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Researchers Pooh-Pooh Algae-Based Biofuel

Posted by timothy on from the feed-it-pooh-pooh-undies dept.

Julie188 writes "Researchers from the University of Virginia have found that current algae biofuel production methods consume more energy, have higher greenhouse gas emissions and use more water than other biofuel sources, such as switchgrass, canola and corn. The researchers suggest these problems can be overcome by situating algae production ponds behind wastewater treatment facilities to capture phosphorous and nitrogen — essential algae nutrients that otherwise need to come from petroleum."

5 of 238 comments (clear)

  1. Reserachers? by azav · · Score: 5, Informative

    Timothy, please spell check your title.

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    - Zav - Imagine a Beowulf cluster of insensitive clods...
  2. Somebody failed high school chemistry. by John+Hasler · · Score: 4, Informative

    > ...phosphorous and nitrogen -- essential algae nutrients that otherwise need
    > to come from petroleum.

    Phosphorus and nitrogen from petroleum. Uh huh. Right.

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    Warning: this article may contain humor, sarcasm, parody, and perhaps even irony. Read at your own risk.
    1. Re:Somebody failed high school chemistry. by Red+Flayer · · Score: 4, Informative

      OK, so whoever wrote that wasn't thinking straight. But it is true that fertilizer (both phosphates and nitrogen) require a lot of fossil fuel to produce -- usually natural gas.

      Phosphate fertilizer (ortho- or poly-phosphates) is synthesized in an energy-intensive process. Organic phosphates, like those from manure (or waste treatment plant effluent), help solve this problem.

      For nitrate fertilizer, it's even more extreme. Please read about the Haber Process.

      Yes, John, most fertilizer does come from fossil fuels.

      So, yes, whoever wrote that made a mistake. However, it's no lie to say that fertilizer production uses a huge amount of fossil fuel.

      --
      "Trolls they were, but filled with the evil will of their master: a fell race..." -- J.R.R. Tolkien on Olog-hai
  3. One other reason, Algae is more valuable! by nweaver · · Score: 4, Informative

    Diesel, wholesale, is a couple bucks a gallon. Which means it is far FAR less than a dollar a pound.

    A good algae is worth far MORE than that per pound as animal feed, dietary suppliments, etc. So why turn something that you can sell for $2/lb into something you can only sell for less than $.5/lb?

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  4. Salt Water Biofuel by EEPROMS · · Score: 4, Informative

    I notice a few people commenting on using fresh water. Well according to CSIRO (Australia) you can happily use salt water There is even a prototype plant that has been commissioned to look at making this more cost effective.