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According to Texas A&M scientist Timothy Devarenne, making biofuel from algae is nothing new. He says nature has used green algae to produce hydrocarbon oil for hundreds of millions of years, and “Oils from the green algae Botryococcus braunii can be readily detected in petroleum deposits and coal deposits suggesting that B. braunii has been a contributor to developing these deposits and may be the major contributor.” [TAMU]
Like most green algae, B. braunii is capable of producing great amounts of hydrocarbon oils with very little input of raw materials. But scientists believe B. braunii shows particular promise not only because it produces a lot of oil, but also because of the type of oil it produces. While many high-oil-producing algae create vegetable-type oils, the oils from B. braunii – botryococcenes – are similar to petroleum, and the fuels derived from the hydrocarbons are chemically identical to gasoline, diesel and kerosene.
Vats of farmed microalgae. (Photo: Mdp.utn.edu.ar)
A team of researchers at the National Technological University of Mar del Plata (UTN) is working on a research project to produce biodiesel from marine microalgae, with the aim of developing economically viable and environmentally sustainable processes.
The group already designed a low-cost production module of microalgae, from where it seeks to limit consumed energy to under 20 per cent of the energy produced.
"A fundamental factor of this project centres on the replacement of high-cost raw materials, like carbon dioxide and cultivation items, with the availing of environmental liabilities like industrial emissions and sewage mud,” the university informed.
This story reports one group of researchers in Argentina are very close to commercial production of biodiesel from sea algae, something that does not compete with the human need for fresh water and food. Are American researchers going to get scooped?
Julie Peck-Dabling and Dallas Hanks stand Monday in the middle of a field where a biofuel feedstock pilot project will take place in Salt Lake City. (Kristin Murphy, Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY — The 200-acre chunk of land southwest of the airport is barren save for wisps of grass and dried-out thistle. And due to recent snow, it's boggy, too.
But give it some attention, and around July it will burst with bright oranges, yellows and reds as soon-to-be-planted safflower blooms. Soon after, the plants' seeds will become fuel to power local government fleets hungry for homegrown biodiesel.
Salt Lake County, Salt Lake City Public Utilities, the South Davis Sewer District, Utah State University and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints all are lending a hand for a pilot project to showcase the use of this publicly owned land to grow the feedstock for biodiesel fuel.
And it's a recycling project, as well. Biosolids generated by the wastewater treatment process will be spread over the land to fertilize the drought-tolerant safflower.
Examined at a fundamental level, the universe seems to begin in lofty abstractions that lead to prosaic realities. Thus mathematics encompasses physics, physics encompasses chemistry, chemistry encompasses biology, and it all leads to… well, us.
But then it gets very abstract again as we move from us to our very non-physical creations such as economics and government policy.
Maybe those abstractions get in our way sometimes. Consider for example that millions, indeed billions, are being invested in ethanol production in the U.S., and biodiesel is getting its fair share as well. Apparently some of what’s been driving the investment is those pesky abstractions, such as policy, and maybe even mere convention.
No doubt, ethanol and biodiesel both have their place. My purpose is not to argue that there is no need to invest in these alternatives, but rather to suggest that if we think they are worth that much investment, we may want to take another look at biogas.
BIODIESEL golf shirt, 100% super combed ring spun cotton, heavy 2x1 rib collar and clean finished cuffs. Contrast tipping, double needle stitched sleeves and bottom, side vents pre-shrunk
$15.00
BIODIESEL (ask me about) 9"x3.25"
$3.00
BIODIESEL (powered by) 12"x3"
$4.00
POWERED BY BIODIESEL
$8.00
BIOFUEL (arrows) 9"x2.5"
BIOFUEL (droplet) 9"x3"
BIOFUEL (arrows) magnetic sign 9"x2.75"
$7.00
BIODIESEL (outline) magnetic sign 9"x1.5"
$6.00
Residue removal formula 10ml + Removal Tool
$11.00
Squeegee Applicator + Removal Tool
$10.00
Vinyl Squeegee Applicator 4"
$0.00
Vinyl Removal Tool
Biodiesel (B100 - helping farmers) 12"x3"
BIODIESEL (big droplet) 6"x4".
BIODIESEL (contour) 9"x1.25"
BIODIESEL (contrast)
BIODIESEL (droplet)
$2.00
BIODIESEL (flower/droplet) 12"x2.5"
BIODIESEL (funky outline) 8"x1.5"
Biodiesel (leaf)
Price: $40.00
BIODIESEL (recycle/droplet) 6"x5"
BIODIESEL (recycle)
BIODIESEL (running on bio) 12"x2.5"
BIODIESEL (soybean)
BIODIESEL (sun rising) 6"x4.25"
BIODIESEL (sun) 9"x3"
BIODIESEL (supporting US farmers) 12"x2.25"
BIODIESEL (tall)
Methyl Esters give my fatty ... 12"x1.5"
POWERED BY BIODIESEL (clean, renewable, domestic) 24"x3"
BIODIESEL emblem 29mm
$20.00
BIO emblem 29mm
BIODIESEL POWERED emblem 29mm
$30.00
BIOFUEL emblem 29mm
$16.00
BIOFUEL POWERED emblem 29mm
$27.00
BIODIESEL prearranged emblem 29mm
$22.00
ECO DIESEL prearranged emblem 29mm
GREEN DIESEL prearranged emblem 29mm
$26.00
VEGGIE DIESEL prearranged emblem 29mm
BIODIESEL (no drilling required) magnetic sign 12"x3.5"
WVO prearranged emblem 29mm
SVO emblem 29mm
SVO POWERED emblem 29mm & 20mm
$18.00
WVO POWERED emblem 29mm & 20mm
VEGGIE emblem 29mm
$14.00
SVO emblem 26mm (style-3)
VEGGIE DIESEL prearranged emblem 26mm (style-4)
WVO emblem 26mm (style-3)
BIOFUEL emblem 26mm (style-3)
ECO DIESEL emblem 26mm (style-3)
GREEN DIESEL emblem 26mm (style-3)
$25.00
VEGGIE DIESEL emblem 26mm (style-3)
VEGGIE emblem 26mm (style-3)
ECO DIESEL prearranged emblem 26mm (style-4)
GREEN DIESEL prearranged emblem 26mm (style-4)
VEGGIE DIESEL prearranged emblem 26mm (style-5)
ECO DIESEL prearranged emblem 26mm (style-5)
GREEN DIESEL prearranged emblem 26mm (style-5)
BIODIESEL t-shirt - natural color
BIODIESEL long sleeve classic guide shirt deep olive green color, 65/35 cotton/nylon, convertible sleeves roll up and button in place, orange embroidery shown below:
BIODIESEL short sleeve denim shirt, 100% extra soft rung spun cotton, pre-shrunk, dark blue and white embroidery shown below:
BIODIESEL (leaves) 8"x2.5"
BIODIESEL (tree)
ETHANOL (no war required)
Biodiesel (made of US soy)
Biodiesel (no drilling required/ droplet) 12"x3.75"
BIODIESEL (no drilling) 12"x3"
BIODIESEL (no sons or daughters died) 12"x2.75"
BIODIESEL (no war required)
BIODIESEL (outline) 8"x1.5"
BIODIESEL (plain frame)
BIODIESEL (vegetarian) 12"x3.25"
BIODIESEL (vegetarian car) 12"x2.25"
BIODIESEL (vegetarian truck) 12"x2.25"
BIODIESEL POWERED (bold) 12"x2"
BIODIESEL POWERED (flower/droplet) 12"x2.75"
GOT BIODIESEL (got mil font) 9"x2.25"
GOT BIODIESEL (oval) 6"x3.75"
VEGGIE OIL emblem 29mm
VEGGIE OIL POWERED emblem 29mm
WVO prearranged emblem 20mm
SVO emblem 20mm
BIOFUEL emblem 20mm
VEGGIE emblem 20mm
ECO DIESEL prearranged emblem 20mm
GREEN DIESEL prearranged emblem 20mm
VEGGIE DIESEL prearranged emblem 20mm
BIODIESEL (powered by) magnetic sign 12"x3.25"
BIODIESEL 3.5" magnetic sign
BIODIESEL (no war required) magnetic sign 12"x3.5"
Got BIODIESEL? magnetic sign 9"x2.75"
BIODIESEL (droplet) magnetic sign 12"x3.5"
Got MPG? 6"x3.75". Clear lettering
Think MPG not SUV 12"x2.25"
50 MPG (no batteries needed) 5"x2.5"
Rapid glue residue removal formula 10ml
Collection Drum Decals 7"x3"
$1.50
Got Grease? 12"x2"
GRASA PASA (grease happens) 9"x2.5"
Powered by VEGGIE OIL (bold/no war) 9"x3.5".Clear Background, clear letters.
Powered by VEGGIE OIL (bold) 9"x2.75"Clear Background, clear letters.
POWERED BY VEGETABLE OIL (clean, renewable, domestic) 24"x3"
Powered by VEGGIE OIL (flower/droplet) 12"x2.5"
TDI golf shirt, 100% super combed ring spun cotton. Raglan sleeve. Topstitched seams with clean finished side vents and placket. Pre-shrunk.
biodieselSMARTER
BIODIESEL METAL PEN (laser engraved) Unique detailing such as the futuristic perforated barrel, but most importantly reusable pen that will last you years.
$5.00
BIO-DIESEL (contour) 9"x1.25"
BIODIESEL (arrow) 6"x2.25"
BIODIESEL (arrows) 6"x2.5"
BIODIESEL (ask me about) 5.5"x4"
Running on VEGGIE OIL 12"x2.5"
SVO POWERED (contrast) 12"x1.25"
WVO POWERED (contrast) 12"x1.25"
BIODIESEL windbreaker jacket, Ripstop nylon. English Bay zipper pull and toggles. Adjustable draw cord bottom. Adjustable Velcro cuffs. Two side seam pockets. Hung mesh lined body. Orange/green embroidery shown below:
$40.00
POWERED BY BIODIESEL license plate frame (Type-1)
POWERED BY BIODIESEL license plate frame (Type-2)
POWERED BY BIODIESEL license plate frame (Type-3)
BIODIESEL emblem 20mm
BIO emblem 20mm
BIODIESEL prearranged emblem 20mm
Powered by Veggie Oil (flower/droplet) magnetic sign 12"x3"
Powered by VO (bold) magnetic sign 9"x3"
BIODIESEL Ball Cap - Burnt Orange (adjustable back strap) 100% Cotton, 6 panel construction, 3.5" embroidery.
BIODIESEL Ball Cap - Green/Khaki Edge (adjustable back strap) 100% Cotton, 6 panel construction, 2.25" embroidery.
BIODIESEL Ball Cap - Stone/Black Edge (adjustable back strap) 100% Cotton, 6 panel construction, 2.25" embroidery.
BIODIESEL winter hat - Athletic Oxford (grey), 2.35" embroidery (light grey)
$13.00
TDIclub.com winter hat - black
TDIclub.com winter beanie (scull cap) black, 3.5" embroidery
BIODIESEL emblem 26mm (style-3)
BIO emblem 26mm (style-3)
ETHANOL (no war required) magnetic sign 12"x3.5"
BIODIESEL prearranged emblem 26mm (style-4)
50MPG (no batteries needed) magnetic sign 5.5"x2.75"
BIODIESEL prearranged emblem 26mm (style-5)
Cache everything