Nov 11 2010
The Central Salt and Marine Chemical Research Institute (CSMCRI) reports that researchers have initiated a new project to explore the feasibility of commercial production of biofuel from microalgae.
The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) had launched the project in 2006 to create a commercial prototype of manufacturing biofuel from microbes. Now research is being conducted on the project known as the 'New Millennium India Technology Leadership Initiative (NMITLI). The main purpose of the project is to generate a reliable database and evaluate the technical aspects of bio fuel production from microalgae.
Microalgae tend to grow rapidly and can generate significant amount of biomass. However, using them for high-volume manufacturing products such as bio fuel has not been explored till date.
Dr Pushpito Ghosh, CSMCRI Director, told PTI that scientists from nine inter laboratory consortiums will participate in the project. Primary focus will be given to three types of microalgae that produce lipids including those that convert light into lipids through photosynthesis. Such algae offer a huge potential for the commercial production of biofuel. The scientists will also explore the feasibility of using exhaustive gases and effluents, which are produced from thermal power plants, to enhance the growth.
The inter laboratory consortium includes National Institute of Interdisciplinary Science and Technology of Thiruvananthapuram, National Institute of Ocean Technology, National Institute of Oceanography, National Chemical Laboratory, Indian Institute of Technology, Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Calcutta University, Andhra University and CSMCRI