University of Buffalo researchers part of DOE wastewater/biomass project

In New York state, researchers from the University of Buffalo are collaborators on a $2 million project funded by the U.S. Department of Energy that will study the use of algae to purify wastewater while simultaneously producing biomass for fuel production.

They will focus on looking at the make-up and function of algae, which the scientists say is key to developing an effective system to treat wastewater and produce fuel. Understanding the make-up of algae is one of the first steps in this process. Once researchers understand the types of algae that are present and how they grow, they can design systems more effectively. Researchers will be able to create tailored processes to generate target species and biomass to produce higher-quality fuel.