Showing posts with label Algae. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Algae. Show all posts

Sunday, 6 May 2012

Extracting Bio Crude From Algae And Other Biomass Through Hydro-thermal Liquefaction.

There are a lot of process involve in the extraction of  bio crude from algae; these process became when the idea of obtaining a high oil content from the feed stock or biomass present.

Algae provide many potential routes for the conversion into biofuels, including hydrothermal liquefaction. During hydrothermal liquefaction, high moisture biomass is subjected to elevated temperatures (250-350 deg C) and pressures (10-20 MPa) in order to break down and reform the chemical building blocks into a bio-crude oil. [University of Illinois, Dept. of Agriculture]

Tuesday, 1 May 2012

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.

Friday, 27 April 2012

Algae - Is It an Economically Viable Biofuel?

By Judith Ceja

As the world becomes more environmentally aware, everyone is moving towards greener technologies. In an attempt to promote algae research, The House of Representatives introduced a bill to promote investment tax credits for algae-based biorefineries. The need for long-term fuel resources and less dependence on crude oil is behind the drive to develop viable biofuels. This has led many people to take a second look at algae as a potential economically feasible biofuel.

Even large corporations such as Ford Motor Company and ExxonMobil are looking forward and have commissioned research projects to look for viable renewable energy sources. Ford Motor Company is working with scientists at Wayne University to research algae as a potential automotive fuel alternative. In fact, Ford has made the use of alternative fuel sources for future Ford vehicles a long-term business objective for the company.

Additionally, ExxonMobil, in conjunction with Synthetics Genomics, Inc., has established an actual greenhouse for their research on the feasibility of algae as a potential biofuel. They consider this a tremendous step in the right direction because it will most closely resemble the production of algae in its natural environment.

The military, realizing that a need for long-term alternative fuels may be a matter of national security in the future, has also been experimenting with algae as an alternative fuel. This year the United States Navy successfully tested diesel fuel made from algae on a 49 foot long command boat. The fuel was a 50/50 mixture of algae-derived biodiesel and diesel fuel. The Navy's interest in biofuels goes beyond its ships. It is also looking into biofuels which can power jet engines.

There are some major advantages to developing algae as an alternative fuel. One big advantage is that algae grow naturally on land and in water that cannot be used for other purposes such as plant or food production. Another advantage is the rate at which algae can be produced. Algae can be grown all year unlike other sources such as soy beans or corn which can only produce one crop per year. This is not the first time algae has been looked at as an alternative fuel source. However, the biggest stumbling block has been the tremendous cost of producing algae-based fuel on a commercial scale.

Montana State University (MSU) may be on its way to providing a solution. This summer, a MSU grad student named Rob Gardner began looking at experiments done 20 years earlier. He believed that adding baking soda was the key to accelerating the rate of algae growth. Although baking soda had been used in previous experiments to no avail, Gardner made a tremendous breakthrough. He discovered the exact time to add baking soda during the algae growth process proved critical. MSU is in the process of filing a patent on their discovery. This may be a major step towards making algae an economically feasible biofuel.