In-House Live Extraction for Algae: Turning the Corner on Biofuels

Los Angeles based OriginOil recently announced a suite of breakthrough technologies that, combined, will allow for end-to-end, algae-to-oil biofuel production.

The company, which has been looking for a commercially viable way to produce algae fuel for several years now, held a social event where it announced to investors, celebrities, and media its new comprehensive pilot system for algae growth and harvesting.

The guests viewed first hand the company’s Live Extraction system, designed to “milk” algae oil without destroying algae cultures, and a bioreactor prototype specifically designed for wastewater applications.

Riggs Eckelberry, OriginOil CEO, spoke at the event, saying “I’m very proud of our team that has worked so hard over the months to make our technologies work in a complete pilot system,” he said. “Until now we have been in pure research and development. Now we have turned the corner to commercialization of our technologies. It’s a historic milestone for us.”

What's the Scoop?

Well, there is a certain versatility to this new tech that hasn't emerged before.

“Algae will be local,” Eckelberry concluded. “Unlike today’s centralized energy systems, algae will go wherever the CO2 is, and that’s everywhere.” He continued, “Algae systems will be attached to wastewater plants, factories, breweries, and any other location that generates CO2. This will lead to highly distributed energy production model and will truly deliver the jobs creation that we so urgently need in this country and the world.”

How Does it Work?

At the heart of the new system is a series of 200-gallon tanks which can be individually configured and managed for various strains, growth strategies, and lighting geometries. The tanks are now illuminated with LED light sticks submerged in icicle-like arrays. A stirrer circulates the algae slowly around the lights.

Once the algae reaches harvest concentration it is sent to the integrated extraction system, a combination of ultrasound generation and low-power electromagnetic pulsing (time-lapse video). This new system has a throughput of 5 gallons per minute, which easily keeps up with the daily output of the pilot system.

After extraction, a series of settling tanks separates the oils and biomass for eventual use as fuel and valuable by-products. A water recycling system completes the loop so the process can start again.

While bottled CO2 is currently used, an in-house generator is planned to test real-world scenarios where exhaust gas is processed for its CO2.

OriginOil Press Release Found Here