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Algae slated to be the next biggest source of jet fuel

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Algae, bioreactors, and fuels…does it ring a bell? Most of us have probably read about them during high school years, but putting all of them to use is a whole different ball game. Researchers at Arizona State University (ASU) have been actively involved in research using algae as jet fuel along with UOP, a Honeywell company, till last year and recently with Heliae Development, LLC and Science Foundation Arizona (SFAz) to further developing jet fuel that is kerosene based, derived from algae.

Bioreactors are used to grow and multiply algae which then form the source of oil that is extracted from them by traditional methods. Besides a variety of other applications, the oil derived from algae is refined and can be converted to gasoline, biopolymers or jet fuel. ASU researchers have confirmed that algae do not require farmlands or water to grow; rather they absorb carbon dioxide and are “carbon neutral”. The catch, however, is that the bioreactors used to grow these algae, are not cost effective enough to sustain high growth of algae.

Several companies are receiving funds from major investors in view of making fuel from algae in the next three to five years. True to their reputation, Solazyme Inc. has already announced production of algae-derived jet fuel, after introducing world’s first cars to run on algal biodiesel in January this year.

The whole idea of deriving bio-fuels is to decrease the current consumption of fossil fuels in the world, and also for developed countries to be less dependent on countries with deep long lasting oil wells. But isn’t the development in question here, is not only in terms of technology and economy but also in terms of demand – an indulgence that is insatiable.

Source: ENN, ASU / Treehugger

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