Foster Wheeler to Develop Commercial Solutions for PetroAlgae's Micro-crop Biomass Technology

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Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--PetroAlgae Incorporated (OTC:PALG) (Melbourne, Florida), an alternative energy company, has announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding with global engineering and construction group Foster Wheeler Limited (NASDAQ:FWLT) (Clinton, New Jersey) for engineering services, in conjunction with PetroAlgae's micro-crop biomass technology.

The technology, developed and licensed by PetroAlgae, enables the production of an economically viable green diesel fuel through the growth and harvesting of micro-biomass crops such as algae, diatoms and cyanobacteria. The diesel fuel produced is functionally identical to fossil-based diesel fuel. PetroAlgae claims that the fuel will power any standard-diesel engine, can be refined in existing refineries, and is fully compatible with existing fuel infrastructures.

The partnership between the two companies will combine Foster Wheeler's refining and engineering experience with PetroAlgae's biomass technology to create an end-to-end solution for conversion of large quantities of biomass into green diesel, gasoline, aviation fuels, and specialty chemicals. Currently, PetroAlgae operates a demonstration algae "farm" on an 18-acre site in Fellsmere, Florida, but says that there is no reason why the technology could not be expanded to a large scale. Fred Tennant, the vice president of PetroAlgae, said that "we're working on a small scale, but big enough to show clients that they can take this and do it on 10,000 acres."

PetroAlgae's technology offers the possibility of developing green fuels and has the potential to reduce atmospheric carbon dioxide. The growing algae can consume almost twice their own weight of carbon dioxide, and PetroAlgae estimates that a full-scale implementation of the micro-biomass technology could have the capability to consume up to 50 million tons of carbon dioxide per acre per year.

Other benefits of the process are the co-products of high-protein concentrates and isolates. Protein concentrates can be used in the animal feed industry, while protein isolates, rich in amino acids, can be used in the human nutrition market to provide protein enhancement or additives for conventional food. Typical applications include sports drinks, nutrition bars, and other supplements.

The process uses large-scale open bioreactors to provide a continuous growing and harvesting process. The micro-crops used in the technology are believed to produce yields as much as 100 times greater than conventional macro-crops such as corn, sugarcane or soy, according to PetroAlgae. By growing the micro-crops in bioreactors, there is no requirement to grow the crops on arable land, making the technology suitable for non-arable areas.

The solids in the growing process are continuously harvested by a vacuum method, pressed to remove excess water (98% of which is then returned to the growing vessels) and then separated into carbohydrate-rich solids and a protein-rich liquid. The solids are further processed and refined to produce green fuel, while the liquid is further separated by coagulation and precipitation to produce the high-protein solids.

PetroAlgae is looking to Foster Wheeler to bring innovations to the process, particularly in assisting refineries in unlocking the full potential of processing biomass into green fuels, thus providing another option for the production of sustainable and environmentally clean fuels.

The Foster Wheeler Global Engineering and Construction Group has more than 100 years of experience, and designs, engineers and constructs cutting-edge facilities in the biotechnology and environmental sectors, among others.

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