Algae for Biodiesel

[Chad300tdt]

I hope this technology gets proper funding and becomes mainstream. The Vertical Algae Production Plants are genius.

YouTube - Algae Biodiesel on CNET

YouTube - Vertical Algae biofuel Growing (see...

[cg487]

Very neat! I'm so glad you posted this!

[bgkast]

Wishful thinking in that first one.

Vegetable oil will float to the top and spill over into a overflow tank

I don't think it's quite that easy.

[Chad300tdt]

Originally Posted by bgkast

I don't think it's quite that easy.

True ... unless they found a new method.

Here's how oil is extracted from algae:

pasted from this link:
http://www.algaefuels.org/algae_FAQ.htm

a. Expeller/Press
Expression/Expeller press-When algae is dried it retains its oil content, which then can be "pressed" out with an oil press. Many commercial manufacturers of vegetable oil use a combination of mechanical pressing and chemical solvents in extracting oil. While more efficient processes are emerging, a simple process is to use a press to extract a large percentage (70-75%) of the oils out of algae

b. Hexane Solvent Method
Algal oil can be extracted using chemicals. Benzene and ether have been used, but a popular chemical for solvent extraction is hexane, which is relatively inexpensive. The downside to using solvents for oil extraction is the inherent dangers involved in working with the chemicals. Benzene is classified as a carcinogen. Chemical solvents also present the problem of being an explosion hazard.

Hexane solvent extraction can be used in isolation or it can be used along with the oil press/expeller method. After the oil has been extracted using an expeller, the remaining pulp can be mixed with cyclo-hexane to extract the remaining oil content. The oil dissolves in the cyclohexane, and the pulp is filtered out from the solution. The oil and cyclohexane are separated by means of distillation. These two stages (cold press & hexane solvent) together will be able to derive more than 95% of the total oil present in the algae.

c. Supercritical Fluid Extraction
This can extract almost 100% of the oils all by itself. This method however needs special equipment for containment and pressure in the supercritical fluid/CO2 extraction, CO2 is liquefied under pressure and heated to the point that it has the properties of both a liquid and gas. This liquefied fluid then acts as the solvent in extracting the oil.




Plus there's this technology ... Quantum Fracturing
http://www.originoil.com/technology/quantum-fracturing.html

Although it appears to be just another version of C from above.

[riorust]

It seems this company http://www.sapphireenergy.com/mediacenter/press_release/1 is close to production on a commercial level (if you call 3-5 years, close).
They have a lot of money backing them and it looks like much of the dino fuel infrastructure could be used.

I'll be looking out for the IPO with these guys. Of course OPEC could slash the price per barrel and kill the economic viability of the venture.

[DieselClack]

Originally Posted by riorust

It seems this company http://www.sapphireenergy.com/mediacenter/press_release/1 is close to production on a commercial level (if you call 3-5 years, close).
They have a lot of money backing them and it looks like much of the dino fuel infrastructure could be used.

I'll be looking out for the IPO with these guys. Of course OPEC could slash the price per barrel and kill the economic viability of the venture.

I doubt that they would be successful doing that. It would work for a short time and then come back to bite them because terrorists would target them.

Also, the push for renewable fuels has begun and I won't go back to Dino Diesel if it did fall. China and India would be the first to grab up supplies and shove the price right back up too!

[DieselClack]

I'm bumping this up to keeo it toward the top. I'm directing some other friends and neighbors to join here because of articles and posts like this.