(Notícia em Inglês)
Biofuels from algae grown in seawater are the only fossil fuel alternative that doesn't compromise food and freshwater supplies, believes Yusuf Chisti. Algae are an increasingly popular potential feedstock for biofuels, but the Massey University, New Zealand, scientist says that currently used techniques won't provide fuel in the quantities needed.
"Most companies appear to be using freshwater to grow the algae, but this may not be the way forward as supply is limited," Chisti told environmentalresearchweb.
Consequently, while Chisti has reviewed algae's attraction in the journal Biofuels, his approach differs from the mainstream. "My focus is on using marine algae for making biofuels," he explained. He sees no technological restrictions against selecting seawater species, but suggests that the freshwater choice is down to the inland locations of many experimenters.
"Another likely reason is that many of the companies have little direct experience of culturing algae and have selected production systems without careful thought to the freshwater resource requirements," Chisti said. He notes that growing algae in seawater is comparatively straightforward, and can use waste carbon dioxide and standard agricultural fertilizers.
environmrntalresearchweb.org»
Biofuels from algae grown in seawater are the only fossil fuel alternative that doesn't compromise food and freshwater supplies, believes Yusuf Chisti. Algae are an increasingly popular potential feedstock for biofuels, but the Massey University, New Zealand, scientist says that currently used techniques won't provide fuel in the quantities needed.
"Most companies appear to be using freshwater to grow the algae, but this may not be the way forward as supply is limited," Chisti told environmentalresearchweb.
Consequently, while Chisti has reviewed algae's attraction in the journal Biofuels, his approach differs from the mainstream. "My focus is on using marine algae for making biofuels," he explained. He sees no technological restrictions against selecting seawater species, but suggests that the freshwater choice is down to the inland locations of many experimenters.
"Another likely reason is that many of the companies have little direct experience of culturing algae and have selected production systems without careful thought to the freshwater resource requirements," Chisti said. He notes that growing algae in seawater is comparatively straightforward, and can use waste carbon dioxide and standard agricultural fertilizers.
environmrntalresearchweb.org»