The process by which common algae is converted into usable biofuel just got a whole lot more environmentally friendly and efficient thanks to new discoveries recently made at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL).
Researchers there have reportedly come up with a new method of extracting crude oil from wet algae that uses no toxic chemicals and takes about an hour to complete, arguably the most significant renewable energy technology breakthrough in recent years.
The process is known as hydrothermal liquefaction, and some experts say it is the most promising advancement yet towards the eventual commercial production of usable fuel from algae. By putting harvested algae under immense and continuous pressure and heat, PNNL researchers discovered that the all-natural substance can be quickly and effectively transformed into usable crude oil, generating only clean water, nutrients and natural fuel gas as byproducts.
