Some algae species are 50% or more lipid oil by weight. This oil might be pressed from the algae and refined into diesel. The method for extracting algal oil, at its most basic level, is similar to pressing an olive. As much as 75% of the oil can be squeezed from algae with a easy mechanical press. Hexane can be used as a solvent to increase extraction up to 95%. Once extracted, the oil is refined via transesterification. A catalyst such as sodium hydroxide is blended with alcohol to provide biodiesel and glycerol. Does the resulting biodiesel burn cleaner than fossil-primarily based diesel? A research by Consumer Reports, using a 2002 Volkswagen Jetta TDI modified to run on a number of fuels, found that pure biodiesel had comparable emissions to petroleum diesel. The biodiesel produced barely larger hydrocarbons and mono-nitrogen oxides (NOx) while creating less particulate matter. Carbon dioxide ranges were the identical. However, a significant factor with fuels sourced from plants is that the process consumes as a lot CO2 as it produces. The California biotech agency Solazyme fueled a Mercedes Benz C320 with algae-sourced biodiesel.
They drove the car across the 2008 Sundance Film Festival in Park City Utah to advertise Josh Tickell's movie “Fields of Fuel”, which options Solazyme. Algal oil can be used to make cleaner forms of jet fuel, methane, ethanol, butanol and gasoline. In order for algae-sourced gasoline to compete economically with petroleum diesel, manufacturers must make the most of each a part of the process. The glycerol that is created in biodiesel manufacturing should be harnessed and not wasted. Glycerol is a colorless, odorless easy sugar alcohol. It connects three fatty acids to form a triglyceride. One use for the glycerol by-product is as a feedstock for algae. Researchers have discovered that algae grown with glycerol have larger mass and higher lipid content. Therefore, they're even better for the aim of biodiesel. The meals business uses glycerol as a sweetener, preservative, thickener and moistener. Glycerol is used in lotions, lubricants and other pores and skin care merchandise.
The Formula E electric car racing collection has discovered maybe probably the most revolutionary purpose for glycerol. All of their automobiles are charged with it. The autos are moved around the globe from race to race. Charging them from potentially soiled power grids would contradict the message about sustainability Formula E is sending. So the league brings its personal chargers powered by algae glycerol. Aquafel Research built a pair of glycerol-fueled generators which journey in a delivery container with the teams. Not solely is the gasoline almost emissions-free, however it runs cleaner in the machines as effectively. The generators are modified Cummins KTA50 models which sometimes run on diesel. Running on glycerol, there isn't a soot, no clogging and elevated lubricity. The machines are extra efficient and require less maintenance. The algae glycerol is such a clean gas that Sir Richard Branson, sponsor of the Virgin Formula E workforce, drank a shot of it at a press convention.
Do that with your racing fuel. Polyurethane foam is central to surfboard development. It is also utilized in exhausting plastics, versatile plastics, upholstery foam, shoe insoles and more. Petroleum is central to polyurethane manufacturing. UC San Diego is fighting the irony that the sport of browsing is reliant on clean, healthy oceans and petroleum-primarily based supplies at the same time. Researchers labored with Solazyme to create a greater algae-primarily based oil for making polyurethane. Then they joined Arctic Foam, the largest manufacturer of surfboard bodies within the US, to construct an algae-foam base coated with renewable resin and fiber glass. The result is a board that if mass-produced could be competitive in worth with petroleum-primarily based board. Arctic Foam is distributing the boards to skilled surfers for testing and promotion. Fish are an important supply of Omega-three fats, that are essential for coronary heart, mind and joint health. But where do the fish get them? By eating smaller fish which, at the bottom of the food chain, get the fats from algae. Algae-based mostly Omega-3s are a robust dietary supplement, significantly for vegetarians. Algae are utilized in wastewater remedy plants to metabolize impurities.
