Turn algae into biological crude oil in 60 minutes

US scientists have recently introduced a technique to process bio-algae oil from algae within 60 minutes, to save time and reduce costs significantly.

According to Pacific Northwest (PNNL) scientists, the bio-crude oil production system is designed with continuous operation, with temperatures up to 350 degrees C and a pressure of about 1,360. kg / 6cm ² .

The clusters of algae through processing with new technology will be converted into bio-fuel fuel within an hour.(Photo: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory)

NBC News quoted Douglas Elliott, a member of the research team, saying the system's special technologies would separate bio-crude and other fuels from the water. After one hour, crude oil will be separated from the water and flow to another pipe.

This bio-crude oil can then be cleaned and formed into liquid hydrocarbons, which are used as an alternative fuel for gas, diesel and aircraft fuel, which are made from petroleum as currently now on.

The water treatment step will restore methane, a basic natural gas, from residual algae. The remaining nitrogen and phosphorus rich water can be recycled to feed algae. This can help save even more costs.

The process of forming crude oil in the wild is based on the decomposition of organic substances such as plants and algae that have gone through millions of years. With PNNL's research method, the creation of bio-crude oil will save considerable time.

In addition, this process will also save costs by using wet algae, a difference from the current processes that use algae to dry. The algae drying process will consume a lot of energy, so the production cost will be higher.