I am undergoing an experiment in which I'm growing algae to extract the oil in two different ways to see which is most efficient and cost effective to replace running waste vegetable oil in my truck.
Personal preferences have prompted me to chose the expeller/press and ultrasonic-assisted extraction methods. I chose these because mainly no chemicals are needed, also any energy required to extract can be aquired through solar energy. This makes production cost efficient.
I have around three months before I presume my first batch will be ready, which gives me three months to build both of the extractors. I need advice on where to get ultrasonic equipment, I can handle a press.
A press is not efficient in large quantities of oil, since the algae must be dried first. If ultrasonic extraction works efficiently for me, I'm going to convert my small scale algae bioreactor to an experimental 5 acre facility which could produce up to 100,000 gallons of oil for Houston biodiesel corporations. If that works I have enough land to expand to a 75 acre facility. My goal currently is to produce enough to drive on, since I'm just now a freshman in college I don't have the Capitol to even dare competing with the large algae companies. I'll post pics of my setup later, anyone have any advice?