Researchers Produce Two Biofuels from Single Algae
Researchers from Western Washington University have exploited an unusual class of chemical compounds from algae to produce two different algae products simultaneously from single algae.
They have found that alkenones which a
re fat compounds produced by the algal species Isochrysis has the potential to be used as a fuel source. Apart from producing biodiesel from the species, the alkenones can be used for jet fuel.
Olefin metathesis, a chemical reaction was followed to cleave the carbon-carbon double bonds in the alkenones, since alkenones themselves are too big to be used as a jet fuel. The cleaved alkenones are short with only 8–13 carbons which can be easily used in the production of jet fuel. Thus from a single algal species Isochrysis, both biodiesel and jet fuel can be produced in parallel. This finding could pave the way for future commercialization.
