Researchers Develop One-Step Algae Harvesting, FAME Conversion
by Ron Kotrba (Biodiesel Magazine) Researchers from the University of Texas at Austin have developed a proof-of-concept design to harvest, dewater and convert the dried algae to biodiesel in a one-step process using resins.
In a paper titled, “Use of Anion Exchange Resins for One-Step Processing of Algae from Harvest to Biofuel,” University of Texas at Austin scientists Jessica Jones, Cheng-Han Lee, James Wang and Martin Poenie note that to circumvent the cost-prohibitive obtainment of algae oil due to the pumping and processing of large volumes of dilute algal suspensions, they used Amberlite anion exchange resins to simplify the process, which has the potential to greatly reduce processing costs. READ MORE



