How are algae used to provide biodiesal for us? Can you explain the mechanisms of this working?
You grow algae for the oil they produce. In the 1970’s the government had a strain of algae that produced 50% of its weight in oil. It could not compete price-wise to oil, but with the price of oil now it might be worth it. After you harvest the algae you extract the oil and in a chemical process covert the algae oil into bio-diesel. Just like any other plant oil.
Bio-fuel needs biomass for its production. Due to huge amount of fuel, mankind currently consume, we need huge areas to grow agricultural plants for fuel production. Actually, there is no enough land to replace fossil fuel consumed at current rates. So, I think, algae cultivation is another interesting way to produce biomass for bio-fuel.
