A license to utilize a processing technology to convert algae biomass to feedstock oil and cellulose sugars for the production of biodiesel and cellulosic ethanol respectively, was secured by Green Star Products, Inc (GSPI) it was announced today (31st January).  GSPI has secured the technology license from Biotech Research, Inc. (BTR), one of the company’s consortium partners.

The process, says GSPI, continuously strips the oil from the algae and also reduces its biomass into different carbon chain carbohydrates, proteins and other constituents. BTR’s intellectual property is protected by patent pending status.

Joseph LaStella, president of Green Star, said, "GSPI along with a handful of other high tech companies are leading the industry in algae commercialization; however, there are two major hurdles to overcome: First, an efficient, affordable construction and processing method to control the environment to promote optimum algae growth; Second, efficient harvesting and extraction of oil from the microscopic algae biomass".

Green Star, along with Biotech Research, has been operating one of the largest demonstration algae facilities since April 2007. Phase I and II testing were successfully completed in 2007. The Montana facility, says the company, has clearly demonstrated a solution to the first problem, i.e. an affordable method to grow algae, and now GSPI has potentially solved the second hurdle – the low-cost extraction and conversion of microalgae biomass to oil and other useful products.

Biotech Research, Inc. operates a high tech research facility at the University of Baja California in Ensenada, Mexico, where a team of scientists and engineers are studying short, medium and long-term technologies for the advancement of algae production.