Bio-fuel from algae

Priyanka KURUGALA

A group of researchers at the Ruhuna University has been able to extract bio-fuel from micro algae. According to their study, the Nanachloropsis sp, one of the algae species, has high potential to extract algae oil which can be utilized to produce bio-diesel. Information in this regard will be provided at the 16th International Forestry and Environment Symposium organized by the Department of Forestry, and Environment Science of the University of Sri Jayewardenapura held from October 28-29, 2011 said Head of the Department Prof Hiran Amarasekera.

The research was conducted by T.N. Ammon, C.P. Rupasinghe and K.T. Ariyawansha.

They said bio-algae can play a major role in solving the future energy problem.

The dry matter yield of algae under laboratory conditions was 0.3775g/L. The harvestable dry matter yield of the Nanachloropsis sp was estimated as 1132.5kg per hectare per harvesting cycle in 30 cm depth pond, according to their research.

This plant has a seven day harvesting cycle with four times per a months. Under this condition approximately 54,360 kg of harvest can be made within one year. The oil content of Nanachloropsis sp was found to be 12.73 percent (d.b.). Therefore, the estimated oil yield is 144.2 kg/ha/harvesting cycle.

Bio-energy is important to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and substitute fossil fuels. Biomass is one of the better sources of energy while algae is one of the best sources of bio-diesel.

Algae is also the highest yielding feedstock for bio-diesel. It can produce up to 250 times the amount of oil per acre as soybeans. Bio-diesel, bio- ethanol and bio-hydrogen are popular alternative sources for fossil fuel which can be produced from algae.