Mr Fusion has come, algae diesel has passed the ATSM and is now a commercial product! - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

winmutt · #1 06-27-2008, 09:40 AM

http://jalopnik.com/397266/algae-diesel-passes-final-exam-plans-for-weekend-bender

Quote:

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, CA - June 27, 2008: Solazyme announced recently that SoladieselRDTM , a microalgae-derived renewable diesel, has passed American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) D-975 specifications. SoladieselRDTM is the first algal-based renewable diesel to meet these standards.

In a 100% blend, SoladieselRDTM has been road tested in a factory standard 2005 Jeep Liberty diesel. The fuel's chemical composition is identical to that of standard petroleum based diesel, and SoladieselRDTM is fully compatible with the existing transportation fuel infrastructure. Having fewer particulate emissions, SoladieselRDTM also has a more desirable environmental footprint than standard petro-diesel. In addition, it meets the new ASTM ultra low sulfur diesel (ULSD) standards.

"This now marks the production of our second fuel that meets current U.S. fuel specifications and is an important validation of our proprietary process using microalgae to produce renewable fuels," said Jonathan Wolfson, chief executive officer of Solazyme. "Solazyme's leadership in the green fuels space will continue to grow as we now execute on our strategy for commercial launch."

The only advanced biofuels company producing at scale, Solazyme implements a unique microbial fermentation process that allows algae to produce oil in massive vessels quickly, efficiently and without sunlight. The process can utilize many forms of non-food feedstocks, including waste glycerol and many cellulosic materials including wood chips, corn stover and switchgrass. The resulting oils can be leveraged across a wide variety of industries and applications, including fuels, edible oils and chemicals and are completely biodegradable, nontoxic and safe.

Chad300tdt · #2 06-27-2008, 09:44 AM

KarTek · #3 06-27-2008, 09:48 AM

This is great news. I'm really waiting for someone who can produce large quantities of algae based oil from normal, pond based farms that don't require feedstocks other than sunlight.

Chad300tdt · #4 06-27-2008, 09:54 AM

The vertical algae plants seem like a better option than the pond based system since they effectively increase the surface area for greater algae growth and can keep rogue algae and unwanted bacteria from entering the system. Also there is little to no water loss.

KarTek · #5 06-27-2008, 11:44 AM

I'm a little confused... Is this article describing a process for simultaneously growing and processing algae into oil or is it describing a process to convert algae (produced in other locations) and other feedstocks into oil?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chad300tdt

The vertical algae plants seem like a better option than the pond based system since they effectively increase the surface area for greater algae growth and can keep rogue algae and unwanted bacteria from entering the system. Also there is little to no water loss.

I'm sure this is the case. I'm thinking as a prospective algae farmer - what would I need to set up - a relatively simple, cheap racetrack farm or a complex, expensive tube farm...

Chad300tdt · #6 06-27-2008, 12:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KarTek

I'm thinking as a prospective algae farmer - what would I need to set up - a relatively simple, cheap racetrack farm or a complex, expensive tube farm...

That's an interesting point. I wonder how much start up costs for each system would be? From what I've read, the "tube farm" would generate far more algae so I wonder if the increased production would justify a greater start up cost.

Are you just thinking as a prospective farmer or are you thinking of becoming a prospective farmer? If you want to become an algae farmer, I want to help ... or invest.

KarTek · #7 06-27-2008, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chad300tdt

That's an interesting point. I wonder how much start up costs for each system would be? From what I've read, the "tube farm" would generate far more algae so I wonder if the increased production would justify a greater start up cost.

Are you just thinking as a prospective farmer or are you thinking of becoming a prospective farmer? If you want to become an algae farmer, I want to help ... or invest.

I want a job where I have a feeling that I'm actually making a difference in peoples lives. I have 3 "pet" projects that I wish I could bring to life:

1. Establish a solar farm where investors buy shares in the project and get paid dividends from the profits of energy sold back into he grid. That way, people don't have to buy, install and maintain a PV system to reap the benefits.

2. Establish a wind farm with the same idea as the solar farm.

3. Establish an algae farm for production of feedstocks to produce biodiesel.

A couple things stand in the way. One, I'm not a "go-getter" that can persue startup funding for such projects and two, I don't really live in the right part of the country to effeciently start and run any such venture...

Crazy_Nate · #8 06-27-2008, 10:01 AM

"In addition, it meets the new ASTM ultra low sulfur diesel (ULSD) standards."

Hahah! Maybe because it doesn't have sulfur in it?

Where is this being sold? I couldn't find any information on their website. Somewhere in California, I presume?

winmutt · #9 06-27-2008, 09:53 AM

Id be happy if they could speed up the process so I could just throw last nights leftovers into Mr Fusion and drive on to work.

Bajaman · #10 06-27-2008, 10:12 AM

Quote:

The fuel's chemical composition is identical to that of standard petroleum based diesel, and SoladieselRDTM is fully compatible with the existing transportation fuel infrastructure. Having fewer particulate emissions, SoladieselRDTM also has a more desirable environmental footprint than standard petro-diesel.

Uum, how can the chemical composition be identical and reduce emissions? Aren't we talking biodiesel here which is not chemically identical?

Cr from Texas · #11 06-27-2008, 11:25 AM

As a professional chemist, I'll look into this further.

Sounds good but there must be a carbon and hydrogen source input to the algae to get out diesel hydrocarbons. Is carbon dioxide from the air and hydrogen from the water the chemical inputs or is another feedstock required?

patbob · #12 06-27-2008, 11:58 AM

Quote:

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, CA - June 27, 2008: Solazyme announced recently that SoladieselRDTM , a microalgae-derived renewable diesel, has passed American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) D-975 specifications. SoladieselRDTM is the first algal-based renewable diesel to meet these standards.

Notice they didn't say anywhere about making the process commercially viable? Sure, anybody can culture some microalgae, and perhaps with a bit of investment do so in sufficient quantity to make the odd tank of biodiesel, but doing it in quantity is like the difference between brewing beer at home and doing it in the quantities that Anheuser Bush produces.

Hmm.. come to think of it.. no-light fermentation? Time to buy stock in AB before they get into the biodiesel business

Diesel911 · #13 06-27-2008, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patbob

Notice they didn't say anywhere about making the process commercially viable? Sure, anybody can culture some microalgae, and perhaps with a bit of investment do so in sufficient quantity to make the odd tank of biodiesel, but doing it in quantity is like the difference between brewing beer at home and doing it in the quantities that Anheuser Bush produces.

Hmm.. come to think of it.. no-light fermentation? Time to buy stock in AB before they get into the biodiesel business

Maybe Anheuser Bush needs to go into the fuel business. They already have a great PR network.

#14 06-27-2008, 01:49 PM

Sweet. My only concern with mass-produced algae fuel is the possibility of water contamination. I'm sure they have ways to prevent it from getting into the final product but I wouldn't want to run that through my system without a good water separator and water-in-fuel sensor/light.

CSchmidt · #15 06-27-2008, 02:01 PM

I've been thinking that algea is a much better idea than soy or corn for alternate fuel (biodiesel). There have been pictures of tube farms ( horizontal tubes stacked vertically - similar to a window blind) that grow algea, and could do it in warm and non-conventional farming areas like the US desert. The closed tubes would have limited water evaporation. I saw one article - taken with a grain of salt - claiming these vertical algea racks can produce about 50 x the vegetable oil per acre - per year as typical soy or other land based crops.

Add in the ideas posted above of using the Co2 from a power plant and it would have even more efficiency. It would also reduce the crunch on conventional farming areas to produce ethanol crops.

Who knows if it will pan out, but it is fun watching the science and business proposition progress.

Go algea go!