Va. college turning algae into fuel
Scientists and students at the College of William and Mary are turning fish-killing algae into biodiesel fuel that can power cars, airplanes and other gasoline-burning vehicles.
Professors, university officials and students on Thursday assembled a machine to trap algae in Lake Matoaka, which has been polluted by runoff from the school and the city.
Karl Kuschner, the research scientist leading the effort, says the apparatus can help scientists learn how to produce biodiesel from algae in a cost-effective way.
The William and Mary effort is part of a larger collaboration dubbed ChAP, or Chesapeake Algae Project. It's funded by a $3 million grant from StatoilHydro, a Norwegian energy company.
Old Dominion and Virginia Commonwealth universities are among other schools undertaking similar efforts.
Information from: Daily Press, http://www.dailypress.com
By
Washington Post editors
| July 9, 2010; 11:30 AM ET
Categories:
Crime and Public Safety, Virginia
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Posted by: nan_lynn | July 9, 2010 12:42 PM | Report abuse
Here is a video of the ChAP project at W&M:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPbUU92gnCI
Posted by: riggo82 | July 9, 2010 5:16 PM | Report abuse
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Bravo! I hope the technology proves both feasible and economically viable.