Marine biologists at FCRI, Tuticorin extract bio-fuel from algae

Mumbai: Scientists at the Fisheries College and Research Institute (FCRI) at Tuticorin have achieved a major breakthrough by successfully extracting bio-fuel from marine micro algae.

FCRI plans to develop an industrial model for mass production of the bio-fuel from marine micro algae, the institute dean V K Venkataramani said.

For extracting oil, he said, ''the marine micro algae, isolated from sea water, was first cultivated under autotrophic and heterotrophic culture systems using transesterification method - a process of conversion of an organic `acidester' into another `ester' of the same acid.

In autotrophic system, the algae were grown in a standardised culture medium. The mass culture was achieved by transferring algal broth culture to larger tanks.

Under heterotrophic conditions, mass culture algae was performed in a bioreactor of 3.1 litre capacity under controlled state to achieve high lipid accumulation.

Micro algal cells harvested from culture solution were pulverised to extract bio-lipid oil using suitable solvents.

A standard reaction mixture consisting oil and methanol concentrate was then heated for a specific period and transferred to a tailor-made funnel where the bio-fuel was separated, he said.

''The method involved catalysed chemical reaction on micro algal oil,'' he added.

Algae is widely considered to be a source of biodiesel, and there is sufficient volume of marine algae to meet the demand for oil.

Scientists in the Philippines also have claimed success in using algae or seaweeds, known locally as ''lumot,'' to produce kerogen, a type of petroleum or oil.

Scientists believe it is the algae that is contributing to the 'oil depot' in the marine environment.

The Philippines scientists say algae in unicellular form could yield ''between 40 per cent and 50 per cent oil when manipulated.''

At least 1,000 to 10,000 gallons of algae may be needed to produce a litre of biodiesel, they say.