VCU’s department of biology began a study using algae as biofuel this summer. The project received $40,000 in funding from the Virginia Coastal Energy Research Consortium, as well as $20,000 from VCU. VCU’s study began this summer and is expected to be completed by June 2010.
Professor Paul Bukaveckas, who specializes in algae and holds a doctorate in ecology and evolutionary biology, is the primary investigator of the VCU study.
A biofuel is a fuel obtained from living matter. Ethanol, also known as ethyl alcohol, is commonly used as a biofuel and can be produced from corn. Bukaveckas explained why algae biofuel is preferred over ethanol.
“Algae produces a lot of oil,” Bukaveckas said. “They actually produce more oil than corn or soybeans.”
Bukaveckas said corn contains most of its oil solely in the kernel, so an entire plant must be grown in order to harvest fuel. Algae, however, has no roots or stalks. The cell itself is rich with oil.
“It’s like only producing the cob instead of producing the whole plant,” Bukaveckas said.
Corn production’s disadvantages include farmland competition, which increases costs of both corn and ethanol. Also, land use can cause pesticides and fertilizers to end up in rivers and the Chesapeake Bay, Bukaveckas said.
The advantage of algae is that it can be found in wastewater treatment plants Bukaveckas said. Wastewater is high in nutrients, which can be used to raise algae without extra fertilizers.
“Once harvested, oils can be extracted from algae to make biofuels for use in engines,” Bukaveckas stated in an e-mail. “Alternatively, the material can be dried and burned (e.g. in pellet stoves or power plants) . Another option is to decompose (ferment) the biomass to harvest methane and ethanol.”
Amber Taylor, a bioinformatics and geonomics major with a minor in environmental studies, said her jaor specializes in the study of biology and life processes while utilizing computer, databases and technology.
Taylor conducted her own research and discovered various algae types secrete different materials to produce various biofuels. Understanding the operations of algae is important, Taylor said.
“It is found that certain algae, when given more carbon dioxide, yield larger amounts of oil,” Taylor said.
Algal Farms, a local company, has expressed interest in collaborating with VCU in future studies. The company, founded in 2008, is exploring dried algae as a substitute for use in coal power plants, said Director of Operations Gary Ford. Because algae absorbs carbon dioxide, Ford said that it is considered carbon neutral, or carbon negative.
“Emissions (with algae) are a lot cleaner than what you’d get with other fuel sources,” Ford said. According to Ford, they are also testing algae for use in pellet stoves.
VCERC is a consortium of universities involved with coastal energy issues and is funded by the commonwealth.
According to the VCERC Web site, part of the goals of VCERC include spreading new information based on research outcomes throughout the commonwealth, stated the VCERC Web site.
“Research with algal biomass will include performing molecular studies on algae to better understand their potential for conversion to biodiesel fuel,” states the VCERC Web site about algal biodiesel research.
The funding for the VCU algae research began in the summer of this year. According to Bukaveckas, the project is relatively new with no victories or defeats as of now.
“There is no battle yet,” Bukaveckas said.