'Racing' turns algae into automobile fuels

Scientists around the world are trying to extract algae oil, which is available in organic form and much cheaper than large-scale petroleum to supply motor vehicles.

For years scientists have confirmed algae - fragile plants that grow fast and have a high fat content - can become an endless source of renewable energy. Algae are appreciated by environmental experts for absorbing a lot of CO2 - a byproduct of fossil fuel combustion.

In fact, each algae is a tiny biological plant that uses photosynthesis to convert CO2 and sunlight into energy. The algae's conversion activity is so effective and powerful that its weight can increase several times a day. During photosynthesis, algae also secrete vegetable oil.

Besides, algae can grow well in places where food crops cannot survive. They like ponds, swampy mosquitoes and even industrial waste water tanks.

Algae can live everywhere and absorb a lot of CO2 - Photo: Telegraph

Mark White, professor of finance at the University of Virginia, affirmed that if the production of algae-based biofuels became widespread, CO2 treatment and burial costs would be significantly reduced. Even solid waste can become a sale item because people can use it to raise algae.

In addition, because algae have the ability to extract nitrogen from the air and water, laboratories can produce pure nitrogen at a very low cost.

Many universities and companies around the world, especially in the US, are looking to produce biofuels from algae on a large scale, then pump this fuel into cars, trucks, airplanes and other vehicles. Other motorized vehicles.

"We can grow algae in closed chambers and lead the plant's emissions there. This will contribute to reducing the greenhouse effect," said George Philippidis, director of applied research at Florida International University ( USA), said.

Many companies go the other way in an effort to produce fuel from algae. They studied how to "fatten" fish with algae, then processed fish fat into bio-oil.

However, many experts believe algae cannot completely replace fossil fuels. Even some people have doubts about the ability of algae to produce biofuels. Even the Philippidis director of the Midwest Research Institute acknowledges that humans will have to depend on fossil fuels for a very long time. However, he sees bright prospects in the future, especially when many large companies participate in algae research.