Diatoms: a fossil fuel of the future

Trends Biotechnol. 2014 Mar;32(3):117-24. doi: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2014.01.004. Epub 2014 Feb 12.

Abstract

Long-term global climate change, caused by burning petroleum and other fossil fuels, has motivated an urgent need to develop renewable, carbon-neutral, economically viable alternatives to displace petroleum using existing infrastructure. Algal feedstocks are promising candidate replacements as a 'drop-in' fuel. Here, we focus on a specific algal taxon, diatoms, to become the fossil fuel of the future. We summarize past attempts to obtain suitable diatom strains, propose future directions for their genetic manipulation, and offer biotechnological pathways to improve yield. We calculate that the yields obtained by using diatoms as a production platform are theoretically sufficient to satisfy the total oil consumption of the US, using between 3 and 5% of its land area.

Keywords: Energy Return (On) Investment; biofuel; biomass; diatoms; lipids; productivity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Biofuels*
  • Climate Change
  • Conservation of Energy Resources
  • Diatoms
  • Forecasting
  • Fossil Fuels*
  • Lipid Metabolism / physiology*

Substances

  • Biofuels
  • Fossil Fuels