Researchers from the Laboratory of Microbiology and Biotechnology discovered the optimal treatment of Baltic Sea algae to be used for waste-free third-generation biofuel production.
| Stanislav Sukhikh, Head of the Laboratory of Microbiology and Biotechnology |
| Our project is unique in that it involves producing bioethanol from Baltic Sea algae, a process that has never been attempted before. We maximise the potential of the seaweed by extracting the highest possible amount of bioethanol. |
The Baltic Sea algae were selected by the researchers for their beneficial traits, which include its high yield and the capability to thrive in a variety of water types, ranging from fresh water to seawater and even industrial wastewater. This makes them an ideal renewable raw material.
The resulting bioethanol is equivalent to the most recent global advancements in terms of both quality and quantity, indicating that seaweed could be utilised on an industrial scale.
| We are currently working on scaling the technology up with the aim of soon offering it to businesses. |
Biofuel types
One of the leading alternative fuels is fuel made from natural plant material — biofuels, which are classified into first, second and third generation depending on the material used for its production
Biofuels of the first generation are primarily derived from food crops or biowaste, such as banana peels, pineapple scraps, grape pomace, citrus waste, and coffee industry by-products. Second-generation biofuels are obtained from tree biomass, oilcake, agricultural waste, straw, and grass. Both first and second-generation biofuels are costly, unprofitable, and have a significant environmental impact. In contrast, third-generation bioethanol is a sustainable fuel produced from microalgae biomass, which has the benefit of high yield.
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