University of Nebraska-Lincoln Hopes to Tap Into Algae as Energy Source
(CheckBiotech) Part of the greenhouse complex at University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Beadle Center will be revamped into an algal biofuels research facility this year. Scientists will begin growing algae in small containers, then move on to five-foot long bags and, finally, a “raceway” – a small, oblong pool – as they seek answers to two key questions:
– What algae cultivars are best suited for biofuel development? There are at least 200,000 different algae, and ultimately genetic modification may play a role in engineering algae to produce the most lipids – specifically, triglycerides – possible for conversion to fuel.
– How can the triglycerides be most cost-effectively extracted from the algae to produce biofuel?
UNL already has received $1.9 million in federal funding for the research. It’s also in line for tens of millions more in funding for several related research angles, including one that would couple this new research with UNL’s already robust corn-ethanol byproducts research.
… UNL is positioned to be among the research leaders in this burgeoning field because it has renowned scientists in the areas of algal virology, algal molecular biology, lipid biochemistry, plant genetic engineering and more… In fact, algae production could fit in well with Nebraska’s synergistic corn-ethanol and livestock industries, Oyler said. Algae grows faster with increased carbon dioxide. It might be possible to route carbon dioxide produced during corn-ethanol production to nearby algae raceways. The manure produced by cattle, which are fed wet distillers grains produced during ethanol production, could in turn be used to fertilize algae.
“If you can join these plants with algae production, you’re growing algae faster and using up some of that carbon dioxide,” Oyler said.
“You’re taking first-generation biofuels ( ethanol ) and making advanced biofuels. Economically, that’s a big deal,” Oyler said. READ MORE
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