Content about Biofuels
Dr. Jerry Brand, professor of molecular cell and developmental biology, gives a talk about new biofuels derived from algae Monday afternoon at the AT&T Conference Center. Brand explained algae could become a new sustainable resource instead of fossil fuels within the next 20 years.
Fanny Trang | Daily Texan Staff
Jerry Brand’s algae collection, with nearly 2,800 specimens in all, is more than just pond scum. The diverse range of organisms is part of a growing multi-hundred billion dollar industry, used to produce anything from supplements to ice cream thickener to dental impressions and most recently, alternative biofuel, he said.
Editor’s note: Some portions of this interview were translated from Portuguese and Spanish.
Renowned Brazilian energy mogul Rubens Ometto Silveira Mello encouraged the U.S. to develop a green energy partnership with Brazil to increase the world’s energy sources and protect the environment in a lecture Thursday night.
From a test tube of algae, UT scientists and other engineers at the J.J. Pickle Research Campus have produced 2,200 gallons of algae in an effort to find an efficient alternative to fossil fuels.
“Through our method of letting single-celled algae reproduce by the double, we can grow it exponentially,” said Michael Jochum, chief scientist of AlgEternal Technologies. “This algae contains oils that can be extracted by the guys at UT and turned into either biodiesel, crude oil or even biomass — a substitute for coal.”
A UT graduate student was awarded one of six scholarships that provide opportunities for students who show interest in the renewable energy and biofuels industry.
Julia O’Rourke, a public affairs and engineering graduate student, will attend the 2011 National Ethanol Conference in Phoenix, Ariz., from Feb. 20-22 because she received a scholarship from the Renewable Fuels Association.
