Many in the renewable energy field hope biofuel produced from algae will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and America's reliance on foreign oil in an age of climate change.
But it's not a foregone conclusion that emissions from burning biofuel derived from algae really will be as environmentally friendly as scientists hope.
That's why CSU mechanical engineering professors Anthony Marchese and Azer Yalin are on a mission to find out exactly what gases are emitted when algae oil burns.
"What are the consequences if we were to suddenly go from zero to 20 billion gallons of algae-based biofuel per year over the next 20 years?" Marchese said. "Are there going to be any consequences that we may not have thought about? Recent history is littered with examples of where we've moved too quickly with the technology without understanding the risks."
Marchese and Yalin have received a $325,000 National Science Foundation grant to conduct a study of emissions from algae-based biofuels, during which they'll look at how pollutants are formed when the fuel burns.
A Colorado State University spinoff company, Fort Collins-based Solix Biofuels, is betting the bank on the success of its technology, which produces biofuel from algae.
"We are looking forward to learning the results of this work," said Joel Butler, Solix chief technology officer. "Broadening our understanding of the properties of algae oil will be important to us as this industry develops."
Butler did not immediately respond to an e-mail asking what it would mean for Solix if Marchese and Yalin's study shows algae oil doesn't burn as cleanly as scientists expect.
At the heart of the CSU study is gaining an understanding of how nitrogen oxides, known as "NOx" emissions, are produced from biofuel.
"There is a lack of understanding of the chemistry behind NOx and soot formation from biodiesel in general," Yalin said. "Algae-based biodiesel is unique and has a different chemical structure than feedstocks like soybeans, so we're building several experiments to focus on the NOx production and soot as well. In diesel engines, NOx and soot are still a major concern."
Marchese said his team already has studied how algae-based biodiesel combusts in engines, and researchers detected lower levels of NOx emissions than from other biofuels. Researchers haven't been able to nail down the triggers for increases in NOx gases from biofuels, and the CSU study will help find those answers.
Yalin and Marchese's team will look at single droplets of algae-based biofuel, and as they ignite, the droplets will be passed through a laser sheet to help researchers detect which chemicals are being emitted.
Copyright ©2010 The Fort Collins Coloradoan
