UGA, University of Puerto Rico create algae biofuels center
Terry Hastings
Director, Research Communications
Recent and archived articles by Terry Hastings
Research, Office of the Vice President for (OVPR)
Taking advantage of a marine location and tropical climate that are ideal for growing algae, researchers from UGA and the University of Puerto Rico are creating a renewable energy center to grow algae-based biofuels.
Algae is considered one of the most promising sources of renewable fuels because it grows rapidly, it can be grown in a variety of aquatic environments—including wastewater and salt water—and it does not compete with food agriculture for resources. Researchers worldwide are working to find ways to cost effectively grow and harvest the aquatic microorganisms and convert the algal biomass to fuels.
UGA, University of Puerto Rico create algae biofuels center
Funded by a $4 million grant from the U.S. Department of Defense, the renewable energy center in Rio Piedras, San Juan, Puerto Rico, will help address the energy needs of the Caribbean territory and help the U.S. reduce use of fossil fuels. UGA will receive $1.2 million, and the UPR will receive $2.8 million.
“The project is an exchange of knowledge and expertise,” said K.C. Das, professor of biological and agricultural engineering who is co-principal investigator on the project and the center’s co-director. In addition to Das, UGA collaborators include engineering outreach faculty Ryan Adolphson and Daniel Geller, and postdoctoral research associates
Manjinder Singh and Umakanta Jena.
“As an island completely dependent on imported energy, Puerto Rico and its entire industrial base is keenly interested in a renewable domestically produced energy source,” said Adolphson. “This center will develop and demonstrate technologies to begin meeting that need.”
Das said that the project melds UGA research strengths in thermochemical conversion of algae with UPR research strengths in anaerobic digestion of algae. Thermochemical conversion uses heat to convert biomass into gas and bio-oils. Anaerobic digestion uses microbes to convert biomass into biogases, such as methane.
In Athens, where UGA operates a state-of-the-art algae research facility, researchers will focus their efforts on production of different strains of microalgae grown in wastewater. In Rio Piedras, researchers will identify local strains of marine macro-algae—kelp-like seaweeds—that can produce maximum yields of biogas.
Researchers at the Rio Piedras facility also will culture algae and develop pilot-scale facilities that produce biogas and liquid transportation fuels-biodiesel, bioethanol and biocrude—from algae. The project will use facilities of industrial partner Biolípidos de Puerto Rico for biodiesel production.
UGA, University of Puerto Rico create algae biofuels center
With a goal of establishing a biofuels industry in Puerto Rico, UPR and UGA researchers will study the economic viability of an algae-based biofuels industry, assist UPR in identifying local industrial partners and develop a future workforce.
“This new center is designed to connect the basic research at the university level with the practical and applied needs of industry and will serve as a gateway for students to find successful careers in this new and rapidly growing industry,” said Adolphson.
UGA and UPR graduate and undergraduate students will participate in the research at both locations. The researchers also will investigate how they can recycle the waste materials produced by both the anaerobic and thermochemical conversion processes as high-nutrient fertilizers.
More from this issue
-
January 17, 2012
Study: African-American men don’t reap same career benefits from mentoring as Caucasians
Networking within an organization and having a mentor are widely thought to promote career success, but a new UGA study finds that African-American men don’t receive the same measurable benefits from these professional connections that Caucasians do. Continue
-
January 17, 2012
Handle with care: Coordinator trains others in humane treatment of animals
Getting a blood sample from a gerbil isn’t always easy. “If the handler is not well trained and experienced, there is a higher-than-average probability of animal injury,” said Lisa Kelly, training coordinator at the Office of Animal Care and Use. Continue
-
January 17, 2012
Split decision
In principle, stem cells offer scientists the opportunity to create specific cell types—such as nerve or heart cells—to replace tissues damaged by age or disease. Continue
-
January 17, 2012
Sky-high selection
Marshall Shepherd, professor of geography in the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences, has been voted president-elect of the American Meteorological Society. Continue
-
January 17, 2012
English professor named director of African American Studies
Valerie Babb has been appointed director of the Institute for African American Studies in the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences. Continue
-
January 17, 2012
Community ties
Most graduate assistantships involve research projects or teaching classes. At the Fanning Institute, a public service and outreach unit, graduate students help find solutions to community problems in a multidisciplinary environment as part of the Fanning Fellows program. Continue
-
January 17, 2012
Nine graduate students named UGA ARCS Scholars
The Atlanta chapter of the ARCS Foundation Inc. recently awarded $70,000 to nine UGA doctoral students in biomedical and health sciences, one of whom received a special $10,000 grant for global health research abroad. Continue
-
January 17, 2012
The show must go on: Flutist turns love for music into career in the arts
Even before she could walk, Erin Tatum, the facilities and house manager for the Performing Arts Center, loved music. Continue
-
January 17, 2012
Franklin College professor of genetics named AAAS Fellow
UGA geneticist Jonathan Arnold has been named a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, an honor bestowed on him by his peers for "scientifically or socially distinguished efforts to advance science or its applications." Continue
-
January 17, 2012
New vaccine attacks breast cancer in Mayo mouse model
Researchers from UGA and the Mayo Clinic in Arizona have developed a vaccine that dramatically reduces tumors in a mouse model that mimics 90 percent of human breast and pancreatic cancer cases—including those resistant to common treatments. Continue
-
January 17, 2012
A great value
Top value and low debt at graduation earned UGA sixth-place status on Kiplinger’s Personal Finance list of 100 best values among public colleges and universities. Continue
FOR MORE ONLINE
