Algae from the Ocean: Sustainable Energy Source?

[Karl]

ScienceDaily (June 28, 2008) —

Research by two Kansas State University scientists could help with the large-scale cultivation and manufacturing of oil-rich algae in oceans for biofuel. Zhijian Pei, associate professor of industrial and manufacturing systems engineering, and Wenqiao Yuan, assistant professor of biological and agricultural engineering, have received a $98,560 Small Grant for Exploratory Research from the National Science Foundation to study solid carriers for manufacturing algae biofuels in the ocean.

Algae are a diverse and simple group of organisms that live in or near water. Certain algal species are high in oil content that could be converted into such fuels as biodiesel, according to Pei and Yuan. Algae also have several environmentally-friendly advantages over corn or other plants used for biofuels, including not needing soil or fresh water to grow...

Full Article: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases...0626145543.htm

[Karl]

In a sense, all the major non-renewable sources we use today from geologic deposits (oil, gas, coal) may be regarded as fossil “biofuels” in that they were generated by plants, animals and their related ecosystem processes millions of years ago. So despite concerns raised in some places, the whole issue of using algae for biofuels is not about the "morality" of using plants and animals for various purposes, but genuine issues related to energy crisis, etc. The point is that regardless of the "impacts on the living algae" it is still a preferable source of biomass for energy, than other materials such as food crops.

In the case of the present global issues - energy crisis, food crisis, environmental uncertainty (weather / climate) the reality is that instead of condemning the cause - we have to deal with the tangible effects that have already taken place (and to the extent possible mitigate further damage). So certain trade-offs are necessary. In any case, I believe that they intend to focus on specific types of algae specially cultivated for the purpose, it is not about random scraping of all species of macro-algae and seaweed off the rocks in their natural habitat on the coastline...

Some related news, discussion and further information on the extraction of oil, biodiesel etc from algae:

http://www.reuters.com/article/press...008+BW20080616

http://www.its2hot.in/viewtopic.php?f=28&t=158

http://www.sustainabilityforum.com/f...organisms.html

http://www.oilgae.com/forum/index.php

[Karl]

AFP, 10 July 2008 –

As the world mulls over the conundrum of how to satisfy a seemingly endless appetite for energy and still slash greenhouse gas emissions, researchers have stumbled upon an unexpected hero: algae. So-called microalgae hold enormous potential when it comes to reining in both climate change, since they naturally absorb large amounts of carbon dioxide, as well as energy production, since they can easily be converted to a range of different fuel types...

Read Full Article: http://www.wbcsd.org/plugins/DocSear...jectId=MzA2NzA

[Energy jobs]

Research by two Kansas State University scientists could help with the large-scale cultivation and manufacturing of oil-rich algae in oceans for biofuel.
K-State's Zhijian "Z.J." Pei, associate professor of industrial and manufacturing systems engineering, and Wenqiao "Wayne" Yuan, assistant professor of biological and agricultural engineering, have received a $98,560 Small Grant for Exploratory Research from the National Science Foundation to study solid carriers for manufacturing algae biofuels in the ocean.
Algae are a diverse and simple group of organisms that live in or near water. Certain algal species are high in oil content that could be converted into such fuels as biodiesel, according to Pei and Yuan. Algae also have several environmentally-friendly advantages over corn or other plants used for biofuels, including not needing soil or fresh water to grow.
Pei and Yuan plan to identify attributes of algae and properties of materials that enable growth of certain algae species on solid carriers. Solid carriers float on the water surface for algae to attach to and grow on.
"Not all materials are equally suitable to make these carriers," Yuan said. "Some materials are better for algal attachment and growth than others, and we will be identifying what those 'good' materials are."
The project could help with the design of major equipment for manufacturing algae biofuels from the ocean, including solid carriers, in-the-ocean algae harvesting equipment and oil extraction machines, Pei said.
This research aims to develop a cost-effective process for growing algae on solid carriers in the ocean for biofuel manufacturing," he said. "If successful, it will greatly benefit the energy security of the United States, as well as society in general."
The research will be conducted with a two-step approach.
"Selected algae species will be grown on solid carriers in a simulated ocean environment and will be evaluated for their ability to attach to solid carriers and grow in seawater, their biomass productivity, and their oil content," Pei said. "Top-ranked species in step one will be selected to test the performance of several carrier materials, including natural organic, synthetic organic and inorganic materials, with the same evaluation parameters as in step one."
Pei said the properties of the highly-ranked carriers also will be analyzed.