Growing Microalgae For Biodiesel

Posted December 4, 2011 By admin

Running on Algae   by Celeste Yates

A paper by CSIR researchers, Dheepak Maharajh and Asha Harilal named ‘Transforming South Africa’s Biodiversity into Diesel’ has taken us one step closer to a future where we could be running on algae.

The paper presented the isolation of beneficial organisms and the best organisms from that potential in the biomass process. Currently biodiesel production and research are focused on crop based feedstock, such as palm oil. Researchers and stakeholders in the field are concerned that these biomass products could become unsustainable in the long term due to arable land and water requirements – not to mention the competition with food crops.

Algae has shown great potential in being the possible solution, as 40% can be harvested as fuel according to Maharajh;
“Algae generally grow at lower densities than bacteria or yeast, but their growth rates are far superior to terrestrial plants. These masses are specific to the organisms capability to produce oil. Eg, to produce 1 litre of fuel from an algae that produced 40% oil we would require 2.5kg of dry algal biomass, which could be as much as 2500L of liquid culture”

Microalgae have an oil yield at least 10 times better than oil seed crops and are capable of using environmental waste substrates such as carbon dioxide and nitrate-rich waste water for growth. For the last three years CSIR researchers have been actively sampling South Africa’s biodiversity and have successfully obtained over 200 isolates. When asked how algae biomass compares to palm oil Maharajh responded:
“For Biodiesel production the vegetable oil feedstock should contain a certain profile for fatty acids to be comparable to fossil diesel. Algae produce a wide range of the fatty acids and through process interventions we can make the organisms produce the fatty acid profile we require. However in general the oil produced by algae has a lower free fatty acid composition than palm oil for example. Free fatty acids are bad for the biodiesel production process and therefore the answer to your question is that it is comparable and sometimes better.”

Certain criteria must be reached for successful mass culture of algae. The selected algal strain must be a local strain with a rapid growth rate and must have high photosynthetic efficiency and light-harvesting capabilities to name a few. South Africa is an ideal place to do research due to the richness of South Africa’s biodiversity and the countries moderate climate and availability of sunlight.

However, the paper also reveals that not all isolates are capable of growth on solid media. Some grow synergistically on liquid medium and cannot be separated by traditional means. Out of the samplings in the paper, four isolates show promise and need future studies. Maharajh told us that in the future, there is a possibility that fuel could be created rather in the lab than with oil drills;
“The envisaged process from algal biodiesel production is intricate and contains many process steps, however a similar number of processes are currently used for fossil fuel production, albeit at a more developed level. Once the process for algal fuel production is developed the system will run smoothly and if economics are feasible it will be feasible for companies to take up this route.”

Once algae have been selected as potential fuel producers, the cells can be produced in the lab and there will no further disturbance to the environment is necessary.

About the Author

Celeste writes for South African biodiversity, a media company focusing on conservation and the environment.
Growing Algae Could Clean the Chesapeake Bay and Produce Biofuel


Categories: Biological Products

Da Vinci Robot Surgery Lawsuit Surge Doesn’t Phase Patients Seeking Da Vinci Treatment

Posted May 18, 2013 By Fred

Like in many other areas, the United States is unique when it comes to attitudes toward technological advances in the medical field. Most people in the U.S., both medical professionals and consumers, believe that American medicine leads the world. It is undeniable, though, that experts from other parts of the world see the American attitude as headstrong and at times ill-advised. Certainly the United States has many of the most respected research facilities and teaching hospitals in the world, but our obsession with technology is a dangerous one. The recent surge of da Vinci robot surgery lawsuits is representative of one of the problems with the American view toward medical advancement.

The past decade has seen the rise of robotic surgery within this country. Providing an alternate procedure for laparoscopic surgery, the da Vinci robot makes operating on patients easier for the surgeon by allowing them to work at a comfortable remote station rather than awkwardly handling long-handled tools themselves. Some surgeons say that with a large amount of practice, the device allows them to perform more detailed or complex procedures. But the overwhelming majority of medical professionals say the device may actually pose significant risks to patients, particularly when the surgeon using it has not been performing robot surgeries at a high volume for some time. Da Vinci robot surgery lawsuits allege that the device can cause serious and life threatening internal injuries to organs and bodily tissues.

Despite the growing criticism of the product, including major studies by respected medical research groups and news stories by prominent periodicals, the surgical robot continues to grow in popularity. These news articles and medical journals have published revealing information showing that claims regarding better patient outcomes made by Intuitive Surgical in marketing materials have never actually been proven.  This is precisely where the U.S. medical system and that of other leading countries vary from one another. Only in America can a medical device reach such a height of popularity within ever being proven to offer benefits to patients. In a society where technology is often equated with improvement and advancement, patients seek out hospitals that offer da Vinci robot surgery – unaware that traditional laparoscopy may actually be a smarter and safer choice. Furthermore, the da Vinci robot adds significant cost to routine surgeries such as hysterectomy. Hospitals are footing the bill for this new device in order to attract more patients – and meanwhile Intuitive Surgical is reaping record profits for an unproven and perhaps unsafe product.

While Intuitive Surgical continues to market the robot in the same aggressive manner, making unproven claims about patient outcomes and failing to notify consumers of the risks associated with robotic surgery, the company has quickly and quietly settled the da Vinci robotic surgery lawsuits that have surfaced thus far. Speculation says that the company must know something is seriously wrong with robot surgery, or company lawyers would be fighting these pricey lawsuits tooth and nail. In the long run, it’s up to the American consumer to make wise choices, continuing to grapple with the question of technology and advancement.

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