Algae could yield 30 times more biofuel than soybeans, cleaning environment

Algae could be used as a biofuel while simultaneously cleaning up the environment, report researchers at the University of Virginia.

By feeding algae extra carbon dioxide — the principle greenhouse gas contributing to climate change — and organic material like sewage, environmental engineering professors Andres Clarens and Lisa Colosi believe they can boost algae oil yields to as much as 40 percent by weight, far in excess of what can be generated from soybeans.
“Proving that the algae can thrive with increased inputs of either carbon dioxide or untreated sewage solids will confirm its industrial ecology possibilities — to help with wastewater treatment, where dealing with solids is one of the most expensive challenges, or to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide, such as coal power-plant flue gas, which contains about 10 to 30 times as much carbon dioxide as normal air,” explained a statement from the University of Virginia.

Mongabay