Kiyotaka Saga

Effect of thermal pretreatments on hydrocarbon recovery from Botryococcus braunii.

Thermal pretreatment were tested to increase the recovery of hydrocarbons from Botryococcus braunii/water mixtures via extraction with hexane. The effectiveness of treatment temperature was dependent on the B. braunii strain and the lowest temperatures which recovered over 90% of hydrocarbons were 60, 85 and 75°C for the Yamanaka, Showa and Kawaguchi-1 strains respectively. The holding times of thermal pretreatment had less of an influence on hydrocarbon recovery than treatment temperature and, depending on the strain, recoveries of between 74.9% and 94.9% were achieved after thermal pretreatments at 80-90°C for only 2.5min. These results suggest thermal pretreatment could reduce the energy consumption of oil recovery process from wet B. braunii cells.

Seawater-Cultured Botryococcus braunii for Efficient Hydrocarbon Extraction

As a potential source of biofuel, the green colonial microalga Botryococcus braunii produces large amounts of hydrocarbons that are accumulated in the extracellular matrix. Generally, pretreatment such as drying or heating of wet algae is needed for sufficient recoveries of hydrocarbons from B. braunii using organic solvents. In this study, the Showa strain of B. braunii was cultured in media derived from the modified Chu13 medium by supplying artificial seawater, natural seawater, or NaCl. After a certain period of culture in the media with an osmotic pressure corresponding to 1/4-seawater, hydrocarbon recovery rates exceeding 90% were obtained by simply mixing intact wet algae with n-hexane without any pretreatments and the results using the present culture conditions indicate the potential for hydrocarbon milking. Highlights Seawater was used for efficient hydrocarbon extraction from Botryococcus braunii. The alga was cultured in media prepared with seawater or NaCl. Hydrocarbon recovery rate exceeding 90% was obtained without any pretreatment.

Isolation and characterization of two squalene epoxidase genes from Botryococcus braunii, race B.

The B race of the green microalga Botryococcus braunii produces triterpene hydrocarbons, botryococcenes and methylsqualenes that can be processed into jet fuels with high heating values. In this alga, squalene is also converted into membrane sterols after 2,3-epoxidation. In the present study, cDNA clones of two distinct squalene epoxidases (BbSQE-I and -II) were isolated. Predicted amino acid sequences encoded on these genes are 45% identical with each other. Introduction of BbSQE-I or -II into Saccharomyces cerevisie erg1 mutants resulted in the complementation of ergosterol auxotrophy. The relative expression level of SQE-II increased 3.5-fold from the early stage to the middle phase of a culture period of 42 days, while that of SQE-I was almost constant throughout the culture period. Southern blot analyses suggested that these genes are single-copied genes. This is the first report on the isolation of functional SQEs that are encoded in duplicated loci in the algal genome.

Culture of the green microalga Botryococcus braunii Showa with LED irradiation eliminating violet light enhances hydrocarbon production and recovery.

The green microalga Botryococcus braunii (B. braunii), race B, was cultured under light-emitting diode (LED) irradiation with and without violet light. This study examined the effect of violet light on hydrocarbon recovery and production in B. braunii. C34 botryococcene hydrocarbons were efficiently extracted by thermal pretreatments at lower temperatures when the alga was cultured without violet light. The hydrocarbon content was also higher (approximately 3%) in samples cultured without violet light. To elucidate the mechanism of effective hydrocarbon recovery and production, we examined structural components of the extracellular matrix (ECM). The amounts of extracellular carotenoids and water-soluble polymers extracted by thermal pretreatment from the ECM were decreased when the alga was cultured without violet light. These results indicate that LED irradiation without violet light is more effective for hydrocarbon recovery and production in B. braunii. Furthermore, structural ECM components are closely involved in hydrocarbon recovery and production in B. braunii. Graphical Abstract Hydrocarbons were more readily extracted with organic solvents from Botryococcus braunii after thermal pretreatments when the alga was cultured LED illuminations without violet light.

Effect of Adopting Rice Husk Power Plant on the Industrial Structures in Japan; Input-output Analysis

The economic impacts, CO2 emission, and change in industrial structures using rice husk power plant in Japan were investigated using input-output table of Japan. The direct and second economic impacts by investment to the rice husk power plant sector were 1.5 times higher than that to the power sector. The flow of money shifted to the agriculture, forestry and fisheries sector during introduction rice husk power plant. Increasing rate of using rice husk power plant induce the high-value added and the low CO2 emission society with a very little change in industrial structure.