Researchers achieve algal oil "customization" and product "controllability"

Algae oil can be used as both biodiesel production and as a raw material for nutrition, but its specific use depends on its saturation, which is often difficult to flexibly regulate and rational design. The Qingdao Institute of Bioenerking and Process research of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, in cooperation with the relevant scientific research team, recently overcome this difficult problem and realized the artificial rational design and product control of algal oil saturation.
Jian, director of the Single Cell Center at the Qingdao Institute of Bioeneress and Processes of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said that industrial oil-producing microalgae can be used through photodepartication to convert carbon dioxide and water into large-scale, directly into high-energy density grease molecules. The saturation of the carbon chain of fatty acids on fat molecules determines the use and value of algae oil.
" algal oil contains both saturated fatty acids, monounsaturated fatty acids and polyunsaturated fatty acids. If monounsaturated fatty acid content is high, algal oil is suitable as a high-quality liquid fuel to serve the energy market, and if polyunsaturated fatty acid content is high, algal oil is more suitable as a human health care products, serving the nutrition and food market. "So saturation is one of the most critical factors in determining the quality, use and economic value of algal oil.
The Qingdao Institute of Bioeneress and Processes of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, in a joint effort with the University of Maryland, Peking University and the Institute of Aquatic Biology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, realized the rational design of the proportion of three fatty acids in the fat molecules of algal oil, thus producing a saturation "customized" algae oil. The results of this research will enable a high degree of controlled and flexible switching of algal oil quality, use and value, reducing the cost of end products.
In addition, light-energy self-supporting microalgae with sufficient sources of raw materials, simple nutrient needs, rapid growth, nutrient-rich, short harvest cycle, carbon flow and energy self-circulation and other characteristics, is considered to be the most suitable for use in extreme environments, one of the human survival support systems. Therefore, this achievement provides a new way of thinking and means to establish a customized, flexible and controllable "monocarbon photocolyted multi-production platform" to meet human demand for biofuels and various nutrients in extreme environments.
, it is understood that the international botany well-known journal Molecular Plant published this result.
By Xinhua News Agency reporters Zhang Xudong and Xi Min.