The Scientific Ravi 2011 - Government College University

The Scientific Ravi 2011
Absorption of Pollutants and
Production of Renewable Fuel:
Potential of Algae in Pakistan
Farooq Ahmad
FaclIll)' J1ember & PhD Scholar
In Pakistan. economic growlh has generally
been achieved at the cost of the
environment. since most production and
manufacturing processes exploit healthy. but
scarce ecosystems. The hellvy dependence
on natural resources and resulting
environmental degradation has generated a
cycle' of "ecological poverty" with
implications for the sustainability of
economic growth.
Studies conducted recently by the
Government and donor agencies in Pakistan
have highlighted a number of environmental
issues. Broadly. the affected areas include
water. energy. wastc management. irrigated
agriculture and biodiversity. Overall. these
studies reveal deterioration in all these areas
but the increasing pollution of water bodies
and energy crisis have an enormous impact
on environmental conditions in Pakistan.
The Government. private sector and civil
society have not responded adequately to
meet these challenges. although there have
been some exceptions. such as the
s\\ itchover to cleaner fuels in the transport
sector. but still there is need to do more.
Algae in this respect can playa vital role not
only to treat wastewater. but to produce
environment friendly biofuels. Algae are a
diverse group of simple plant-like
organisms. growing in fresh water and sea
water. A specific group of algae are capable
of producing oil more than 50 times than
other oilseed crops. At present. the crude oil
price in the world is around US$
120fBarrcl. One renewable and pollution
SDSC
free energy source is biodiesel produced
from natural oils. which arc non-edible like
Algae (Kai). Jatropha (Jamal Gota).
Pongame (Sukh Chain) and Castor
(Arhand). Biodiesel burns cleaner than
conventional gasoline while having similar
efficiency as that of fossil fuel. The potential
of biodiesel production can be made
economical by growing Algae (Kai) in
marginal land. in saline water or in the waste
water ponds. Certain species of algae can
produce 5.000-20.000 gallons of oil per acre
per year.
The Government of Pakistan announced
that 10% blending of petroleum with
biodiesel should start from 2015. Algae can
also be economically converted into solid
fuels. methane gas. or bio-ethanol. It can
also be used to generate electricity which in
turn can be used to obtain hydrogen fuel to
power hydrol:en fuel cells. The amount of
land requirement for growing algae is also
minimal as compared to other oil yielding
crops. Pakistan can use its 27million acre of
saline lands to cultivate algae. which is the
best alternative feedstock to biofuel
production. It is estimated that Pakistan's
import bill can be reduced by Rs. 69.5
billion if only biodiesel produced from nonedible
raw materials is used in the
transportation sector. There arc a number of
species of Algae (Chlorella. Scenede.l'mll.l'.
Cladophora etc.) identified. which arc
suitable to climatic conditions of
Pakistan. Alglle having good oil yield can
be grown and harvested very quickly.
The cultivation of Algae is expected to bring
double benefit to the environment in the
sense that Algae can be used to extract
nutrients from waste water. which it
converts to fats for bio diesel
production. Algal biodiesel resource
requirement is land. water and CO 2 . this can
support biodiesel production and CO 2
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