CO2-Absorbing Microalgae Cultivated Using Power Plant Exhaust Gas

Copyright euglena Co.

A Japanese venture company, euglena Co., announced on June 16, 2009, the success of field tests using exhaust gas from a thermal power plant for the cultivation of Euglena, a chloroplast-possessing single-celled organism that is capable of photosynthesis. With only water, minerals, sunlight and carbon dioxide (CO2), Euglena is able to produce a host of nutrients that are useful to humans. The company, which specializes in research and development, and production and sales of Euglena-related products, conducted this test in cooperation with Okinawa Electric Power Co. (OEPC).

As Euglena can absorb high concentrations (15-20 percent) of CO2, flue gas from OEPC's Kin Thermal Power Station was used for Euglena cultivation. The CO2 concentrations in the exhaust gas are around 15 percent, about 400 times higher than those in the air. In the tests conducted in January and February 2009, exhaust gas was injected for three weeks into a 500-liter culture tank installed in the power station, and then air was injected for a week.

The results showed that when exhaust gas was injected into the tank, growth of Euglena was accelerated by up to 20 times as compared with air. In addition, high concentrations of CO2 acidified the culture fluid, thus suppressing the growth of other organisms. Based on these findings, euglena Co., intends to develop a technology to reduce CO2 emissions, and to work on research and development of biodiesel fuel production using Euglena.

Posted: 2009/11/23 06:00:15 AM