The Process

From Algae to Oil

We need oil to produce biodiesel, and this oil will come from the algae we cultivate. The idea is to cultivate a strain of algae under optimum conditions to produce algae with the highest yield of oil. When this is done, the next step is to filter the algae from the water. Then the oil needs to be extracted from the algae. There are different ways to obtain oil from algae.

Oil Press

This process is simply done by using a machine to press (or squeeze) the algae for oil.

Ultrasonic Extraction

This process uses sound waves to propogate the algae, with alternating low-pressure and high-pressure cycles, causing it to implode during the high-pressure cycles and release the oil.

Solvent Wash

This process is usually done in conjuction with other oil extracting processes. The remaining algae which contains oil that is not successfully extracted is dissolved in a solvent. This solvent allows the oil to be extracted from the algae and dissolve into the oil. The resulting solution is then filtered to get the remaining algae out, and distilled to seperate the oil from the solvent.

What Next?

Biodiesel production! Algae oil is made into biodiesel through a chemical conversion process called transesterification.