Microalgae biofuel yields boosted with nanotechnology

As global energy use continues to rise, the demand for renewable energy sources such as biofuels is also growing – especially in the transportation sector.

Now, researchers at The University of Texas at El Paso have demonstrated how nanotechnology can significantly improve biofuel production from microalgae, offering a sustainable path forward.

The study, recently published in ACS Applied Bio Materials, focuses on the microalga Chlorella vulgaris, a fast-growing species commonly found in freshwater environments that is used to produce biofuels.

Led by Hamidreza Sharifan, Ph.D., assistant professor in UTEP's Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, the team showed that controlled doses of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles can dramatically increase the organism's lipid content, including the triacylglycerol used to produce biofuels.

Under normal growth conditions, the research team observed C. vulgaris cells contained about 14% lipids. But when exposed to moderate concentrations (30–50 mg/L) of synthesized ZnO nanoparticles, the cells increased their lipid content to as much as 48% of their mass – more than triple the baseline – without significant harm to the cells.

Image source: University of Texas at El Paso.