Using Microalgae to Convert Brewery Carbon Gas Emissions into Valuable Bioproducts

Alla Silkina (), Mohamed A. Emran, Simon Turner and Kam W. Tang
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Alla Silkina: Algal Research Group, Bioscience Department, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea SA2 8PP, UK
Mohamed A. Emran: Algal Research Group, Bioscience Department, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea SA2 8PP, UK
Simon Turner: Bluestone Brewing, Tyriet, Cilgwyn, Newport SA42 0QW, UK
Kam W. Tang: Algal Research Group, Bioscience Department, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea SA2 8PP, UK

Energies, 2024, vol. 17, issue 23, 1-13

Abstract: The brewing industry is a major part of the agri-food sector, but its fermentation processes contribute significantly to global CO 2 emissions, exacerbating the greenhouse gas crisis. Achieving net-zero emissions requires innovative solutions, and this study explored one such solution by using microalgae to capture CO 2 from a brewery while simultaneously generating valuable bioproducts. Two microalgae species, Tetradesmus obliquus and Limnospira maxima , were cultivated in a 1000 L raceway and a 400 L tubular photobioreactor, both powered by the brewery’s CO 2 waste gas. The specific growth rates reached 0.3 in the raceway and 0.4–0.5 in the photobioreactor for both species. Notably, L. maxima showed higher productivity, achieving up to 0.80 g L −1 day −1 in the photobioreactor and 0.5 g L −1 day −1 in the raceway. Operating across 300 brewing days per year, a single module (1400 L) of this system could reduce a brewery’s CO 2 emissions by 29%. These low-maintenance systems are modular, allowing for easy scaling and operation. The harvested biomass was nutritionally valuable; L. maxima contained up to 55% protein and 3% phycocyanin, while T. obliquus was rich in carbohydrates (36%) and lipids (12%), levels suitable for feeds and fertilizers. A cost-benefit analysis suggests that coupling CO 2 removal with bioproduct generation supports a sustainable circular economy while offering financial returns.

Keywords: brewery; CO 2 emissions; algal cultivation; greenhouse gas crisis; high-value products; circular bioeconomy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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