Oilgae Blog - The Latest from the World of Algae Fuels

Algae Harvesting to Become Cheaper and Easier Soon

Researchers at the University of Sheffield have developed a technology based on microbubbles, to improve the way of algae cultivation, which eventually will make the algae harvesting cheaper and easier. Professor Will Zimmerman and his team have devised an inexpensive way of producing microbubbles that can float algae particles to the surface of the water. [...]

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USU Professors Awarded for Algae Fuel Research

Two professors from Utah State University, Bruce Bugbee and Byard Wood are awarded the Governor’s Science and Technology Medals for their research on algae biofuels. In addition to their work with biofuels, Bugbee and Wood were selected for their commitment to bettering their communities and students. The research team has been working on the algae biofuels [...]

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[ More ] January 19th, 2012 | No Comments | Posted in Algae, Algae-Fuel-Research |

Marine Algae to Feed Animals

Cornell University animal sciences professor Xingen Lei is trying marine algae as a supplement and to replace soybean and corn in animal feed. He hopes to save thousands of acres of cropland by using marine algae for animal feed. Lei found that dried defatted algae derived from biofuel production can replace up to one-third of [...]

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[ More ] January 19th, 2012 | No Comments | Posted in Algae, algae biodiesel USA, Algae-Fuel-Research |

Novel Conversion Process to Make Algae Fuels a Reality

Research team under Johannes A. Lercher of Technische Universität München has introduced a new catalytic process that allows the effective conversion of biopetroleum from microalgae into diesel fuels. Traditional methods for refining oil from microalgae suffer from various disadvantages. The resulting fuel either has too high an oxygen content and poor flow at low temperatures, [...]

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Algenol Biofuels Inc. Pledges $250,000 to FGCU

The Florida Gulf Coast University Foundation has received a $250,000 pledge from Algenol Biofuels Inc. to create the Algenol Biofuels Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Scholarship Fund. Juniors and seniors at the University who are majoring in biology, biotechnology, chemistry, environmental engineering and mathematics are eligible for the scholarship. Read More Share this article [...]

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[ More ] January 6th, 2012 | No Comments | Posted in Algae, Algae-Fuel-Research |

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 [...]

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School Students Build Classroom Bioreactors to Test Algae Fuels

Students from Cape Cornwall School in UK are going to build bioreactors in class for testing the viability of marine algae-based biofuels. The students will carry out the research with the help of grants from the Royal Society. According to Janine Walker, a biology teacher in the school, they are aiming at the best possible [...]

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[ More ] January 6th, 2012 | No Comments | Posted in Algae, Algae-Biodiesel, Algae-Fuel-Research |

Researchers from Univ of Arizona to Discuss Algae Energy

Two researchers from University of Arizona (UA) are sharing their research experience on algae-based biofuels on 13th Jan 2012 at La Posada. Professors Mark Riley and Randy Ryan will talk about algae as a new energy source at a free noon program on that day. Riley is an instructor and the head of UA’s Biosystems [...]

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[ More ] January 6th, 2012 | No Comments | Posted in Algae, Algae-Fuel-Research |

Algae Pilot Plant Construction Begins in Los Lagos University

The Biotechnology Consortium has begun the construction of the Experimental Centre of Algae (CEA) in Puerto Montt Campus of the University of Los Lagos, Chile. The plant is expected to be operational from August 2012. The project aims to produce biofuels and high value products from the kelp Macrocystis pyrifera. The goal of the project [...]

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[ More ] December 22nd, 2011 | No Comments | Posted in Algae-Energy, Algae-Fuel-Research |

Universities of Georgia and Puerto Rico Researchers Unite for Algae Biofuels Project

Researchers at the University of Georgia (UGA) and University of Puerto Rico have come together to launch a renewable energy center to grow algae for biofuels. The center will be located in Rio Piedras, San Juan, Puerto Rico and it aims at reducing the dependence of U.S on fossil fuels. US Department of Defense is [...]

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Sapphire Energy Installs Custom-made Software for Biofuels Research

Sapphire Energy, US-based algae fuel company has installed a custom-made software in its research center in San Diego, from CLC bio, a bioinformatics sequence analysis software provider. According to Dr Christopher Yohn, Sapphire Energy’s principal scientist, the company is in need of bioinformatics tools for their development needs. He also added that the software will [...]

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IATA’s Call for More Production and Use of Biofuels

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) is pushing for more production and use of sustainable biofuels. Tony Tyler, IATA’s Director-General and Chief Executive Officer opines that sustainable biofuels are important in achieving the climate change targets and some airlines are already trying them in commercial flights. Virgin Galactic was the first airline to fly with [...]

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[ More ] December 14th, 2011 | No Comments | Posted in Algae, Algae-Aviation-Fuel, Algae-Fuel-Research |

Sapphire Energy’s Chloroplast Genome Research Published in Oxford Journals

Sapphire energy’s peer reviewed research paper on the chloroplast genome of green algae has been published recently in the Oxford Journals. Chloroplast genomes play a vital role in synthetic biology by encoding the most important genes of photosynthesis. This paper describes the methodology for cloning and modifying the chloroplast genome from the green alga, Chlamydomonas [...]

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[ More ] December 6th, 2011 | No Comments | Posted in Algae-Fuel-Research, Algae-Oil-Companies |

Boosting Algae Biomass Productivity by Algae Engineering

Genetic engineering research at the Iowa State University reveals that the algae biomass can be boosted by 50-80% by expressing or activating genes that promote photosynthesis. The researchers have worked on two genes – LCIA and LCIB — which  when expressed capture more CO2  increase the biomass productivity. However, when algae live in an environment with enough [...]

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[ More ] November 24th, 2011 | No Comments | Posted in Algae, Algae-Fuel-Research |

Materials Used in Building Closed Photobioreactors

Building photobioreactors using low cost materials is still a challenge. Efforts are being pursued by various universities and companies in this area to make cheap PBR’s Here is an excerpt  from the Algae Fuels Community @ CleanTick on the various low cost  materials that can be used for building low cost PBR’s #1 – PolyVinyl [...]

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[ More ] August 4th, 2011 | 1 Comment | Posted in Algae-Fuel-Research, Algae-Photobioreactor |

Analysis of Marine Microalgae Strain- Nannochloropsis.salina for Biofuels Production

I  came across a project at the Algae Fuels Community @ CleanTick and thought I could share this with you as well. Provided below are some highlights  on the properties of the marine algae strain-Nannochloropsis salina which I gathered after going through the details shared by one of the members in the algae fuels community [...]

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Global Genetic Engineering Efforts for Algae Fuels

I was reading upon some articles at the algae fuels community @ CleanTick , and my eyes caught upon this page which summarises the efforts purused by various scientists in the area of genetic engineering of algae for fuels. The page is focused on discussing those global research efforts carried out by various research institutes [...]

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Algae Fuels Community @ CleanTick – One-stop Destination for All about Algae Fuels!

CleanTick is an online cleantech community from the promoters of Oilgae. Cleantick has  recently launched  an online algae fuels community which aims to bring about all the algae fuel professionals, researchers and enthusiasts at one place for focussed discussions, and interactions on  specific topics pertaining to algae fuels. Algae Fuels Community @ CleanTick provides you [...]

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Neste Oil to Play a Part in Two Algae Research Projects in Australia and the Netherlands

Neste Oil Corporation, a Finnish oil refining and marketing company has announced that it is going to participate in two algae research projects this summer for investigating the methods of algae cultivation in outdoor conditions. The goal of the projects in the Netherlands and Australia will be to build up experience on the suitability of [...]

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Researcher Develops High-Quality Algae Biodiesel

Marc Veillette, a researcher from the Sherbrooke University, Canada is attempting to develop a new good-quality biodiesel from the algae isolated from St. Lawrence River. Veillette states that the algae grows well naturally in the St. Lawrence estuary and is able to produce good-quality biodiesel, owing to its special characteristics. The fuel doesn’t crystallize quickly [...]

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[ More ] June 20th, 2011 | 1 Comment | Posted in Algae-Fuel-Research |

Researchers Looking for Algae-based Aviation Fuels

Scientists at National Research Council Canada are looking for the ways for growing algae on an industrial scale to produce aviation fuels. According to Patrick McGinn, the project lead, algae-based biofuel technologies hold a great promise for their use in aviation industry. He added that though algae are produced in a large scale in some [...]

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[ More ] June 3rd, 2011 | No Comments | Posted in Algae-Fuel-Research |

Algae Fuel Experiment Goes to Space

Algae fuel experiment of two students is chosen to be carried out aboard the space shuttle Atlantis. Kyle Chapo and Isaac Wells, two students from the Nebraska-based Lincoln Zoo School, a science focus program, will carry out experiments on algae oil production, simultaneously astronauts will be doing the same aboard Atlantis. The experiment was chosen [...]

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[ More ] May 27th, 2011 | No Comments | Posted in Algae-Fuel-Research |

Researchers Induce Algae to Produce Hydrogen

“Algae are not interested in producing hydrogen, but we persuade them to do it”, say researchers at MIT. Scientists at MIT, Tel Aviv University and US NREL scientists claim that they have found a way to use algae to produce four times more hydrogen than usual. Many algae use sunlight and water to produce hydrogen, [...]

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[ More ] May 26th, 2011 | No Comments | Posted in Algae-Fuel-Research |

New International Algae Biofuel Project Launched

An international project on algal biofuels named, BIOfuel From Algae Technologies (BIOFAT) is launched. The project is supported by nine partners based in seven countries and the goal is to show that ethanol, biodiesel and Bioproducts all could be produced at large scale from algae. Using the algorefinery – a facility that can produce high-value [...]

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[ More ] May 25th, 2011 | No Comments | Posted in Algae-Fuel-Research |

Young Minds Rock in Algae Biofuels Research

About a month ago, a ninth-grader in Russia won an award for her research project on photobioreactor design for algae cultivation. And this is the time for an eleventh grader. Moaaz Rashad, a Grade 11 student at Regina’s Huda School in, Ontario, Canada won a 2011 Manning Innovation Achievement Award at the Canada-Wide Science Fair. [...]

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[ More ] May 21st, 2011 | No Comments | Posted in Algae-Fuel-Research |