How algae will help boost Nigerian economy and solve the domestic violence challenging our growing civilization.

In recent times, the world through United Nation and other recognised international humanitarian organisations have been promoting the importance of using green energy as a good source of fuel and energy to drive the economy. Sequel to this, a lot of countries have started by introducing other various of green energy that are not only cheaper, but a very strong and reliable form for fueling their cars and creating steady power supply for a robust economy.

These government have enacted laws and policies that will help drop the amount of carbon to the atmosphere in other lower the threat of global warming that has been looming for more than two decades.

For example, US is among the first 10 nations that are promoting bio-fuel, bio-diesel and the use of farm yard manure to generate electricity. China being a country that is rated for high manufacturing is second to US - China alone has slash it dependence on fossil fuel by 40%; which means that out of every ten industries in China, four are energy sufficient. Deriving it sources of energy from green fuel.

United Kingdom introduced a program in the early 80s; a program where government and private investors are encouraging dairy and poultry farmers to produce electricity and gas for heating/cooking within their local communities. This at the end of the day had created benefits for United Kingdom: 60% of the electricity  are created by private investor through farmyard manure from local dairy farmers or poultry farmers, instead of releasing methane gas that is four times deadlier than carbodioxide, this gas is channeled to produce electricity and cooking gas at homes. Consequently, there is low carbon emission into the atmosphere. A lot of job opportunities is created through this means.

In addition, recent research are showing clearly that algae will be the next saviour of the world. We can achieve a lot through algae - in US alone; over 1,000,000 barrel of algae oil is been produced on a daily bases to either run their cars, produce cosmetics or produce food supplements. Algae as an essential commodity in recent time, is the next green gold to turn the world around. Algae will help to drop the dependence of fossil fuel and consequently promote a better atmospheric condition. The bio-energy derived from algae are very healthy and more economical.

Algae is very easy to grow once you get the right specie for the purpose you want to grow the algae - with the help of algae, every home will be a potential oil mini-refinery. We won't need oil wells any more, every state in Nigeria will be energy sufficient and will no longer depend much on the Federal Government to run its affair. Algae has a lot of by product - Algae crude, Algae oil, Algae bio-ethanol, Dry algae flammable powder, etc.

All these product are very essential to our growing economy. For instance, in US, Obama administration has discovered a viable way of producing bio-ethanol at least 7billion barrel annually with the help of algae biomass without using corn any more (Remember that US produces 100billion barrel of bio-ethane annually from biomass - Algae account for 0.7%). Over 80% of the cars in US are running on different percentage of bio-ethanol, all depending on the choice of the client. When you go to any US filling station, you will see E10, E40, and E85. This implies 10% of ethanol, or 40% of ethanol and 85% of ethanol into the fuel you will use in your car: this alone has added a lot of economic and environmental benefits to US.

Coming back home, we have all the technologies to achieve this goals in Nigeria. And I believe strongly that if algae farming is introduced in Nigeria, it will go along way to solve the endemic power challenge we have in our country, also help to boost the economy and create employment for the teaming youths. Government should enact policies that will promote private investors involvement in our power generation, in the oil sector, government should  also create policies that will drop our carbon emission and strongly promote greener energy. Like the Obama administration, our government should promote companies that are ready to invest in green energy - this alone has a great economic potentials and benefits to our environment.

One of the great ways we can drop the carbon emission is by trading carbon credit - this will really help us to tackle carbon emission in Nigeria if the government introduce this policy. We will discuss how this works in our next edition. Stay connected.

Are Omega 3 Algae Really the Best Option For Your Brain, Heart and Body?

By Henri K. Junttila

While cold water fishes such as sardines, salmons, tuna, and hoki are an abundant source of omega 3 supplements, these fish stocks around the world are depleting at a rapid rate owing to uncontrolled fishing activities and water pollution.

In this regard, oils extracted from marine algae now present an interesting alternative towards sustainable production of omega 3 fatty acids. However, an important issue one must address is whether omega 3 algae can produce the same benefits as like omega 3 fish oil.

Phytoplankton and algae present inside the marine water are equipped with specialized organelles called chloroplasts that produce omega 3 fatty acids, particularly DHA and EPA that are essential for regularizing the transfer of fluids and other nutrients across the algal cell membrane.

In addition, these essential polyunsaturated fatty acid molecules preserve the cell membrane structure of marine algae and provide protection against freezing temperatures.

Consumption of these omega 3 algae results in the bioaccumulation of omega 3 fatty acids in the fishes, which are then transferred to humans.

Therefore, culturing these algae in an industrial scale allow us to produce unlimited quantities of omega 3 fats without causing any harm to fishes. Recently, researchers have even developed an effective method to ferment and harvest omega 3 fatty acids from algae.

One question that remains to be answered is how good omega 3 algae oils are when compared to fish oils. Omega 3 oils from algae are advantageous because they are not derived from any animal sources.

Therefore, they are being widely preferred by vegetarians and people who do not like the fish oil taste or smell. In addition, these oils are nutritionally similar to omega 3 fish oils and can be readily used as a fish conservation strategy.

Unfortunately, fish oils are still a better choice when compared to omega 3 algae oils, even though algal oils are advantageous in multiple ways.

Omega 3 fish oils are extremely effective in improving the cardiovascular system, strengthen the human immune system, regulate blood cholesterol levels, reduce triglycerides, control blood pressure, and provide protection against various human health complications such as cancer, asthma, depression, anxiety, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis, and ADHD.

In addition, fish oils are a rich source of various phospholipids, powerful antioxidants, and anti-inflammatory compounds that can effectively neutralize the harmful effects of free radicals, dioxins and toxins present inside the body.

Henri K Junttila

Fish oils even contain potent anti-clotting factors that prevent the formation of blood clots. The fact that extraction of omega 3 algae oils is a difficult and expensive process is another reason that makes omega 3 fish oils a better choice.

If you're interested in learning more about the best fish oil supplements, visit my website, where I share what products I have personally been using daily for several years.

Henri K. Junttila is a health researcher, and believer of using the best natural options to stay healthy and young. Visit his website http://www.fish-oil-advice.com/ today to learn more about the powerful benefits of omega-3 fish oils.

How to Make Biodiesel From Algae

By Pamella Neely

While awareness of biodiesel and running diesel engines on vegetable oil is growing, you still have to get the oil from somewhere. The conventional choice is to buy vegetable oil, or take used vegetable oil from a restaurant. However, there is another possibility: Produce your own oil, with algae.

Algae

Algae are a form of "simple," photosynthetic, and aquatic organisms. The most complex forms of algae are commonly called "seaweed," though algae range in size and complexity from unicellular forms to this more advanced form. They are called "simple" because they lack many complex features found in land plants. The most useful feature of algae for our purposes is that algae produce significant quantities of natural oils. In fact, there are estimates that the yield from algae can be 200 times greater than that from a comparable area of other sources of conventional vegetable oils.

Algal Oils

Oil from algae is quite similar to oils produced by conventional oil crops and oilseeds. Chemists generally do not speak of oil, which is a common word for a vaguely defined group of chemicals. Biological "oils," or lipids, are chemicals called triglycerides, composed of a central glycerol unit with three fatty acids attached. Chemically, biological lipids are similar to petroleum to the extent that both groups of chemicals are based on carbon and hydrogen.

The main problem with using biological lipids as fuels is the fact that lipids are much more viscous (or resistant to "flowing," in layman's terms) than the refined petrochemicals which make up gasoline, diesel fuel, kerosene, and other petroleum-based fuels. As a result, unrefined lipids will not be completely burned off in an engine, and leftover product which did not burn can accumulate in the engine.

Biodiesel from Algae Oil

The process of making biodiesel from oil is all about lowering the viscosity of oil by removing the glycerol; the process of converting algal oils is the same as that with any conventional vegetable oils. Chemists refer to this process as "transesterification," which in the case of biodiesel means splitting the triglycerides, separating the glycerol, which will settle, and converting the fatty acids into a solution of methyl esters, called biodiesel. This is done by mixing the biological oil with sodium methoxide.

Cultivating Algae

Algae can be cultivated at home using a device known as a "photobioreactor," or a bioreactor which includes a source of light. A basic reactor can be made from clear plastic tubes or plastic bottles or a plastic container of some sort. Algae need water, carbon dioxide, and light to grow; the reactor will contain water into which has been placed a culture of algae. Depending on the type of reactor chosen, algae can be cultivated continuously or in batches. The light source can be an LED, a phosphorescent bulb, or natural sunlight.

Getting Oil from the Algae

The making of biodiesel involves a number of separation processes, even more so in the case of biodiesel from algae: separating the algae from the solution, separating the oil from the algae, and separating the glycerol from the biodiesel after the reaction is complete. All of these separation processes can be done simply with a centrifuge.

Conclusions

While even biodiesel isn't quite a free lunch, getting biodiesel from algae can bring you one step closer. The product you get from algae-produced biodiesel is equivalent to that you get from other oils and the conversion of algal oil is the same as the conversion of any other oil; the algae are simply a renewable source of oil. Algae are quite safe, being commonly used in commercial products including food.

The Positive Benefits Associated With Algae Oil

By Thorsten Koletzki

With the help of the different sources it has been found that even algae oil can be used as a source of alternative energy. There are lots of companies who have made a research on this information and found that it is really true and has some depth in the topic. This oil is derived from the plant called as Algae which is found in many parts of the world. The best thing about this plant is that it gives a huge amount of oil as compared to the other plants and can be used for different purposes. Through the internet a comparison has been made and it is found that the ratio of this oil is much higher as compared to other's which is a positive sign for the companies.

The companies which deal in generating energy have found a new source. Though there is not much information available on the Algae Oil but still it has come as a boon on the planet. There are some companies which are making the use of this fuel but only on a small scale. Algae are found in natural form before the companies therefore it becomes essential that they utilize the available resources without investing much money in to it. One will come across numerous benefits which it gives to the environment as it does not produces harmful gases like carbon dioxide that adversely affects the atmosphere. Thus with safety point of view you can say that it is huge advantage for the companies as well as for the environment.

There are lots of factors due to which Algae Oil has been used for producing energy. The prices of oil have always been increasing and at the same time there is an increase in the demand. In order to fulfill the demand you need various sources which can help you. If a natural source has been found then it can be used on a large scale to check whether it can meet the requirements of the companies and the people or not. The products which you get after using the oil can be used in the preparation of some other fuel which means that there is less wastage. The other fuels will serve for different purpose and is the added benefit for the company.

In the end it can be concluded that there are various optimistic aspects connected with Algae Oil. If you do not have complete information about its use and utilization then you have the online option which will help you. This is one of the hottest topics going around so you will be able to infer lots of information that can prove beneficial for you. There are websites from where you can collect details about its production and how it can affect the overall demand of oil. Hope you can get full information and find it useful in clearing your doubts.