* The ePBR system is like a pond in a jar that helps identify, cultivate, and test algal strains that have the potential to make the leap from lab to pond - proliferate in real-world, real-pond settings and produce the most oil.
* The bioreactors are about the size of coffee makers and can induce changes in light, temperature, carbon dioxide, oxygen, evaporation, nutrient availability and more.
* Algae as a source of biofuels pump nutrient-rich water through plastic or borosilicate glass tubes (called "bioreactors" ) that are exposed to sunlight (and so-called photo bioreactors or PBR).
* It replaces home-built growing platforms made from flasks, tubing, aluminum foil and grow lights and gives researchers a tool that can consistently replicate conditions and reproduce results.
* Many scientists around the globe are looking for strains of algae that could become a sustainable source of alternative energy.
* ALGAE FUEL or ALGAL BIOFUEL is an alternative to fossil fuel that uses algae as its source of natural deposits.
* Several companies and government agencies are funding efforts to reduce capital and operating costs and make algae fuel production commercially viable.
* Harvested algae, like fossil fuel, releases CO2 when burnt, but unlike fossil fuel, the CO2 is taken out of the atmosphere by the growing of algae and other biofuel sources.
* Algae used as a source of biofuels are a relatively newly discovered use, but algae have been used in numerous other applications for many years.
* The other components in algae, including carbohydrates, natural dyes and pigments, antioxidants and other bio-active compounds, can all be used in various processes ranging from the industrial to pharmaceutical sectors
* Many of the byproducts produced in the processing of microalgae can be used in various applications.
* Some of the products not used in the production of biofuel include natural dyes and pigments, antioxidants, and other high-value bio-active compounds.
* These chemicals and excess biomass have found numerous uses in other industries. For example, the dyes and oils have found a place in cosmetics, commonly as a thickening and water-binding agent.
LIST OF PROS AND CONS FOR ALGAE-BASED BIOFUELS:
PROS
* Bio-based fuel with essentially carbon neutral combustion
* Drop in replacement for petroleum-based liquid fuels
* Inherently renewable
* Absorbs carbon dioxide as it grows
* Both waste CO2 and wastewater can be used as nutrients
* Higher energy per-acre than other bio-fuels
* Can be grown on land unsuitable for other types of agriculture
* Scalable: Study found that 17 percent of U.S. oil imports could be met with algae
CONS
* Need to be grown under controlled temperature conditions
* Requires a considerable amount of land and water
* Cold flow issues with algal biofuel
* Some researchers using genetic engineering to develop optimal algae strains
* Requires phosphorus as a fertilizer which is becoming scarce
* Fertilizer production is carbon dependent
* Relatively high upfront capital costs
* Not clear yet what the ultimate cost per gallon will be. Presently too high.
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