Georgia researchers combine algae and oyster shells to produce biodiesel
In Georgia, researchers have developed an inexpensive way to make biodiesel from materials found along the banks of their Louisiana bayou: algae and oyster shells. The researchers will present their results at the spring meeting of the American Chemical Society (ACS). ACS Spring 2026 is being held March 22-26; it features nearly 11,000 presentations on a range of science topics.
From a ditch near the lab, researchers from Nicolls State University harvested algae rather than traditional crops and oyster shells to produce the catalyst.
First, they crushed algae collected from a ditch near the university to extract their oils. Next, they combined the oil with methanol and a chemical catalyst under heat, generating glycerin and biodiesel. The chemical catalysts usually used in this process, such as quicklime or caustic soda, are expensive. For a cost-effective alternative, the researchers developed their own catalyst from the locally sourced calcium-rich oyster shells. They put powdered shells in a furnace and converted the shells’ calcium carbonate to calcium oxide. Initial cost modeling suggests that the oyster-based catalyst reduced the price of their biodiesel production by about 70–85% compared to commercially available calcium oxide catalysts.
Category: Research
