Navigation Links
Los Alamos technology strikes a chord with algal biofuels
Date:9/3/2009

An award-winning Los Alamos National Laboratory sound-wave technology is helping Solix Biofuels, Inc. optimize production of algae-based fuel in a cost-effective, scalable, and environmentally benign fashionpaving the way to lowering the carbon footprint of biofuel production.

Algae innards contain a high concentration of lipids, or oils. These lipids can be extracted by a relatively simple chemical process and concentrated into "biocrude"or "green gold"an alternative to crude oil that can be refined into biodiesel, gasoline, or even jet fuel.

Acoustic-focusingthe novel use of sound waves at the heart of the Los Alamos Acoustic Flow Cytometer, a 2007 R&D100 Award-winning technologyis being harnessed and commercialized in partnership with Solix to harvest algae for fuel. The work is part of a cooperative research and development agreement (CRADA) between the Laboratory and Solix.

In order to turn algae into transportation fuel, the tiny plant-like organisms first must be separated from their watery home and the growth medium used to sustain them. Current methods rely on giant centrifuges to separate liquids from algae solids. Centrifuges take a lot of power to operate, raising production costs and increasing the process' overall carbon use. Moreover, standard fuel-conversion methods extract lipids from the algae using solvents that are potentially hazardous to humans and the environment, and costly to dispose of.

Thanks to use of Los Alamos's acoustic-focusing technology, the algae-water-growth-medium mixture is subjected to ultrasonic fields that concentrate the algal cells into a dense sludge. This combined separation and concentration method uses hundreds of times less power than centrifuges. The Lab's lipid extraction and fractionation technique also avoids the need for costly, hazardous solvents.

Under the CRADA, Los Alamos bioscientist Greg Goddard and Solix's cofounder and chief technology officer, Bryan Willso
'/>"/>

Contact: James E. Rickman
jamesr@lanl.gov
505-665-9203
DOE/Los Alamos National Laboratory
Source:Eurekalert

0

GOOD

Page: 1 2

Related biology news :

1. Yale scientists use nanotechnology to fight E. coli
2. Voice Biometrics Gains Traction as Most Accurate and Convenient Technology to Secure Customer Privacy
3. M2SYS Partners with SecuGen Corporation to Support Market Leading Hamster Plus Fingerprint Reader with Auto-On Technology
4. Silicon Valley Technology Leaders LaserCard Corporation and Tesla Motors Sign LaserPass Secure Access Deal
5. Nanotechnology: Whats that?
6. UCs NIH grant brings technology from outer space to playgrounds
7. BIO-key(R) International to Showcase Deployed Biometric Security Applications at 2007 Biometric Technology Expo
8. Cogent Systems and Northrop Grumman Reach Agreement to Settle Automated Fingerprint Identification Technology Suit and Create Strategic Alliance
9. UCLA/VA partners with ASU to advance biosensor technology for urinary tract infections
10. Herr receives Heinz Award for Technology, the Economy and Employment
11. Singapore National Science and Technology Awards
Post Your Comments:
*Name:
*Comment:
*Email:
(Date:5/23/2013)... which estrogen suppresses lipid synthesis in the liver, UC ... treating certain liver diseases. , With this finding, ... long-held views in the field. Study results appear in ... Signaling . , "The dogma in the steroid receptor ... located in the nucleus respond to steroid hormones by ...
(Date:5/23/2013)... The tight wrapping of genomic DNA around nucleosomes ... gene expression. A team of Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitaet (LMU) in ... DNA to be locally displaced from nucleosomes for ... is stored in the cell nucleus, wrapped around ... pairs of four different histone proteins and accommodating ...
(Date:5/23/2013)... the overall health, development, and academic success of ... ensuring that all students have opportunities to engage ... vigorous or moderate-intensity physical activity, says a new ... estimates suggest that only about half of school-age ... health and development. The report recommends that ...
Breaking Biology News(10 mins):UCI study reveals new mechanism for estrogen suppression of liver lipid synthesis 2Biochemistry: Unspooling DNA from nucleosomal disks 2Schools should provide opportunities for 60 minutes of daily physical activity to all students 2Schools should provide opportunities for 60 minutes of daily physical activity to all students 3
... medication called olmesartan medoxomil is effective in reversing the ... high blood pressure, according to a new study. , ... investigators and director of the Hypertension and Vascular Research ... "We believe the data add to the growing evidence ...
... have performed the first successful reverse vasectomy on ... E. caballus przewalskii classification debated), pronounced ... to China and Mongolia that was declared extinct ... approximately 1500 of these animals maintained at zoological ...
... and technology policymaking capacity of the White House must ... address key issues facing the nationfrom energy and the ... United States to compete and collaborate internationally. The report,s ... President quickly appoint a nationally respected leader to be ...
Cached Biology News:Hypertension treatment effective in reversing vascular damage 2First successful reverse vasectomy on endangered species performed at the National Zoo 2First successful reverse vasectomy on endangered species performed at the National Zoo 3White House science office needs upgrade 2White House science office needs upgrade 3
(Date:5/23/2013)... 2013 The maker community is a ... inventions. They focus on learning practical skills while applying ... toward bringing their ideas to life via crowdfunding. A ... on making projects using biology. Glowing Plant has worked ... make them glow with bioluminescence genes, and has now ...
(Date:5/23/2013)... MA (PRWEB) May 23, 2013 ... inch wide and provide 15 mm travel range ... The small dimensions make these new positioners ... confined spaces. A vacuum rated version is also ... Drawings, specifications and datasheets can be found at: ...
(Date:5/23/2013)... 2013 VG Energy, an agricultural biotech ... Renewable Research to conduct field trials using LipidMax ... is a majority owned subsidiary of VG Life ... Energy,s exclusively licensed compound LipidMax selectively inhibits certain ... plants, possessing a wide variety of applications including ...
(Date:5/23/2013)... HILLS, Calif. , May 23, 2013  Saddleback ... recently became the first hospital on the ... robotic technology. This new surgical option provides women with ... Marc Winter , M.D., ... gynecologist and surgeon and medical director of minimally invasive ...
Breaking Biology Technology:Glowing Plant Releases Maker Kit, Enabling Anyone to Make a Glowing Plant at Home 2Precision Positioning System Uses Miniaturezed Piezo Linear Motor: LPS-24 Linear Stage by PI 2VG Energy Enters into a Strategic Alliance with DAK Renewable Research for LipidMax Field Trials 2VG Energy Enters into a Strategic Alliance with DAK Renewable Research for LipidMax Field Trials 3Saddleback Memorial Surgeon First on the West Coast to Perform Single-Site Robotic Hysterectomy 2Saddleback Memorial Surgeon First on the West Coast to Perform Single-Site Robotic Hysterectomy 3
... Wis. - Madison's ability to build a community of ... Illinois biotechnology company chose to relocate here as part of ... Venture Partners . , ,The company, Caden Biosciences , ... on the Fitchburg Technology Campus later this month. ...
... state grant to ramp up soybean oil production for ... northeastern Wisconsin. , ,The state grant, presented this week ... company more than double its capacity to produce soybean ... area refineries like Renewable Alternatives. , ,Quality Roasting's soybean ...
... Wis. - Members of the small business community ... certain federal grants could stifle research. , ,The ... a proposal that would give small companies majority-owned by ... grants. , ,The SBIR program distributes $2 billion annually ...
Cached Biology Technology:Biotech talent drew venture-funded firm to Madison 2Biotech talent drew venture-funded firm to Madison 3Wisconsin's biodiesel network expands 2Venture-backed firms could become eligible for federal SBIR grants 2Venture-backed firms could become eligible for federal SBIR grants 3Venture-backed firms could become eligible for federal SBIR grants 4
... CZE 2000 Capillary Electrophoresis System uses ... protein electrophoresis (SPE), urine protein electrophoresis ... and accurate analysis. The system is ... preparation and no staining to process ...
The filter 640DF35 for the Molecular Imager FX is a band pass filter for Texas Red dye....
The filter 605DF50 for the Molecular Imager FX is a band pass filter for ethidium bromide, SYPRO Red, SYPRO Ruby, Alexa Fluor 532 and 546, and Cy3 dyes when using the 635 nm laser....
... The BioGenex VISION Sytem is a ... comes with proprietary digital imaging and ... digital image acquisition, analysis, archving/retrieval and ... a state-of-the-art digital imaging system that ...
Biology Products: