Groundbreaking research in the area of biofuels will be announced by the Department of Science and Technology soon.

The DST’s Deputy Director-General: Research, Development and Innovation, Mr Mmboneni Muofhe, will deliver an address at an NMMU event showcasing the technology, which will help to separate the biofuels sector from the food-producing sector, and bring the realisation of a biofuels industry that much closer.

NMMU has developed and patented a way of blending microalgae with fine coal particles.  The coal fines, which are an environmental nuisance (South Africa currently has over 1 billion tonnes of discarded coal), are mixed with the microalgae in an irreversible process that naturally excludes some of the mineral particles.  This makes for a cleaner coal-based product, called Coalgae, which can be delivered using existing petroleum or petrochemical infrastructure.

By 2015, the government intends all transport fuels to be a blend, withbiofuels making up at least two percent of the blend. Coalgae exceeds this target.

The ability to combine the two feedstocks (coal fines and algae) means that only one process is necessary, instead of two.  Another advantage is that the technology will reduce the logistical challenges of accessing blended biofuels, as well as the capital investments required for the blending and distribution infrastructure.