Algae to Produce Biofuels

Algae to Produce 3rd Generation Biofuels

Dr. Richard Sayre, director of the Enterprise Rent A Car Institute For Renewable Fuels at Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, explains their research on biofuel producing algae.

"We have been studying photosynthesis in algae as a model system in my lab for 20 years. We have been trying to understand how plants and algae convert light energy into chemical energy. It was a natural transition to apply advances in our basic research efforts to address applied problems in biofuel production. Also, I was approached by a group of investors who were familiar with our work with algae and photosynthesis and were interested in the development of algae with improved oil production potential. Since we enjoy the challenge of new discovery and a diversity of research projects we took on this challenge and the rest is history.

There are many different types of algae. The group I am interested in, green algae, has chloroplasts that contain chlorophylls which give algae not only its green color, but also its ability to conduct photosynthesis and convert light into chemical energy. Algae are incredibly efficient producers of oil. Using inputs of CO2 and sunlight, green algae can produce up to 60% oil by weight.

Algae's oil production profile is only one of the features that make them a promising source of biofuels. Algae is not a food crop and even more importantly, it can be grown in containment ponds on marginal land that will not directly compete with land-based food crops. Algae grow quickly and they grow year round, so harvests are ongoing, not seasonal. There is no environmental run-off or contamination from using algae to generate oils. The inputs and outputs are clean. In fact, algae can be used in the process of phytoremediation - using plants to clear toxins or contaminants from air, soil, or water! And although a large volume of water is needed to grow algae, it is kept in a contained system and re-used, so water waste is minimal. One of algae's most attractive features is that the entire biomass can be used for fuel. We are working on an oil extraction process that is non-destructive and does not kill the algae. We liken the process to "milking" oil from algae.

Although algae are a great producer of oil, this isn't a magic bullet for all our energy needs. It doesn't make sense to grow algae in all climates - it is most effective to grow it in moderate climates (although it can grow in colder regions with more energy inputs). We're still working on improving the efficiency with which we "milk" the oil from the algae without destroying or damaging the organism and also on scaling the production of algal communities up to an industrial size. We should be testing our technology in a pilot plant in the next few years."