Exxon to Spend $600 Million on Making Gasoline and Diesel from Pond Scum
19 July 2010 | Alternative Energy | No Comments
After we saw how to produce biofuels using tobacco or tea leaves, it’s time to talk about making gasoline and diesel from pond scum. Exxon Mobil Corp. seem to be increasingly concerned about algae growth. They said that they will invest up to $600 million in order to create better biofuels for Americans. Exxon Mobil Corp. has also decided to move their laboratory projects to real-world conditions by opening a greenhouse in La Jolla, California. “It is one step along a pretty long path, but it’s a pretty important step,” said Emil Jacobs, Exxon’s vice president.
Working together on this project, Synthetic Genomics Inc. and Exxon, are struggling to find a new type of algae that can be easily poured into refineries (eg.: the green goo is comparable to the product in an intermediate stage at an oil refinery) and that can produce the most hydrocarbons. It seems that the best way to create high-quality biofuels is represented by growing algae. The two companies said that they will try growing various algae strains, using different methods, in open pools or plastic bags full of slime, in order to improve the hydrocarbons production. Using algae to produce biofuels, also includes two major advantages: first, during growth, algae will absorb considerable amounts of CO2 and second, food resources will be preserved (eg.: ethanol is made from corn). Replacing fossil fuels with biofuels is a long process but once started, I think we will be able to see the benefits of using these “green fuels”.
Tags: algae fuels, algae hydrocarbons, algae strain, Biofuels, converting algae into fuel, Exxon, exxon biofuels, exxon pond scum, green goo, high-quality biofuels, pond scum biofuel, pond scum gasoline, pond scun diesel