Development of biofuel production using microalgae
Green (Saitama University Research Seed Collection 2025-25 p.95)
Keywords: Microalgae, biofuels, renewable energy, decarbonization, carbon neutrality
As environmental changes progress, promoting decarbonization towards the realization of a sustainable society has become a global challenge. We are developing biofuels using microalgae with the aim of creating carbon-neutral renewable energy. The microalga Nannochloropsis accumulates lipids that can reach up to 50% of its cell content and can be cultivated at high densities, which allows us to develop technology for the efficient and high-yield production of lipids using this alga. Meanwhile, we are also advancing the development of an "extracellular production method" for free fatty acids using cyanobacteria, another type of microalgae. The intracellular production method, which involves accumulating fuel substances within the cells, consumes a tremendous amount of energy during processes such as harvesting, drying, and extracting the fuel substances. In contrast, the extracellular production method is expected to significantly reduce costs and has the advantage of being able to produce fuel substances in quantities that exceed the cell volume. The lipids and free fatty acids obtained from the algae can be converted into diesel fuel and other products.
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Yoshitaka Nishiyama, Professor Graduate School of Science and Technology, Department of Life Sciences, Field of Molecular Biology 【Recent Research Themes】 ● Molecular mechanisms of environmental stress responses in photosynthesis ● Molecular mechanisms of oxidative stress damage in protein synthesis systems ● Environmental stress response mechanisms of harmful red tide plankton in photosynthesis ● Fish toxicity mechanisms of harmful red tide plankton
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【Appeal Points to the Industry】 ● Development of technology for high-efficiency and high-production of oils and fats using the microalga Nannochloropsis ● Development of technology for extracellular production of free fatty acids using the microalga cyanobacteria ● Development of technology to enhance the high light tolerance of microalgae photosynthesis ● Development of technology to enhance the high-temperature tolerance of microalgae photosynthesis 【Examples of Practical Application, Case Studies, and Utilization】 ● Method for producing free fatty acids and free fatty acid-producing algae (Patent 2023-037015) ● Non-genetically modified free fatty acid-producing algae and their production method, as well as fatty acid production method (Patent 2023-036698) ● Free fatty acid-producing algae and their production method, as well as fatty acid production method (Patent 2024-020449) ● Method for separating free fatty acids and cultivation method for free fatty acid-producing microorganisms (Patent 2024-042439)
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Extracellular production of fuel substances (image)
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The Saitama University Open Innovation Center is a center that functions as a liaison office for industry-academia-government collaboration. It consists of three departments: the Industry-Academia-Government Collaboration Department, the Intellectual Property Department, and the Startup Support Department, each staffed with coordinators well-versed in various fields. The center's activities include solving technical challenges in companies, supporting the implementation of joint research, and conducting technology transfer aimed at introducing and utilizing Saitama University's intellectual property.