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Competitive Oil from Algae

OriginOil believes that their breakthrough proprietary technology will provide the world with an endless supply of what the company calls "new oil" from algae, through a high-speed manufacturing process, capable of making it a direct competitor to petroleum, without disrupting the environment or food resources.

Both the algae oil and mass produced by OriginOil have numerous applications. The oil, for example, could be used directly as a straight vegetable oil, although it could also be refined into gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, and heating oil. Additionally, it could be made into solvents and plastics. The algae biomass, on the other hand, could be made into ethanol, methanol, hydrogen, and other alcohol-based fuels. In short, no part of the algae is wasted--everything could be made into fuel. [1] The oil produced from algae can replace all but the heavier (tarry) fractions of petroleum. [2]

"Instead of drilling for old oil, we can now manufacture clean, new oil, anytime and anywhere, delivering a revolutionary breakthrough to the world." [3]


Contents

Official Website

Interviews

How it Works

OriginOil uses vertical stacks of a network of helix bioreactors in a self-contained algae production system. The algae are then divided into algae biomass and algae oil using an extraction subsystem. A cascading production strategy is in place to harvest 90 percent of matured algae and use the remaining 10 percent for the production of more algae. OriginOil uses low-cost and energy efficient oil extraction method by pre-cracking algae cell walls through microwaves and then using Ultrasonic Quantum Fracturing to separate oil from mass. [4]

  • Overview
  • Quantum Fracturing - Quantum Fracturing technology greatly enhances the efficiency of algae production and makes it cost-effective and viable.
  • Helix Bioreactor - The heart of the OriginOil system is the Helix BioReactor™, an advanced algae growth system that can grow multiple layers of algae biomass around-the-clock with daily harvests.
  • The OriginOil System - The OriginOil System addresses traditional algae production problems in both the growth and extraction stages.

Algae growers already know that algae can expand rapidly if given the space. Once fully mature, it will then stabilize and grow very little. Expand the space by a factor of ten, and the algae population will explode to occupy the new volume - in as little as a day.

This is called the 'log phase', or 'logarithmic phase', a period of growth when cells increase exponentially. Growers typically incubate an algae population in a smaller vessel and then release it into a larger tank, to turn over production rapidly and achieve continuous batch processing.

OriginOil's Helix BioReactor™ growth vessel adds the efficiency needed to combine incubation and larger tanks in one. Once the algae matures, 90% of it is transferred for harvesting, and the 'green' water purified and returned to the growth tank. The remaining 10% is then allowed to expand into the Helix BioReactor, and the process is repeated.

“OriginOil's Cascading Production is unique because the expansion tank is the same as the incubation tank”, said Director of Development Nicholas Eckelberry. He went on to explain, “You don't have to reincubate each batch: The remaining algae culture is already mature and is ready to enter the log phase after each harvest.”

Paul Reep, senior technical advisor, added, “With as many as 24 growth planes per foot of depth, the Helix BioReactor is aimed at enabling Cascading Production. We look forward to demonstrating this in our forthcoming prototype and pilot systems.”

Videos


(.55 Minutes) Origin Oil | Algae to Oil Technology

  • At the recent Green Tech Expo at the Border Governors Conference in Los Angeles, Origin Oil's breakthrough algae to oil transformation technology caught the eye of California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. (YouTube; August 18, 2008)

Latest Developments

July 27, 2009

Feb. 24, 2009

Oct. 1, 2008

Veteran algae scientist praises OriginOil's technology results - A prominent algae scientist, Professor Emeritus Takaaki Maekawa, professor emeritus at the University of Tsukuba’s Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences in Japan, has made a positive evaluation of OriginOil's technology. (BioEnergy; Oct. 1, 2008)

Sep 23, 2008

Company announces that the fine tuning of the Helix BioReactor(TM) subsystems has yielded positive results, yielding sufficient results to begin design and layout of larger scale systems. [5]

July 17, 2008

OriginOil first presented its technology and marketing plans at the National Algae Association Business Plan Forum.

May 27, 2008

Second patent filed. "Apparatus and Method for Optimizing Photosynthetic Growth in a Photo Bioreactor."

February 2008

First prototype built and tested.

August 20, 2007

OriginOil, Inc., announced the filing of its first patent application: "Algae Growth System for Oil Production".

Aug 6, 2007

OriginOil Launches Corporate Website [6]

Costs

Competitive with the petroleum industry.

Advantages

Quoting from http://www.originoil.com/applications/originoil-benefits.html

Near Unlimited Scalability

The OriginOil System can scale from the smallest single-reactor plant to large refinery-scale operations.


Cleaner to Produce and Burn

Petroleum contains sulfur and other toxins. It is a heavy pollutant. Drilling operations are highly noxious; crude spills on sea and land are natural catastrophes; and refineries produce heavy pollutants. By contrast, the algae production process generates no toxins — it’s a lot like growing grass hydroponically. Oil created using OriginOil technology generates no heavy metals or sulfur when burned, and minimal output of greenhouse gases.

Can Be Produced Close to Point of Demand

Petroleum often travels tens of thousands of miles to reach its destination. This adds cost and gives suppliers a stranglehold on consumers. Using OriginOil technology, fuel can now be produced close to the site of usage and demand — virtually eliminating the transport cost of petroleum. In the future, portable OriginOil Systems may be transported to the point of demand and quickly start producing oil for electricity generation or fuel.

Does Not Compete with Food

The ethanol boom is already having a disastrous effect on food prices. Fast-rising prices of corn have caused havoc in global food supplies and the commodities markets. Using algae as a feedstock avoids creating shortages in food supplies or markets.

Works with Existing Refineries

Unlike other solutions which bypass the existing refining infrastructure, OriginOil’s technology enables the production of fully compatible fuels. The petroleum industry has already announced plans to support the refining of biofuels. Of these, algae oil is most like petroleum in structure as it can be readily “cracked” into the lighter components of crude oil such as jet fuel, diesel, gasoline, solvents and plastics.

Works With Existing Gas Stations and Vehicles

Most solutions to the energy problem require massive new infrastructure. Hybrids require new cars with toxic batteries. Hydrogen cars need a new fuel network. Electric cars need their own recharging stations. By contrast, fuel refined from OriginOil systems can be seamlessly integrated into the current petroleum distribution system.

A Reliable Solution

Companies implementing algae oil production systems will need to know that they can generate product consistently at a competitive price. OriginOil’s complete, validated industrial process will ensure that these companies can confidently plan and invest in renewable oil production for the long term.

Applications

Quoting from http://www.originoil.com/applications/overview.html

ALGAE OIL APPLICATIONS

  • Straight Vegetable Oil (SVO), for modified diesel engines
  • Refined Fuel
    • Gasoline
    • Diesel
    • Jet fuel
    • Heating Oil
  • Refined Chemicals
    • Plastic
    • Solvents

ALGAE MASS APPLICATIONS

  • Biomass Fuel
    • Ethanol
    • Methanol
    • Hydrogen
    • Other alcohol-based fuel
  • Animal Feedcake
  • Building materials

Independent Testing

Senior technical advisor Paul Reep commented: “Discrete testing of each system component is now being performed to ensure better projection of the performance of larger systems.” He continued, “These tests have also been helpful in contributing to the ongoing design study to identify low cost Commercial Off The Shelf (COTS) components for use in full scale systems.”

“COTS is a preferred design/build standard that can lower initial production costs and afford many advantages that greatly simplify in-field operational maintenance”, said CEO Riggs Eckelberry. “We are committed to algae production systems that use simple, commodity materials and construction for maximum adoption worldwide.”

Eckelberry added, “We are extremely pleased with the progress of the technology team as it scales up its prototypes. The growth metrics we are encountering are extremely positive and are being validated by external reviewers. We believe that we are well on our way to achieving a competitive fuel that can truly compete with petroleum.”

  • Veteran Algae Scientist Praises OriginOil's Technology Results - A prominent algae scientist, Professor Emeritus Takaaki Maekawa, professor emeritus at the University of Tsukuba’s Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences in Japan, has made a positive evaluation of OriginOil's technology. (Press Release; October 1, 2008)
Based on meetings between Professor Maekawa and the OriginOil team, Maekawa commented, “OriginOil did a good job of producing 13.5 g-dm/L of algae. Based on my initial calculations, 20.0 g-dm/L per 36 hour period meets the threshold for optimal return on investment for large scale algae refineries we are studying in Japan. It appears that OriginOil’s Helix Bioreactor and its carbon dioxide supply techniques will help to reach this goal.”

Patents

First U.S. Patent

August 20, 2007 – OriginOil, Inc., announced the recent filing of its first patent application. The application titled, "Algae Growth System for Oil Production," discloses the Company’s proprietary system and industrial process whereby microalgae can be grown and harvested rapidly to extract algae oil for fuel and chemical production. Unlike many approaches to algae oil cultivation, OriginOil employs a novel technology by working at the microscopic scale. This scale unlocks many properties of biology, chemistry and physics that can massively enhance the efficiency of algae production as a high-yield, cost-competitive replacement for petroleum. Specifically, the invention applies mass transfer and fluid fracturing science to optimize the growth and harvesting of algae cells. This technology is branded Quantum Fracturing™. In the growth phase, nutrients are fractured and injected into algae culture, achieving total and instantaneous distribution of nutrients to the algae culture without disrupting the fragile algae cells. In the extraction phase, more intense fracturing is applied to generate an ultrasound effect that breaks the tough outer membrane of the algae in an energy-efficient manner.

Nicholas Eckelberry, the Company’s director of development and lead inventor explained, "For the past fifteen years, we have applied technologies similar to Quantum Fracturing in the food and beverage industry with great success such as optimizing yogurt and beer production. By systematically incorporating Quantum Fracturing into our OriginOil System, we believe we can deliver an efficient, self-contained machine that can operate round-the-clock producing an endless supply of algae oil." [7]

Second U.S. Patent

May 27, 2008 – OriginOil, Inc. (OOIL), announced today the recent filing of its second patent application. The patent application, "Apparatus and Method for Optimizing Photosynthetic Growth in a Photo Bioreactor," discloses OriginOil's invention of a system designed to increase and optimize photosynthetic growth of an algae culture. This system, known as the Helix BioReactor™, is the core algae growth system that will be used in OriginOil's prototypes, pilots and full-scale production systems.

In its original May 2008 patent filing for the Enhanced Algae Growth System, the company reported initial algae production metrics based on its first prototype of February 2008. Since that time, the engineering team has fine tuned the Helix BioReactor subsystems to further increase performance characteristics. These have now yielded sufficient results to begin design and layout of larger scale systems.

International Patents

July 31, 2008 - OriginOil, Inc. has recently deposited an international PCT patent application pursuant to last year's filing of United States patent application 11/829,883 with the United States Patent Office. The international application is related to OriginOil's first patent application to optimize the growth and harvesting of algae cells. The application titled, "Algae Growth System for Oil Production," discloses OriginOil's proprietary system and industrial process whereby microalgae can be grown and harvested rapidly to extract algae oil for fuel and chemical production. This technology is branded Quantum Fracturing™. [8]

Profiles

Company: OriginOil Inc.

http://www.originoil.com/about-us/company.html

OriginOil, Inc. is developing a breakthrough technology that will transform algae, the most promising source of renewable oil, into a true competitor to petroleum.

Stock Symbol: OTC BB: OOIL.OB

Inventors: Nicholas Ekelberry, Steve Shigematsu

Coverage

In the News


  • Origin Oil Announces Successful Automation Of Its Helix BioReactor - This breakthrough technology optimizes algae growth, making large-scale commercial algae production scalable. The design of the Helix BioReactor™ utilizes low-energy lights arranged in a helix pattern and a rotating vertical shaft design, which allows algae culture to replicate exponentially within a smaller installation footprint. Automation of this system is a key step towards continuous algae production, allowing greater control of the growth environment and efficient, low-cost industrial algae production. (Renewable Wire; Dec. 16, 2008)
  • OriginOil Featured by The Wall Street Transcript - OriginOil CEO, Riggs Eckelberry, was the subject of an in-depth interview by The Wall Street Transcript. The interview is part of a special Alternative Energy Report published by "The Wall Street Transcript" for professional investors and money managers. (Business Wire; Nov. 12, 2008)
  • Veteran algae scientist praises OriginOil's technology results - A prominent algae scientist, Professor Emeritus Takaaki Maekawa, professor emeritus at the University of Tsukuba’s Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences in Japan, has made a positive evaluation of OriginOil's technology. (BioEnergy; Oct. 1, 2008)
  • OriginOil Reports Positive Results From Laboratory Scale System - OriginOil, Inc. is developing a breakthrough technology that will transform algae, the most promising source of renewable oil, into a true competitor to petroleum, today announced that the fine tuning of the Helix BioReactor(TM) subsystems has yielded positive results. (MarketWatch; Sep 23, 2008)
  • OriginOil Plans Patents Algae to Oil Technology - has just filed a patent for some technology it says will put its own spin on turning algae into oil. ('EcoGeek; 10 September 2007)
  • Going Green - Origin Oil looks to improve the methodologies surrounding algae production in unlocking its profit and applicaion as an oil source. (Chem.Info; Aug. 2008)
  • OriginOil Transforms Algae into "New Oil" - OriginOil uses vertical stacks of a network of helix bioreactors in a self-contained algae production system. The algae are then divided into algae biomass and algae oil using an extraction subsystem. (GoodCleanTech; July 21, 2008)
  • The Only Biofuel that Can Take on Oil - This is still a nascent industry that's receiving gobs of money in the venture capital realm. When the dust settles, it could be a tiny start-up company (like the one springing up from major research institutions around the country) that find a winning solution. (Green Chip Stocks; July 1, 2008)
  • OriginOil Is All About Algae - OriginOil (other-otc: OOIL - news - people ), which camepublic Friday, is developing a system to transform algae into a commercially viable alternative to petroleum. But the company is still in its early stages. The patent is pending on the company's OriginOil system, and its ability to create a new form of algae-derived oil for commercial use hasn't been proven yet. (Forbes; Apr. 4, 2008)
  • OriginOil Speeds Up Mother Nature - OriginOil, recently filed a patent for a process that they have dubbed "Quantum Fracturing". It is through this process that they claim the ability to manufacture "new oil" from algae in a process more efficiently and quickly than Mother Nature's age-old method of compacting and compressing ancient algae deposits. (Ecotality; September 13, 2007)

Other Coverage


Recognitions

Image:Originoil thumbnail 300.jpg Display File Source

The OriginOil process was exhibited at the Top 100 Clean Energy Technologies Display at the Environmental Hall of Fame in Chicago, 2008

Comments

See Discussion page

Contact

OriginOil, Inc.
5645 West Adams Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90016
Toll free: (877) 999-OOIL
Main: (323) 939-OOIL

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