Algae oil is a renewable resource that can be used to create biofuels and plastics. Although production costs are high, it is more efficient than crops like corn and soybeans. With advancements in technology and government support, major developments are expected within a decade.
It is in fact possible to obtain oil from algae, although the cost of production can sometimes be quite high, when compared to the cost of conventional oil production. The benefit of algae oil, of course, is that algae is a renewable resource, making biofuel from algae very close to being carbon neutral, and as the algae grow they actually contribute positively to the environment. filtering toxins and generating oxygen.
Research into algae oil production began in the 1990s, but efforts have largely been abandoned, due to a lack of interest due to relatively low oil prices and the high cost of the research equipment needed. Just over a decade later, however, scientists became interested again in producing oil from algae, prompted by rising fuel prices and concerns about the world’s oil supply. As a result, several companies have invested in the technology and know-how needed to create oil from algae.
In some algae species, lipids make up over 50% of the algae, by weight, especially when the algae is stressed and stimulated with specific fertilizers. When subjected to extraction, this oil is chemically comparable to light sweet crude, a form of petroleum that can be refined into a wide variety of products, including biofuels and plastics. Light sweet crude is often in high demand, as it can be used to produce a range of fuels including kerosene and diesel.
Per acre, kelp can generate an exponentially higher oil yield than crops such as corn and soybeans, and kelp can be grown in a variety of environments and on otherwise unusable land, ensuring that resources that could be used to grow the food continue to be dedicated to food production. Algae oil production is also made much more efficient with vertical growth columns, allowing companies to grow a huge volume of algae in a very small space, and systems can also be designed to use water and resources efficiently. very efficient.
While the cost of producing oil from algae was prohibitive as of 2008, the technology was clearly advancing rapidly and many scientists hoped to see major developments within 10 to 10 years. Many governments have also supported alternative fuel initiatives, including the push to create oil from algae, and this investment could speed up the process considerably.
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