MICROALGAE
- ENVIRONMENT
News:
Tata Chemicals obtains
technology from CSMCRI to produce biodiesel from microalgae
What's
in the news?
●
The
Central Salt and Marine Chemicals Research Institute (CSMCRI), Bhavnagar
has licensed its technology to extract crude oil from a species of microalga to
Tata Chemicals Limited (TCL), Mumbai for production of automobile fuel.
Key
takeaways:
●
CSMCRI is a premier research laboratory
functioning under the aegis of the Council of Scientific and Industrial
Research (CSIR) headed by the Prime
Minister.
●
The agreement with TCL is non-exclusive,
meaning CSMCRI can license the technology to other entities also.
Biofuels
from Microalgae:
●
Biofuels derived from microalgae are
gaining popularity due to their high
productivity and environmental friendliness.
Microalgae:
●
Microalgae are microscopic algae rich in chlorophyll that lack lignin or
cellulose and contain proteins.
●
Microalgae are mainly found in freshwater and marine systems. They are
unicellular species which exist individually or in chains or groups.
●
Microalgae are capable of growing rapidly because of their high photosynthesis
efficiency.