U.S. chemists convert algae into biodiesel fuel

By William Atkins
Wednesday, 01 April 2009 19:47

Science - Energy

The American Chemical Society is reporting that chemists have for the first time used an "economical, eco-friendly process" to convert algae oil into biodiesel fuel. The U.S. researchers say it could someday free the United States of its dependence on domestic and foreign petroleum-based products.


According to the March 25, 2009 American Chemical Society (ACS) article First economical process” for making biodiesel fuel from algae, ”One of the problems with current methods for producing biodiesel from algae oil is the processing cost, and the New York researchers say their innovative process is at least 40 percent cheaper than that of others now being used."

It adds, "Supply will not be a problem: There is a limitless amount of algae growing in oceans, lakes, and rivers, throughout the world.”

The ACS article continues to say that there is no wastewater produced in the process and, therefore, pollution does not result.

The lead researcher in the study, Dr. Ben Wen, states, “This is the first economical way to produce biodiesel from algae oil. It costs much less than conventional processes because you would need a much smaller factory, there are no water disposal costs, and the process is considerably faster.” [ACS]

Wen says that algae is better than soybeams, based on their estimates, because “[algae] oil-per-acre production rate [is] 100-300 times the amount of soybeans, and offers the highest yield feedstock for biodiesel and the most promising source for mass biodiesel production to replace transportation fuel in the United States.” [ACS]

Dr. Wen is the vice president of the New York-based company United Environment and Energy LLC (UEE), from which the research originates.
 
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