This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies. Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Algae have a habit of turning up where they're not wanted. They coat your swimming pool in green gunk, cling to rocks at the beach and even make headlines when they take over prominent reservoirs, such as the White House Reflection Pool.
But put them to work in the right setting, and algae can be surprisingly useful. In fact, these plant-like organisms may hold the key to sustainable fuels of the future. Algae use sunlight and carbon dioxide to perform photosynthesis, generating the energy and building blocks they need to grow.
As part of that process, they naturally make lipids—fats and oils they stash away for energy. Scientists say they can harvest these oils and use them as biofuels—fuels made by living organisms—through a process known as biomanufacturing. Many species of algae ramp up lipid production in times of stress, such as when they are deprived of nitrogen, an important nutrient.
By inducing such stressful situations, researchers can get algae to stockpile more lipids. To make large quantities of lipids, scientists need to grow enormous numbers of cells. That means moving production from laboratory flasks into tanks that can hold hundreds or even thousands of gallons of water teeming with algae.
Even a smaller 260-gallon (980-liter) tank holds about as much as five bathtubs. Turning algae into living factories that churn out lipids is no easy feat, Northeastern University's Khoury College of Computer Sciences professor Miguel Fuentes-Cabrera said. Together with his colleagues, he has been searching for ways to make the process more efficient.
Scientists try to maximize output by genetically engineering high-performing strains. They also fine-tune temperature, light, nutrients, acidity and oxygen levels to optimize conditions for growth. However, even genetically identical cells growing in the same environment can veer off in different directions, Fuentes-Cabrera explained.
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