Why in News?
IIT Guwahati researchers developed a two-stage microalgae cultivation process that improves both carbon-dioxide capture and production of biomass for bioenergy.
How does the process work?
- Microalgae use CO₂ while growing, so they can simultaneously capture carbon and produce biomass that can be converted into fuels such as biodiesel.
- The new process changes CO₂ concentration between two growth stages and adds nutrients to improve biomass production and carbon fixation.
- It also promotes natural settling of the algae, reducing the energy needed to separate and harvest biomass — an important cost in algal biofuel production.
Exam Connect
- Microalgae → can capture CO₂ and produce bioenergy feedstock
- Bioenergy → energy derived from biological material