Biomass & Biofuels

Average biomass yields of around 14 g/m2/day, or around 50 t/ha/year (dry weight) have been demonstrated in open high-rate pond systems. With oil content between 30% (conservative) and 50% (optimistic), the potential for economic production of biodiesel is vast.

The remaining biomass can be processed further to yield other, higher value products, or anaerobically digested to produce biogas. The remaining organic matter, containing the original nutrients, is recycled to the growing algal culture.

Desalination

The algal fields can be covered with polyethylene sheets to trap moisture evaporating from the ponds. Condensation is collected in channels beside the ponds, and runs off as fresh water. Desalination technology is developed in cooperation with Heliocycle, Algoil's sister company in the C-Questor group.

Fertiliser Production

Algae produce several kinds of fertiliser and soil conditioner. Species of red and green algae which produce large quantities of polyelectrolyte mucilage, either bound to the cells or released into the medium, can be used as a soil conditioner, to improve the quality of marginal soils, improve the tillage and drainage, increase the content of nutrients and organic matter. Either live algae or extracts and residues can be used: each have separate advantages. Various species of blue-green algae can be grown to fix nitrogen from the air.

Waste Water Treatment

Algae can be used to absorb organic matter from municipal, agricultural or industrial wastes, which are a valuable source of nutrients for the algae. The algal fields provide tertiary treatment of the wastes: the removal of phosphate, nitrate and ammonium from the water, which otherwise cause environmental problems in fresh water. Deep facultative ponds may also be used, simultaneously providing algal growth and anaerobic digestion and efficient settling of biomass.

Food & Feed Production

There is already a significant market for certain species of algae, such as Spirulina, Chlorella and Dunaliella as health foods. Algae have a high protein content---similar to meat and dairy produce---and also various important vitamins, minerals, amino acids, essential fatty acids and other nutrients.

Algae also have great potential as animal feed: they are already used in aquaculture of fish, crustaceans and molluscs, on a large scale. Their high protein content makes them especially suitable for the feed of poultry, and their pigments are known to enhance the colour of hen eggs and the flesh of farmed salmon.

Fine Chemicals

A wide variety of high value chemicals, including pharmaceuticals, nutriceuticals and cosmiceuticals, are produced by various species of algae. Substantial quantities of vitamins such as B12, B6, B1, biotin, folates, riboflavin, nicotinic acid, pantothenate, E, C, and A are produced by certain species. Pigment molecules such as phycobiliproteins: phycobilin and phycoerythrin; and carotenoids including beta-carotene and astaxanthin are produced. Some of these molecules have health benefits of pharmacological properties, others are in demand as natural food colourings and feed additives.

Algae such as Porphyridium also produce various polysaccharides which can be used as viscosifiers, flocculants and lubricants. Some of these polysaccharides also have demonstrated anti-cancer activity.

Other compounds of pharmaceutical interest include alkylguanidine, bi-inidoles, arachidonic acid, and prostaglandins, prostacyclins, thromboxanes which are used in the treatment of high blood pressure, asthma, and menstrual pains.

The various biosurfactants produced by algae have potential as novel flocculants and emulsifiers. Sterols produced by algae can be used in the synthesis of steroid hormones and related compounds. Algae produce certain plant growth promoters and hormones: auxins, gibberellins, cytokinins, 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid and gamma-aminobutyric acid.