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Special
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Written by Sabrina Deparine
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Tuesday, 22 June 2010 10:24 |
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Page views: 942 |
A research team from the University of Michigan is currently exploring different ways to improve biofuel production. One of these ways is the use of pressure cooker to hasten the oil extraction process from algae..
 Based on the results of their tests, the researchers were able to conclude that heating and squishing microalgae in pressure cooker can trim down the crude oil-making process to just a few minutes. However, this process currently only works for microalgae, a microscopic specie of algae that has thinner cell walls so it breaks down more easily as compared to the other types of plants used for feedstock. .
The high temperature and pressure from the pressure cooker catalyzes faster reaction between the algae and water so the plant breaks down more quickly. This process not only releases the algae’s natural oils but also decomposes the proteins and carbohydrates which, in turn, contribute to the fuel yield.
The use of a pressure cooker is different from the conventional method of algal biofuel production because the latter only cultivates a special, oily type of algae. The algae is left to dry before the oil is extracted. This new method allows the use of other types of algae and likewise eliminates the drying stage.
According to Philip Savage, one of the researchers, the new pressure cooker method lets them produce crude bio-oil by heating algae and water to 300 degrees while keeping the water at high pressures to keep the mixture in liquid state. The process is likewise integrated because it not only produces bio-oil, it also re-uses all materials and by-products.
At present, Savage and his team are exploring new ways to use other catalysts to increase the energy content of the resulting bio-oil. They are also attempting to sieve it using a flowing material to bring down the sulfur and nitrogen contents. |
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