Botany

Biofuel: Algal Biofuel

Algal fuel, also known as algal biofuel, or algal oil is an alternative to liquid fossil fuels, the petroleum products. This is also used as a source of energy-rich oils. Also, algal fuels are an alternative to commonly known biofuel sources obtained from corn and sugarcane. The energy crisis and the world food crisis have initiated interest in algal culture (farming algae) for making biodiesel and other biofuels on lands unsuitable for agriculture. Botryococcus braunii is normally used to produce algal biofuel.

Biological hydrogen production by algae

The biological hydrogen production with algae is a method of photo biological water splitting. In normal photosynthesis the alga, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii releases oxygen. When it is deprived of sulfur, it switches to the production of hydrogen during photosynthesis and the electrons are transported to ferredoxins.

[Fe]-hydrogenase enzymes combine them into the production of hydrogen gas.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *