Researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology have created a catalyst for biofuel production from algae using sand from Rajasthan, nickel and cobalt that cuts the price of production to half of that of fossil fuel. Many catalysts use expensive rare materials such as Rhodium that push up the price of production. The researchers say […]

6th International Conference on Algal Biomass, Biofuels and Bioproducts 26 – 29 June, 2016 Paradise Point, San Diego www.algalbbb.com Abstract submission deadline: 5 February, 2016 Themes: Algal Biology – Molecular Traits of Microalgae for Biofuels Algal Biology – Metabolic Regulation of Microalgae for Biofuels Algal Biology – Biodiversity and Bioprospecting of Microalgae for Biofuels Algal […]

PKN Orlen has planned to grow algae at its production plant in Poland to work on biofuel manufacturing technology.  Orlen will grow algae using carbon di oxide rich gas coming from one of the refiner installations. The oil manufactured from algae will be examined for use as biofuel.  The project will also lead to commercialize […]

Researchers at University of Washington are conducting an experiment to sequence the complete genetic makeup of a division of algae called haptophytes to be used as a new tool for aquaculture, biofuel production and nutrition. The haptophyte taken for the study is Chrysochromulina tobin which thrives in oceans across the globe. In the experiment, the […]

Biofat project, a microalgae-to-biofuel FP7 demonstration project, has confirmed algae as a potential source of biofuel with low greenhouse gas emissions.  The project has focussed mainly on improving and demonstrating sustainability in the process considering both environmental and economic issues. Two 1.5 hectare pilot-scale facilities have been built for this purpose in Italy and Portugal […]

Duke University has been awarded $5.2 million grant to explore more on algae’s alternative benefits. The new Duke University-led Marine Algae Industrialization Consortium, or MAGIC will spend the next three years to analyse the best species of algae with high amount of oil and protein and also the different ways of extracting them. For this […]

Researchers from Michigan State University have built a molecular ‘Swiss Army Knife’ which makes the production of biofuels and other green chemicals from algae more feasible. They created a synthetic protein that improves the assembly of the carbon-fixing factory of blue-green algae. The new protein replaces four gene products yet still supports photosynthesis. By reducing […]

Scientists from Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS) have identified two new ocean based algal strains that can be used as a source of biofuels for vehicles and aircraft. The two new strains Nannochloropsis oceanica and Chlorella vulgaris have dry-weight oil content of more than 50 percent that makes them as ideal sources of biofuel for vehicles and […]

US Department of Energy has announced that it will fund $18 million to six algae based biofuels projects in order to reduce the price of algae based biofuels to less than $5 per gasoline gallon equivalent by 2019. This funding will also support the development of bio economy that can help create green jobs and […]

Researchers from Malaysia conducted an experiment to produce biodiesel and bioethanol from Scenedesmus bijugatus cultivated in vertical tubular photobioreactor.  The alga was cultivated in the photobioreactor in a semi-continuous mode and harvested by a combined process involving coagulation and flocculation. Maximum biodiesel yield was obtained using acid base catalytic process. Further, the lipid extracted residual […]

Scientists from Korea have conducted an experiment to unveil different pathways from algae associated bacteria and restructuring them to use algal polysaccharide as a feedstock for biofuel production. In this study, the alginate degrading machinery of Vibrio splendidus was used to engineer Bacillus subtilis capable of utilizing alginate to produce ethanol. The process was optimized by […]

Scientists at Western Michigan University are conducting an experiment to use harmful algal blooms as a feedstock for biofuels and also the leftover feedstocks as farm soil nutrients. Currently, the team is exploring different growth substrates suitable for algal growth in water bodies. By using 3-D printing technologies, scientists are engineering different substrates suitable for […]

Merrick & Company has signed with Genifuel Corporation to provide the design and commissioning of the hydrothermal processing pilot system for Reliance Industries. The system will process whole algae into biocrude, fuel gas and usable by-products, thereby doubling the yield of biofuels from algae and reducing the cost of production by 86%. The system uses […]

Algenol LLC has received a $25 million investment from BioFields for biofuel production from algae. This investment provides Algenol an opportunity to shift is concentration more towards commercialization. Algenol also plans to convert the left-over algal biomass into cellulosic diesel and jet fuel drop-ins. Source

Researchers from Washington University have found a fast growing cyanobacterial strain called Synechococcus elongatus UTEX 2973 capable of competing with the growth of other contaminating strains and also eventually to synthesize large quantities of biofuels or other valuable products. The newly identified strain is also very useful for quick experimental work due to its rapid […]

Scientists from Japan and France have found a new microalgae Fistulifera solaris, as an emerging promising candidate for next-generation biofuel technology. The alga was first identified from the samples taken at the junction of two rivers in Japan. Scientists have elucidated the underpinnings of simultaneous growth and oil production by sequencing the genomes of Fistulifera solaris […]

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 are 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, […]

OriginOil Inc. a developer of Electro Water Separation is collaborating with Idaho National Laboratory of the U.S. Department of Energy in a project to focus on the development and implementation of novel approaches to improve the efficiency in algal biofuels production. The two companies have jointly submitted a proposal titled “Targeted Algal Biofuels and Bioproducts (TABB)”which […]

A team of researchers from Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT), India, has isolated microalgae capable of producing biodiesel. The microalgae named Prymnesium parvum has high content phosphates and nitrates, and is found in the backwaters of Cochin. The Prymnesium parvum contains 26% of lipids, and can be grown in mass production systems without […]

Researchers from Iran have chemically characterized a macro algae Nizimuddinia zanardini, harvested from Persian Gulf, which is employed in the production of ethanol, seaweed extract, alginic acid and biogas. Biomass were pre-treated with dilute sulphuric acid and hot water. The pre-treated and untreated biomasses were subjected to enzymatic hydrolysis. The hydrolysates were further allowed to […]

A biotechnology research team from University of Korea has found a clue to make ethanol from red algae. Red alga, rich in carbohydrates, is an ideal source of bioethanol. The major ingredient of red algae is 3, 6- Anhydro-L-galactose (L-AHG), whose metabolic pathway is not yet being mapped. Korean researchers have found that Vibrio vulnificus, […]

Algal Systems LLC has completed demonstration project of their new approach to biofuel production. The company has set up a demonstration plant in Alabama, where the idea of combining waste water with algae to produce biofuel is being demonstrated. This is the first energy yielding wastewater treatment process that uses carbon negative technologies to yield […]

Researchers from New York University Abu Dhabi presented a review on major computational tools and approaches developed, and used in the optimization of biofuel producing algae strains. Various approaches are employed in reconstruction and alteration of metabolic network models, integrating different types of biological data sets to potentially identify target genes, pathways and reactions of […]

Despite being major attraction as feedstock, microalgae are not economically feasible player in terms of cultivation cost. A recent research conducted by Guo Z, Liu Y and others focused on an ecofriendly technology for the production of biofuel from microalgae called Platymonas subcordiformis. The microalgae were grown in pretreated flounder aquaculture wastewaters taken from different […]

Algenol, headquartered in Florida, U.S., is one of the hottest companies in the biofuel sector. They utilize engineered strains of cyanobacteria to obtain improved ethanol production.   The company has developed plastic film photobioreactor (PBR), DIRECT TO ETHANOL®, which makes production and collection easier. The PBR is constructed with plastic, enhanced with resins. Various performance metrics […]