Last week the ever-present tech mag WIRED had an interesting article on the development of algae based biofuels. Chemical engineers at the University of Michigan are applying new techniques in an attempt to find a cleaner, ‘greener’ alternative to fossil fuels. The researchers are using phyotoplankton, heat, and pressure to create a crude bio oil. [...]
Last week the ever-present tech mag WIRED had an interesting article on the development of algae based biofuels. Chemical engineers at the University of Michigan are applying new techniques in an attempt to find a cleaner, ‘greener’ alternative to fossil fuels. The researchers are using phyotoplankton, heat, and pressure to create a crude bio oil. Currently this processing requires significant energy inputs, however the researchers have plans to develop the development of a sustainable algae based bio fuel.
“The vision is that nothing would leave the refinery except oil. Everything would get reused,” exclaimed chemical engineering professor Phillip Savage. “That’s one of the things that makes this project novel. It’s an integrated process. We’re combining hydrothermal, catalytic and biological approaches.” They’re also combining a concentrated Nannochloropsis ‘feed’ from Reed’s mariculture.
The word phytoplankton is commonplace among marine aquarists, but who would have known Reeds Mariculture was a common name to Chemical Engineers. Here we can see what appears to be a 1 liter bag of Reed’s Instant Algae Nanno 3600. We’re unsure what all Professor Savage and his team is using to develop these alternative fuels, but it’s cool to see some aquarium related products and ideas contributing to this research.
[WIRED]
