needed to avoid erroneous results on the potential energy prior to performing molecular dynamics of the entire system. Corresponding results may transpire a new perspective in extracting water from microalgae instead of the traditional drying methods which are highly energy intensive.