Research Focus Area : Algal Biodiesel
As is mandated in the Virginia Energy Plan, researchers at Old Dominion University, Virginia Institute of Marine Science, and James Madison University will explore fuel production from biomass sources. Old Dominion University has taken a leading role in the biodiesel studies.
Biodiesel fuel is much like the diesel fuel derived from petroleum, but this renewable fuel is produced from oily biomass such as soybeans, as well as from waste oils.
Studies have shown that algae have significantly more oil content than soybeans and are a promising biomass source for biodiesel.
Research with algal biomass will include:
- Identifying Virginia waters with high algal biomass and productivity.
- Performing molecular studies on algae to better understand their potential for conversion to biodiesel fuel.
- Identifying indigenous algal species best suited for biodiesel production.
- Determining efficient methods for concentrating algal biomass and collecting it.
- Comparing efficiencies of biodiesel production from various water types.
- Culturing algae in open tanks and enclosed containers.
- Constructing a pilot-scale biodiesel reactor to produce liquid fuel.
- Exploring environmentally friendly ways to produce algal biomass while at the same time removing harmful nutrients from effluent at sewage treatment facilities and the greenhouse gas, carbon dioxide, from power plant plumes.
- Using a special diesel engine research laboratory for combustion tests to improve the reliability and efficiency of biodiesel fuels.
Biodiesel fuel also can be produced from used cooking oil from restaurants. ODU engineers have built a small reactor to investigate whether the production of biodiesel fuel from the used oil is environmentally sound and economically viable.
Research Members
| Robert L. Ash, ODU | rash@odu.edu |
| Christopher G. Bachmann, JMU | bachmacg@jmu.edu |
| Han P. Bao, ODU | hbao@odu.edu |
| Debbie Bronk, VIMS | bronk@vims.edu |
| Elizabeth Canuel, VIMS | ecanuel@vims.edu |
| Rebecca Dickhut, VIMS | rdickhut@vims.edu |
| Andrew S. Gordon, ODU | agordon@odu.edu |
| Patrick G. Hatcher, ODU | phatcher@odu.edu |
| Harold G. Marshall, ODU | hmarshal@odu.edu |
| Margaret Mulholland, ODU | mmulholl@odu.edu |
| Gary S. Schafran, ODU | gschafran@odu.edu |
| Aron Stubbins, ODU | astubbin@odu.edu |
