UK’s Roman baths provide fertile ground for biodiesel research

BBC : Researchers at the University of Bath and the University of the West of England are growing seven algae species in the UK’s Roman Baths in Bath to find the best one for biodiesel production. Although studies to create biodiesel from algae have been carried out for the past 20 years, limitations currently prevent its use on a large scale. Because much of the world’s arable land is being used for food production, an algae species that can grow in areas that don’t already have other uses, such as the desert, is being sought. Also, algae cell walls are difficult to break, so extracting the oil inside is an energy-intensive process. As a result, researchers are also looking for a species with a weaker cell wall and a higher oil content. “The results of this study will help us identify whether there is a particular algae species among the seven identified in the Roman Baths that is well adapted to growing at higher temperatures and also suitable for producing sufficient amounts of biodiesel to make wide-scale production viable,” said Rod Scott, one of the research team’s members.