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A number of strains of microalgae are known to produce relatively high yields of energy as fuel stock [pre-biodiesel] in the form of plant oils, as a function of area and time - typically as BTU/acre-year, or MJ/hectare-day, etc.
From a review of the literature, it is my perception that microalgae have the highest solar conversion efficiency [in producing sugars and oil] of any plant option due to not only the simplicity of the organism, but also because its small size and geometry allows for approximately 100% utilization of the available sunlight. So, for starters, is my information correct?
Next, one of the biggest challenges in making biodiesel from algae is the extraction of the oils. That, combined with the fact that algae consists of sugars, oil, and fiber, suggests to me that bacterial processing of algae could be an ideal approach to fuel production.
It seems to me that while producing fuel from the available sugars, the bacteria would consequentially release the oil stored in pockets, in the algae. So we get not only the oils already stored in the algae, but also the oils converted from sugars by the bacteria. This would seem to solve many problems with algae processing while increasing the yields. Also, if algae has the highest conversion efficiency [sunlight to hydrocarbons] of any plant - as a function of area and time - then it would seem to be the ideal choice for fuel production using engineered bacteria.
Thoughts?
From a review of the literature, it is my perception that microalgae have the highest solar conversion efficiency [in producing sugars and oil] of any plant option due to not only the simplicity of the organism, but also because its small size and geometry allows for approximately 100% utilization of the available sunlight. So, for starters, is my information correct?
Next, one of the biggest challenges in making biodiesel from algae is the extraction of the oils. That, combined with the fact that algae consists of sugars, oil, and fiber, suggests to me that bacterial processing of algae could be an ideal approach to fuel production.
http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/science/08/12/bug.diesel/index.htmlHow does it work? A special type of genetically altered bacteria are fed plant material: basically, any type of sugar. They digest it and excrete the equivalent of diesel fuel.
Humans have used bacteria and yeast for centuries to do similar work, creating beer, moonshine and, more recently, ethanol. But scientists' recent strides in genetic engineering now allow them to control the end product. Watch the fuel-making process at work »...
It seems to me that while producing fuel from the available sugars, the bacteria would consequentially release the oil stored in pockets, in the algae. So we get not only the oils already stored in the algae, but also the oils converted from sugars by the bacteria. This would seem to solve many problems with algae processing while increasing the yields. Also, if algae has the highest conversion efficiency [sunlight to hydrocarbons] of any plant - as a function of area and time - then it would seem to be the ideal choice for fuel production using engineered bacteria.
Thoughts?
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