Algae, one of the oldest life forms on earth, are poised to play a major role in the global search for the ideal biofuel feedstock, as researchers around the world seek new, more efficient ways to squeeze oil from "seaweed" to produce a clean and renewable biofuel. Some scientists even project that algal fuels could one day replace petroleum outright.
There are certainly good reasons for this kind of audacious hope. Some forms of algae are as much as 50 percent oil, and they can be grown in salty water or even waste water, absorbing C02 in the process. Researchers say algae can produce from 30 to 400 times more oil per acre than other popular biofuel feedstocks like palm trees and soy beans. And since algae can be grown in huge open ponds or in sealed bioreactors, and because algae can convert sunlight into chemical energy (photosynthesis) much more efficiently than other feedstocks, its wide use could take biofuel production out of the food cycle for good.
It doesn't seem possible to create a viable, alternative fuel source from algae, but it turns out that not only is it possible but it just might be the best option we have in the future.
Algae fuel, or Oilgae, uses different components of algae to create one of several types of fuels such biodiesel, ethanol or butanol. The biomass of algae consists of 60% oil which can then be converted to a biodiesel, while the carbohydrate component of algae can be fermented to produce bioethanol.
At this point, algae production for use as an alternative fuel is still in development and there are several companies working away on the green slime to be the first to make just the right breakthrough to make this a profitable endeavor. That is to say, we can make biofuels from algae right now, but it still costs quite a bit of money to do so. Figures vary, but it seems the price per gallon of a viable fuel is still many times that of traditional fuels.
In the eternal search for cheaper fuels, and a way to eliminate the use of fossil fuel from our environment, some clever researchers have come up with a way of making your own biodiesel fuel. But while it is often promoted as something you can "make at home", there are a number of things to consider, first.
Read more: How to Make Biodiesel
