OriginOil announces breakthrough one-step process to extract oil from algae without dewatering; clears barrier to algae commercialization

In California, OriginOil announced a breakthrough, one-step process for extracting oil from algae. The company said that its patent-pending process does not require chemicals or significant capital expenditure for heavy machinery, and no initial dewatering is required.

The dewatering of algae and extraction of algal oil has been rated by many sources as the most perplexing barrier preventing the rapid expansion of commercial algal fuels.

A time-lapse video at OriginOil.com demonstrates the technology.

The company’s technology combines electromagnetism and pH modification to break down cell walls, releasing algal oil within the cells. The oil rises to the top for skimming and refining, while the remaining biomass settles to the bottom for further processing as fuel and other valuable products.

The technology will be showcased next week at the National Algae Association meeting in Houston.

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