Sea Robots Farm Algae for Fuel
Although presently a small biofuel farm with only a small wind turbine, solar panel and a container of algae floating on water, Pennsylvania-based BEAR Oceanics envisions a fleet of tiny robots that could harvest the sea for algae which can then be converted to biodiesel.
Six microbial genera will be used for the production of biodiesel which includes Spirulina and Azolla. As indigenous biomass is used, the problems of invasive species in the environment are overcome.
In laboratory settings, the algae were found to be resistant to environmental conditions, growing even in winter and doubling in mass every 92 minutes, representing a potentially self-sustaining source for biofuels.
When its harvest time, the robots fire an electric charge that bursts the algae cells to release lipid oils used to make biofuel. As a result, hydrogenated vegetable oil like substances float on the surface, and the remaining sludge gets recycled into growing more algae.
And in lieu of using toxic chemicals to turn the algae oil into fuel, BEAR Oceanics works with thermal depolymerization, a process which uses the combination of heat and pressure.
