How much would you be willing to pay for a gallon of green gunk skimmed off the top of a pond? 10 years from now, we’ll likely be able to answer that question. Researchers at the University of Minnesota are growing algae and working on ways to convert it into oil, and eventually, biodiesel. They say algae could be the auto fuel of the future.
“That’s why there is so much interest in algae right now,” Professor Roger Ruan explained. Ruan is leading a team of researchers that are breaking down algae at the U’s St. Paul Campus. Xcel Energy has alreayd provided a $150,000 grant to the research. “This could potentially be able to replace a major part of the petroleum liquid fuel use in the country,” Ruan added.
Spend ten minutes talking about the possibilities of turning sludge to fuel and Ruan grows animated, excited about his research. “If you can produce a lot of oils, than oil can be easily converted into diesel. Algae can potentially produce a lot of oils per acre, per year,” Ruan says, adding that algae is easier to grow and harvest than corn and soy.
At the U they’re growing algae in wastewater, studying the various types to see which contain the most oils. Some algae is made up of 10 or 20% oil; others they’ve developed contain more than 50% oil. They’ve also set up hydrothermal technology they’re using to turn the algae sludge into a form of oil. “You will probably see within 3 or 5 years major scale pilot facilities up and running. In less than 10 years you will see major production scale algae into biodiesel,” Ruan concluded.
You probably didn’t realize the power of pond scum.
Grim,
I’m very excited about Bio-Diesel from Algae.
A great resource of information about Alternative energy sources can be found at PESWiki.
Algae has the potential to produce 1000 fold
the yield available per acre than the best vegatable-based today and the beauty part is that it does not deplete topsoil needing only a small amount of water to grow in and a piece of
a plasticbag with regulated temperature and You have Bio-Diesel with out the waste Glycerides
or the need for caustic lye or imflammable and poisonous wood alcohol needed for the de-esterification process of vegatable or meat by-product oils.
Most vehicle manufacturers today recomend a blend of B-20 or less (20% Bio-fuel added to common Dino-Diesel)and They will void warranty if they suspect you have been using stronger ratios.
Bio-Diesel is a much better detergent than Dino-Diesel and it has the nasty tendency to clean
every part it touches to the detriment of filters,particulate screens and injector nozzles.
Older vehicles can develop leaks which are equipped with rubber gaskets and O-rings which
can absorb the fuelstock,newer vehicles 2000 year models and later use nitinol and viton seals which stand Bio-diesel reasonably well.
If theres any doubt before you run out and buy
some for your diesel powered vehicle, ask your dealers service manager if its a good idea or not and be prepared to change your fuel filter every 1000 miles for the first 5000 miles.
It is my hope that vehicle manufacturers will
sieze this oppurtunity to develop vehicles which are better acclimed to this renewable and
environmentally friendly fuel-source but it likely will not happen till the consumer demands
it.
Cheers,Rain.
Comment by Rainlander — January 17, 2008 @ 3:39 am
Rain, it’s pleasing that someone else is enthused about biodiesel. I feel like the Lone Ranger on this one. One of these days I’m going to go to my city council and suggest that they require the garbage people to run a 2% blend when their contract with the city is up for renewal.
One of the wonderful things about the evil rich is that if the profit is there, it can happen. I see a time soon when ugly brush covered land where nothing will grow, such as in Nevada, will have algae biodiesel facilities. It would be nice if just this one time the environ-wackos don’t sue because of supposed encroachment on the territory of the mesquite grub or some such crap. We need to be free of those grizzly Saudis. They aren’t our friends.
Comment by grimgold — January 17, 2008 @ 11:37 am