Nine-lab consortium positive about micro-algae as source of bio-fuel

The micro-algae,or sea-weed,grows naturally in Indias west coast and the bio-fuel extraction process is similar to that using Jatropha. Scientists working on the project recently tested a bio-diesel mix 20 per cent bio-fuel,80 per cent petroleum produced from micro-algae and found it road-worthy.

The lipid-bearing mats could be simply skimmed off and the extracted oil converted into high-quality bio-diesel following a process similar to the one developed and patented earlier for Jatropha bio-diesel, said Professor Pushpito K Ghosh,director of the Bhavnagar-based Centre for Salt and Marine Chemicals Research Institute CSMCRI,one of the nine labs.

When the labs secured Rs 13.27 crore in funds last year,they admitted that there was little Indian knowledge or data about micro-algaes possibility of being liquid-fuel sources. The next big step would be to see whether the micro-algae can be cultivated in quantities large enough to meet bio-fuel demands,either inland or in the sea itself.

Meanwhile,other marine micro-algal strains,especially those with high lipid productivity,are being investigated under the project. The nine-laboratory consortium includes CSMCRI,Andhra Universitys department of Marine Living Resources,Calcutta University,Indian Institute of Chemical Technology IICT in Hyderabad,IIT- Kharagpur,National Chemical Laboratory in Pune,National Institute of Oceanography in Goa,National Institute of Ocean Technology in Chennai and National Institute of Interdisciplinary Science and Technology in Thiruvananthapuram.