Algae- Green Fuel of the Future

Petrol prices in India are going up very often. The increase in petrol prices increases the cost of transporting food and other important commodities necessary for our daily life. As a result common people are facing the problem of price rice of their day to day needs and necessities. Our country’s Inflation index is increasing every now and then. People are very much unhappy about the price rise.

Petrol is a fossil fuel. Oil wells are fast drying and replenishing is not possible.  It is the most demanded commodity that is becoming scarce. World population is also increasing .At this rate petrol and diesel may become historical relics. Today we are facing Fuel Crisis.

Now, we should think of an alternate fuel that is reusable and renewable. The fuel should be Green Fuel that should protect and preserve the environment. The fuel should be cost efficient and cost effective. It should be easy to use and there should be no side effects of health hazards or any other environmental degradation. All of us are aware that in the past few people tried to extract petrol from Jatropha leaves and they did not succeed in their attempts.

Pond scum or the aquatic plant that grows very quickly is called Algae. It is Microscopic and unicellular organism. They do not have root, stem and leaves. They grow in both marine water and fresh water environment. They are photosynthetic and fastest growing plant. They can be grown also using contaminated water or sewage water apart from marine water or fresh water.

 Like other plants, they convert sunlight, water, CO2, and other nutrients into energy and biomass and release large amounts of oxygen into the atmosphere. They are tiny biological factories that use Photosynthesis to transform carbon-di-oxide and sun light into energy.

Algae can be cultivated or cultured. Algae culture is a form of Aqua Culture. Water, Carbon-di-oxide, minerals, light are the important requirements for their cultivation. The basic reaction is:

CO2+Light Energy+ Water= Glucose+ Oxygen+ Water.

The temperature of water must be adjusted to optimum level, to help the growth of Algae. Light will penetrate the system and algae grow and multiply. Nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, Potassium can be added as fertilizer.

Algae can be grown in open ponds or in a closed container called a Bio-Reactor. Growing Algae in open ponds is not preferred because of contamination by other microbes. Open ponds are exposed to direct sunlight and temperature cannot be adjusted.

Algae are cultured in Photo- Bio- Reactor for the production of Bio-fuels.  Algae are processed in a processor. Algal oil is extracted by chemical process and it is separated by mechanical crushing.

The vegetable oil from algae can be used directly refined into various biofuels, including renewable diesel and jet fuel, in addition to other chemical ingredients for products like cosmetics. The carbohydrates (sugars) from algae can be fermented to make additional biofuels, including ethanol and butanol, as well as other products such as plastics and biochemical. Biomass from algae can be used for pyrolysis oil or combined heat and power generation.

Using Algae as the fuel has following advantages:

·         Algae are renewable resources for biofuels that can be grown on non‐arable lands, using saltwater or brackish water.

·         They grow very well when they are fed with Carbon-di-oxide gas, the most important green house gas.

·         Using algae for biofuels does not displace farmland used for growing food crops.

• Algae also efficiently recycle atmospheric carbon. Through photosynthesis, they produce up to 50 percent of global oxygen.
• Algae Bio fuels do not corrode the engines and the motors of the vehicles.
• It is cost efficient and cost effective.
• Algae can be harvested within two days because they are fastest growing plants.50% of their weight is oil.
• Algae do not compete with other land for crops for soil and water.
• One acre of Algae can produce 10,000 gallons of oil per year.
• Algae can be grown anywhere with sunlight, water, and carbon-di-oxide.
• They do not contain sulphur. Therefore they are non-toxic.
• They are Bio-degradable.
• With the increasing concern for Global Warming and Climate Change now, we need to initiate a change. Sooner or later, petrol and diesel will become extinct. So, not only Algae are the most dependable source of energy, but also eco friendly fuel of the Future.

Switch over to a Bio-Green Fuel. 

It will Nurture the Atmosphere and Nourish our Environment!!!