OriginOil Announces Algae Processing Breakthrough
Today, Los Angeles based OriginOil announced what they’re calling a breakthrough in algae processing, leading to a simpler and more efficient mechanism for producing algae-based biofuels.
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Harvesting algae is inherently difficult. Once grown, algae must be concentrated and then broken apart to exract the oil from each cell, which leaves a mix of oil, water, and biomass. The process to extract the oil, shown in a time-lapse video on OriginOil’s website, purportedly achieves all of the key harvesting steps in a single pass.
With this new process, we have greatly improved on our previous harvesting technology. We now have a single device and process that we will optimize and scale up in upcoming trials for commercialization
-OriginOil CTO Dr. Vikram Pattarkine
OriginOil’s process uses their proprietary “Quantum Fracturing™” (depicted above) in combination with electromagnetism and changes in pH to break down cell walls and separate the oil (more on their website). The technology will debut at the National Algae Association’s Forum on April 30, 2009.
See the press release at OriginOil’s website.
There are quite a few critics of this algae concept, yet I think it is the best developing biofuel idea out there. It is certainly well-worth researching. Now, Venice has officially announced it will be focusing on “harvesting” this ever-growing plant and using it to take over the fuel supply. There is an interesting video on all of this at newsy.com. It’s worth checking out:
http://www.newsy.com/videos/from_scum_to_power_source/
I find the idea of algae-based biofuels to be intriguing. I personally think it could be better used to filter emissions rather than fuel the vehicles, but that would require genetically engineering the plant to have inequal “on/off” processes. In fact, I suggested such an idea in the 2003/2004 Chemagination competition. I’m glad to see where science has intersected with science fiction.