Ames Laboratory and Iowa State University Seek to Commercialize Nanoparticle-Based Algae Oil Extraction

This is very cool news for the algae fuel industry. The process of converting algae to gasoline, diesel, and other fuels just got better: now the algae itself can be preserved and continue growth, allowing for much more efficient fuel oil processes.

The US Department of Energy's Ames Laboratory and Iowa State University have developed this method which uses sponge-like mesoporous nanoparticles to harvest the oils without harming the algae. This means shorter production cycles and less waste and more efficiency for the fuel production from algae farm.


The plan now is to commercialize the process and the nano-tech based company Catilin is now stepping in for that part of it through their agreement with Ames and ISU. This new commercialization is a 3-year process which the DOE is funding with $885,000 (in loans) along with $216,000 from Catilin and another $16,000 from ISU--both of which share in the profits when this goes to market.

Right now, the nanoparticles are proven with biodiesel production from algae and have been ASTM certified with the EN biodiesel results. The university plans to continue research into making ethanol and other bio fuels with the same technology.

Pretty awesome developments!