The main aim of this project was to investigate the feasibility of using algae (both micro and macro) as a feedstock for producing biofuels in Turkey and Ireland.

The project investigated the process of extracting algal-oil and conversion to biofuels which is similar to that for land-based crops (including hexane extraction, supercritical CO2, organic solvents and/or pyrolysis). The difficulties in efficient bio-fuel production from algae lie not only in the extraction process but in finding a species with a high lipid/carbohydrate content and fast growth rate, and a cost-effective cultivation system (for micro-algae) that is best suited to that species. Therefore, the project investigated the most suitable extraction procedures and the oil yields of native seaweed species and cultured micro-algae species from both Ireland and Turkey.