Nov 30 2010
A group of engineers and scientists from private and public sectors have successfully manufactured biodiesel by utilizing the oil, which is extracted from algae. The National Alliance for Biofuels and Bioproducts (NAABB) obtained a stimulus grant worth $44 million to produce biodiesel from algae. The biodiesel meets the specifications established by the American Society for Testing and Materials.
Eldorado Biofuel, a Mexico-based firm, provided the algal oil for the project. Eldorado Biofuel is an industry member of the NAABB consortium. The oil was converted to biodiesel by Catilin, another industry partner.
The conversion process utilized Catilin’s T300 solid catalyst, instead of sodium hydroxide, which is utilized in the traditional algal oil conversion procedures. Catilin stated that the process also provides glycerin, a useful by-product. Glycerin can be sold to the pharmaceutical and food industries.
The next phase of the project involves analysis and testing of algae-based biodiesel by NAABB consortium members. Catilin is currently establishing a 300,000 gallon-per-year facility to operate the algal oil extraction process by utilizing the nanoparticle technology.
Source: http://www.arl.arizona.edu/