Scientists in the states claim to have found a way to fast-forward the biofuel conversion process.
Using a high-pressure cooker to heat and compress micro-algae, researchers at the University of Michigan were able to speed up the crude-oil-making process from millennia to minutes.
The team is also working on other sources of biofuel such as E.coli bacteria, which they say could be used to feed on waste products from previous bio-oil batches to provide affordable energy.
Principle investigator Phillip Savage commented: "The vision is that nothing would leave the refinery except oil. Everything would get reused."
He said it is such breakthroughs that are making the research team’s work innovative and will go a long way in assisting the transition towards renewable energy dependency.
In the UK, scientists have suggested a host of materials, including seaweed, food waste and wood, which could be used to create biofuel to power transportation vehicles in the future.
Developments in biofuel science are good news for the industry as they help to further cement its capabilities as a future fuel source, potentially creating employment, investment and new handling facilities.
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