A scientist from MIT has been testing an idea to clean smokestack emissions with algae while producing biodiesel, and the process results in a waste product that can be used to produce ethanol. It sounds like a triple win scenario, if not science fiction but so far the early tests are promising.
Dr. Isaac Berzin of MIT, developed the process where an algae soup contained within tubes is exposed to the emissions from a powerplant's smokestacks. After passing through the algae, the exhaust has 40 percent less CO2 and 86 percent less nitrous oxide. The algae is then collected and a combustable oil is squeezed out, biodiesel, and the remaining dried algae can then be used further in a process to produce ethanol.
GreenFuel Technologies, of Cambridge, MA has obtained venture funding to conduct field trials on a 1000 megawatt power plant followed by several other demo installations with hopes for full production by 2009.
Addressing the previous post about where the biodiesel was going to come from, calculations done by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) said 15,000 acres of algae could supply all of the nation's diesel requirements. Now that seems incredibly optimistic, however, we have not seen this study so we'll hold our comments until we have an opportunity to check the results.
If this process works as designed, it could be a very promising technology with huge benefits.