Chemists reported development of what they termed the first economical, eco-friendly process to convert algae oil into biodiesel fuel - a discovery they predict could one day lead to U.S. independence from petroleum as a fuel. One of the problems with current methods for producing biodiesel from algae oil is the processing cost, and the New York researchers say their innovative process is at least 40 percent cheaper than that of others now being used. Supply will not be a problem: There is a limitless amount of algae growing in oceans, lakes, and rivers, throughout the world. Another benefit from the ‘continuously flowing fixed-bed method to create algae biodiesel, they add, is that there is no wastewater produced to cause pollution. ‘This is the first economical way to produce biodiesel from algae oil, according to lead researcher Ben Wen, Ph.D., vice president of United Environment and Energy LLC, Horseheads, N.Y. ‘It costs much less than conventional processes because you would need a much smaller factory, there are no water disposal costs, and the process is considerably faster. A key advantage of this new process, he says, is that it uses a proprietary solid catalyst developed at […]