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Chemical engineering professor Phil Savage and doctoral student Julia Faeth of the University of Michigan have found a way to convert algae into biocrude oil in just one minute. The process involves pressure cooking microalgae in 1,100-degree-Fahrenheit sand for about one minute. The conversion rate is 65%. Biocrude oil is a more environmentally-friendly substitute to crude oil. The new process is a significant improvement over a previous process, which takes about half an hour to convert just 50% of the algae. Both methods are ways to speed up the natural process of decomposition, which can take millions of years. In addition to the time savings, Savage is trying to streamline the process of creating algae biofuel by starting with wet algae. Traditionally, Algae biofuel is typically produced as dry algae before extracting biocrude, which costs around $20 per gallon. The process is both time-consuming and expensive. Savage and Faeth said that they are unable to estimate any cost savings for their method, but any simplification of the process could potentially bring prices down. Just as pressure is bad for human, it can be harmful to algae as well. "For example, the biocrude might decompose into substances that dissolve in water, and the fast heating rates might discourage that reaction," Faeth said.

KUALA LUMPUR - MALAYSIA, the world's second-largest palm oil producer, will make it mandatory for all vehicles to use biofuel from next year, the government announced on Wednesday. Malaysia's plans to shift to biofuel - a mixture of diesel with five per cent processed palm oil - have been delayed over the past few years due to price fluctuations. The plan will now be implemented in stages in several central states from June 2011, the Plantation Industries and Commodities Ministry said in a statement, adding that the extra cost will be borne by petroleum companies. The policy 'will benefit the country as biofuel is environmentally friendly and it will reduce our dependence on petroleum diesel,' the ministry said. 'It will also strengthen the palm oil prices and enable the planters, especially smallholders, to benefit from the stronger palm oil price.' The ministry said it will discuss the implementation mechanism with petroleum companies, while the government will set up six petroleum depots with blending facilities. The government has said the switch to biofuel will help reduce the cost of fuel in Malaysia, where petrol is subsidised, but conservationists have criticised oil palm plantations for destroying wildlife habitats. Commodities Minister Bernard Dompok defended the move, although he conceded the biofuel industry is facing 'increasing pressure from negative public opinion on biofuels'. 'One of the challenges is meeting the sustainability criteria that are being debated worldwide,' the minister said in a separate statement. 'Many studies have shown that the use of biodiesel reduces greenhouse gas emissions as compared to the use of petroleum diesel,' he said. 'It is universally recognised that fossil fuel reserves are finite and fast depleting. As such, renewable energy sources need to be found to complement the needs of energy requirements.' -- AFP

I did a search in Youtube and found many videos on homemade biofuel. Do you ever think of DIY biofuel at home to power your car ?