Co-Culturing Biodiesel Producing Green Algae with Microalgae to Increase Ecological Stability
William Driscol, Postdoctoral Research Associate I, Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, Tech Launch Arizona has found a solution to increase the ecological stability of biodiesel producing green algae. He found that co-culturing of certain bio control species can provide anti- predator and anti- competitive effects. This will improve the ecological stability.
The production of algal cultures in large scale is hindered by the invasion of micro algal ‘weeds’ and zooplanktons. But the cultivation in more protected environment leads to higher economy. Moreover, it is also necessary to eliminate the use of environmentally harmful chemicals.
Driscol’s study suggests that Prymnesium parvum, often known as toxic golden algae, can solve the issue. Being toxic to zooplanktons and harmless to many biofuels crops, co- culturing of P. parvum is a better option to overcome the problem. In addition, the toxic golden algae require only organic nutrients, thus allowing the growth biofuel crops, which need inorganic nutrients.
The article published by Driscol tells us about the application of the above findings. For more details visit http://inventions.arizona.edu/inventors/4795076_william-driscoll
