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July 28, 2009 | Jim Lane | Comments 3

OriginOil says it has “milking” technology for algae oil extraction; substantial decrease in algal fuel cost in sight

live_extraction_diagramIn California, OriginOil announced that it has developed a technology for the continuous extraction of algae oil without cell sacrifice. The company said that its new “live extraction” or “milking” process does not employ expensive consumables such as reverse osmosis membranes; furthermore, it is not limited to oil-bearing algae strains, such as Botryococcus braunii, that are known to excrete algae oil naturally.

OriginOil said that it had demonstrated the technology at bench scale and as in the process of scaling up to intermediate 200-gallon tank size.

“Live Extraction works by stimulating the algae cells through specific electrical modulations,” Riggs Eckelberry, OriginOil’s CEO, said. “The challenge is how to keep the cells alive while continuously extracting the oil, and we have achieved this.”

Paul Reep, senior technical adviser and one of the inventors, noted: “Live lipid extraction is especially beneficial when used with algae that have been genetically engineered for faster growth rate or higher lipid yields. By integrating Live Extraction into our process, we are providing a technology platform for companies like Synthetic Genomics that are experimenting with genetic improvements.”

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    1. Alagarsamy | Jul 28, 2009 | Reply

      This is a great News.This new technology will relieve us from the dependence of fossil oils..
      welcome such a wonderful venture
      we are excited
      s.A.Alagarsamy
      http://www.mgrbiodiesel.com

    2. Joelle Brink | Jul 28, 2009 | Reply

      Origin’s new algae milking technology eliminates many of the costs and obstacles than have held algae back as a viable biofuel feedstock. If it can be successfully commercialized it will be a big step forward for the industry.

      I’m also glad to see Origin’s focus on process technology. The companies and nations that are moving fastest in biofuels today are those that have concentrated on process technology and avoided the miracle feedstock trap.

      India’s Praj Industries is a mature example. They have worked with their international customers to compile a global biofuel feedstock information base, not only by crop but by species, local growing conditions, and specific production and wastewater challenges. Combined with its focus on sustaiability and process efficiencies, this has made Praj a leading global company.

    3. Curtis Dyle | Jul 28, 2009 | Reply

      This is a very interesting development, but as Joelle Brink pointed out in another place it seems to be a “high tech” process. Since algae grow so fast anyway and there is a use for the non-oil residue is it really cost effective to extract the oil if lots of expensive and high tech processes are required?

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