Nov 3 2010
Photon8, a startup biofuels Company head quartered at the UTB-TSC ITEC Center, has heralded a new advancement in the commercial manufacture of biofuel from algae.
According to Brad Bartilson, President and CEO of the company the scientists of his company have found a means to get rid of the problems normally related to the use of ethanol and biodiesel available in the market. He said that unlike ethanol and biodiesel, which need to be mixed with fossil fuels prior to their regular use in engines the new Photon8, does not require any additive for blending.
Photon8 Laboratories
The company confirmed that the scientists have identified a way to create hydrocarbons from algae that are similar to that of the algae available in other traditionally utilized fuels. According to him, the current discovery has the potency to reduce the dependence on imported fossil fuel for the use in biofuel manufacturing process. The current development also paves way for Photon8’s idea to manufacture diesel fuel and jet fuel. He explained about the other problems related to the use of ethanol such as deficient production of energy when equated to the need of energy required to manufacture it, and its tendency to use large amounts of fresh water, which in turn generates carbon dioxide. He also explained how its inherent water absorbing property makes it difficult to utilize the national pipeline network to transport the fuel to other places.
Bartilson explained that his company has achieved the advancement, when it tried to utilize the high rate of algae cell growth available with it, and made attempts to create hydrocarbons by drawing them out of the oily lipids instead of utilizing the cells solely for the production of lipids. He further said that the advancement has allowed the company to create similar carbon chains that make jet fuel or diesel fuel or even gasoline. The U.S. military which is looking for ways to reduce its spending on fuels is waiting for the clearance of the Photo8 technology to start its commercial production.