MSU researchers receive grant to study algae as a source of biofuel

November 13, 2008

Recently, the U.S. Department of Energy awarded Montana State University and Utah State University a three-year, $900,000 grant to study the oil produced by algae, which could be a renewable source of biodiesel.

The two universities will split the money more or less down the middle, said Brent Peyton, a professor of chemical and biological engineering at MSU and the principal investigator of the grant.

"It's been known for 20 years that algae could produce lipids, but it really took the most recent spike in fuel prices to make getting fuel from algae an option," Peyton said.

By Michael Becker, MSU News Service

Full Story: http://www.montana.edu/cpa/news/nwview.php?article=6502