Category: Blog

Scientists at the Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) have released a study that unveils a new process for producing ethanol from algae. The process, named Combined Algal Processing (CAP), promises to be more effective and affordable. It was published in the Algal Research journal by authors Tao Dong, Eric Knowshaug, Ryan Davis, Lieve Laurens, Stefanie Van Wychen, Philip Pienkos and Nick Nagle.

In work the set the stage for the published study, NREL researchers produced ethanol not just from lipids (the traditional components used to make fuels from algae) but separated out carbohydrates and proteins as well, both of which can be converted into fuel products. While this reduced the cost of increasing the amount of lipids in algae, a large chunk of the carbohydrate sugars were lost when the researchers used a solid-liquid separation process to isolate the carbohydrates.

Fast forward to the current study. The researchers skipped the solid-liquid separation process and exposed all algae components (lipids, carbohydrates and proteins) to the fermentation process. This resulted in a 32 percent greater yield than with lipids alone. The costs were also successfully reduced. Albeit not yet competitive with petroleum, it is a major step in the right direction.

For more information about the study, visit the NREL website.

The California Center for Algae Biotechnology (CalCAB) is hosting their annual symposium March 10, 2016 at UC San Diego, covering the year’s scientific advancements genetics, synthetic biology, engineering, social science, policy and biomanufacturing in photosynthetic organisms.

For the few of you that aren’t already jazzed by the list of topics, the keynote speaker is Margaret McCormick, the CEO of Matrix Genetics, speaking on her work as the head of strategy, research and operations. Other speakers will cover everything from wastewater reclamation to the intense regulations that constrain the electricity markets.

A bonus symposium on plant biology will be held the day after, on March 11.

Read more about the symposium here and more about CalCAB here.

 

Spirulina, a type of blue-green algae, is a superfood: a nutrient powerhouse. Spirulina provides a concentrated source of protein, vitamins and antioxidants with a small amount of healthy fats as well.

Its usage as a nutritional supplement in the U.S. is not surprising due to its well-documented benefits. Spirulina reduces inflammation, helps improve the digestive system, increases iron levels and can lower cholesterol among many other benefits.

The ultimate proof of Spirulina’s prowess? Tom Brady, quarterback of the New England Patriots, eats it as a snack. The Brady household’s personal chef helps the family maintain a very healthy diet, emphasizing plant-based, nutrition-heavy foods. In the words of the chef, Allen Campbell, “I make conscious decisions to buy local and organic and to think about the future of the planet and the future of humans.”

We are not surprised that Spirulina made the cut (it is a superfood after all), but it is certainly exciting to have a celebrity endorsement. If Brady is lucky, Spirulina might help propel him into the Superbowl next year.

For those fans or competitors looking to imitate, Campbell recommends Spirulina coupled with banana and pineapple in homemade fruit rolls.

Read the full story here.

 

photocredit: simpleinsomnia via Flickr

Two new events to add to your calendar:

Algae Testbed Public-Private Partnership (ATP3) Workshop

Sign up for the upcoming Algae Testbed Public-Private Partnership (ATP3) workshop, held in Santa Fe, NM on May 16-20, 2016.

Lectures will cover everything from the fundamentals of culture management to operations at production scale. Participants will get the chance to move out of the auditorium to get hands-on experience in the lab.

ATP3 offers superior formal and informal education and training in the use of microalgae as feedstock for biofuels and coproducts, through hands-on learning opportunities, workshops, and seminars held at ATP3 partner sites and selected public events.

Click here (PDF) for details.

ACORE’s Renewable Policy Forum: March 16-17, 2016

The American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE) is hosting their annual Policy Forum March 16^th-17^th. The Forum will be held at The W, in Washington D.C.

ABO members can use the discount code SPT20ABO to register for a reduced rate!

In addition to networking time and complimentary coffee, speakers will cover the rapid changes in electricity markets, expanding capital for renewables, renewable taxes, growing demand through the EPA’s Clean Power Plan and the repercussions of the Paris accords.

ABO would like to invite all of its members to consider attending not only to learn, but to be sure that the rising star of algae is well-represented.

See inspiring pictures and read more about the forum here, and if your already convinced, register here.

Two researchers, Crysten and Ian Blaby at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Brookhaven National Laboratory, are using algae to go deeper into the way plants harness and utilize energy from the sun.

Ian’s research focuses on plant metabolism, the processes that surround turning sunlight into plant sugars. Beyond determining the function of these processes, he hopes to potentially shift natural processes toward creating biofuels.

“If we can have an energy source that is being produced by plants, that would mean the carbon is being fixed via energy from the sun and taking CO₂ out of the atmosphere,” he said. “So, when the energy source is burned, it’s only putting back what CO₂ it took out in the first place; it’s close to carbon neutral,” Ian said here.

Algae are particularly well suited for the team’s research because they reproduce quickly, have an environment that is easy to manipulate and do not require much space, unlike many other agricultural crops.

Right now, an astonishing half of plant genes have unknown functions, 40 percent require guesswork and only around 10 percent have a well-understood role in plant biology. Understanding how plants harness the sun with current knowledge is like trying to understand the form and function of a building with only 10 percent of the blueprints.

After subjecting hundreds of thousands of algae to gene mutations, they hope to determine which genes correspond to increased survival rates. For example, how does a particular mutation affect growth rates with little access to light?

Keep an eager eye for their findings! Click here to read the full article.