The United States develops a low-cost method for producing algae biodiesel

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United Environment and Energy LLC of the United States said on the 25th that researchers have for the first time successfully developed an economical and environmentally friendly method for converting algae oil into biodiesel. The company believes that the new research findings will help the United States achieve its goal of eliminating the need to import petroleum fuels. One of the problems with the various methods currently used to produce biodiesel from algae oil is the high production cost. Researchers at United Environment and Energy Limited Liability Company say that their newly developed production method reduces costs by at least 40% compared to existing methods. They also said that there is another advantage to using the newly developed method for producing algae biodiesel: the production process does not generate any wastewater, thus avoiding environmental pollution. Dr. Wen Ben, the research leader and vice president of the company, said: ‘This is the first method to produce biodiesel economically using algae oil.’ Since it is possible to start production using small-scale factories, with no need for investment in water treatment and a faster production process, its cost is much lower than that of conventional production methods. 'The company believes that the supply of raw materials for production is not a problem, as there is an abundance of algae growing in the world’s oceans, lakes, and rivers. Wen said that a significant advantage of the algae-based biodiesel production method they have developed, compared to other methods, is the use of a patented solid catalyst of their own design, rather than the liquid catalysts used in current methods. Solid catalysts have two characteristics: one is that they can be reused ； Second, they enable the continuous flow production of biodiesel. The production methods of the past were slower; workers had to add acid to neutralize the alkaline catalyst in order to purify biodiesel. With the use of solid catalysts, this process can be eliminated. Wen estimates that the oil yield per acre from algae is 100 to 300 times that of soybeans; it is a high-yield raw material for biodiesel and represents the most promising resource for large-scale biodiesel production to replace transportation fuels in the United States. He said that United Environment and Energy Limited is currently carrying out a trial program for a new production method, with the goal of producing 1 million gallons of algae biodiesel per year. Wen also said that the continuous flow production method using solid catalysts is suitable for mobile production equipment; therefore, small companies can engage in biodiesel production without having to build factories, and the military can use mobile units to produce fuel on the battlefield.