Algae fuels\u00a0commercialization\u00a0faces challenges in every part of the value chain. Starting from strain selection to product extraction there are biological \u00a0and engineering breakthroughs which are required to make algae fuels a reality.<\/p>\n
With respect to harvesting, the main issue is the energy required to remove the algae cells from the liquid media. A company by name Innova Tech <\/a> have brought about a new method to efficiently separates algae particles from the liquid medium.<\/p>\n This filter termed as the Nova Filter, essentially is an centrifugal device which employs layers of air and controlled vortex flows to separate the wet-laden algae from the medium. This requires very less maintainance as it doesn’t make use of a barrier filter which usually causes a block.<\/p>\n The company received \u00a0a grant worth $50,000 grant in 2009 to develop the laboratory technology into a large-scale system. InnovaTech has since been awarded a $150,000 grant as the company continues to develop the technology into a marketable system.<\/p>\n