ASU biofuel laboratory looks into non-toxic lipid extraction

The biofuel laboratory at Arizona State University (ASU) is looking into ways of extracting the lipid content from cyanobacteria without the use of toxic chemicals.

Until now, the toxicity of the chemicals used has been an undesired element in the procedures used to extract the energy potential of cyanobacteria in the form of its fatty lipid molecules.

But with the photosynthetic bacteria able to produce 100 times the amount of fuel per acre, at 15,000 gallons, compared with woody plantlife, their potential as an energy source has encouraged the biofuel laboratory and others like it to work on removing the toxicity from the process.

The scientists are assisted by the fact that the genetic code of the simple organisms has been sequenced in full, making it easier to modify in order to enhance yield and lipid quality.

Jie Sheng, a graduate researcher at Phoenix-based ASU, adds that there is a correlation between ideal growth conditions for the bacteria and increased lipid output.

"When the cell is provided with happy conditions for growth, we are able to get much more lipid out," the scientist explains.