Specialists from the Wood Hole Oceanographic Institution and the West Washington University designed multiply synthesis methods of biofuel type using one algae type which is usually a feed for commercial fish species.
As Greg O’Nail, one of the project’s authors announced his group had found a way to produce biodiesel and jet fuel. Though it is early to speak about any economical efficiency yet these researching could develop a new strategy in alternative fuel type’s production.
As a result the researchers found out that fatty acids in Isochrysis algae could be converted into biodiesel compounds. This algae type was selected because there was a way to cultivate it in large amounts. Besides this algae type can produce alkanones, extremely resistible organic substances (unsaturated cetones with conjugated double bonds) consisted from long carbon chains of 39 atoms that are considered as a potential fuel source.
Alkanones itself are complicate to use them as a fuel that is why disproportionation of olefins was used, a process breaking down long molecular chains.
Next step will be developing new methods of increasing biofuel production amounts. Mr. O’Nail considered this stage would last for a long time. However this work is essential as carbon resources are worked out and people will need alternative sources.
