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Spanish firm claims it can make oil from plankton
Reuters ^ | 07/20/06

Posted on 07/20/2006 11:09:05 AM PDT by presidio9

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To: Alexander Rubin
Here's what they're not telling you, though. The process is NOT energy efficient. It probably takes as much energy, or more, to make the oil, as the oil is worth.

Sure -- but the question really is: is there energy available for the process that is not currently being tapped?

This kind of thing isn't new. As I said, the Israelis used heat and pressure to break down molecular bonds and then link hydrocarbon polymers. Whoop-de-doo, if it isn't an energy efficient process.

It's not the same process.

Ultimately, the only real way out of this is solar power, fuel cells and nuclear power. Nothing else would be efficient enough, of the stuff thats on the current horizon.

This process is solar-powered.

41 posted on 07/20/2006 11:39:55 AM PDT by r9etb
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To: presidio9
Wikipedia on petroleum formation:

oil is formed from the preserved remains of prehistoric zooplankton and algae which have been settled to the sea bottom in large quantities under anoxic conditions. (Terrestrial plants tend to form coal, and very few dinosaurs have been converted into oil.)

42 posted on 07/20/2006 11:40:17 AM PDT by Reeses
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To: Reeses

43 posted on 07/20/2006 11:41:48 AM PDT by presidio9 (“The term ‘civilians’ does not exist in Islamic religious law.”)
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To: Red Badger
"We now need a lifeform that makes chocolate and all or problems will be solved......"

Probably have to wait for the 2020 moon landing for that.

44 posted on 07/20/2006 11:43:35 AM PDT by VRWCtaz (A challenge to Liberals: I will read any book you name - if you will do the same. (very few takers))
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To: r9etb

MMMMMMMM...Choco-lolita...........


45 posted on 07/20/2006 11:44:02 AM PDT by Red Badger (Is Castro dead yet?........)
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To: r9etb

I'm not sure if it's entirely solar powered, or people would be much more excited about this.

Although your points are well taken.

My point about the Israelis and Japanese was that they also found ways to make oil from common items. That's not necessarily a major breathrough. It depends on the circumstances.


46 posted on 07/20/2006 11:44:12 AM PDT by Alexander Rubin (Octavius - You make my heart glad building thus, as if Rome is to be eternal.)
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To: GSWarrior
That's shrimply irresistible......
47 posted on 07/20/2006 11:44:42 AM PDT by Red Badger (Is Castro dead yet?........)
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To: You Dirty Rats

well said.


48 posted on 07/20/2006 11:45:00 AM PDT by Alexander Rubin (Octavius - You make my heart glad building thus, as if Rome is to be eternal.)
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To: Darkwolf377

If oil can be made from offal, then I think it could be made from plankton also.


49 posted on 07/20/2006 11:46:22 AM PDT by mel
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To: presidio9

Why can't somebody do something with all those damn jellyfish off Namibia?


50 posted on 07/20/2006 11:47:18 AM PDT by eyedigress
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To: LIConFem
It's interesting that I've never seen the movie yet I immediately understood the reference. BTW - you have a spicy tag line.
51 posted on 07/20/2006 11:47:27 AM PDT by VRWCtaz (A challenge to Liberals: I will read any book you name - if you will do the same. (very few takers))
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To: r9etb

"Covered" is an exaggeration.


52 posted on 07/20/2006 11:48:08 AM PDT by AZLiberty (Creating the <a href="http://clinton.senate.gov">straddle</a> Google bomb one post at a time.)
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To: Reeses

You are absolutely right, instead of alternative fuel sources, I think the solution is just an alternative method of producing oil such as from offal.


53 posted on 07/20/2006 11:48:24 AM PDT by mel
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To: Red Badger
We now need a lifeform that makes chocolate and all or problems will be solved......

Red Badger, meet Cacao Plant ...

Mr. Plant, Mr. Badger ...

54 posted on 07/20/2006 11:50:16 AM PDT by ArrogantBustard (Western Civilisation is aborting, buggering, and contracepting itself out of existence.)
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To: mel; Reeses

55 posted on 07/20/2006 11:51:07 AM PDT by presidio9 (“The term ‘civilians’ does not exist in Islamic religious law.”)
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To: presidio9

You can also use it to make Soylent Yellow and Red. Soylent Green coming out soon.


56 posted on 07/20/2006 11:53:41 AM PDT by LexBaird ("Politically Correct" is the politically correct term for "F*cking Retarded". - Psycho Bunny)
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To: Alexander Rubin

I don't know how far along they have progressed with the project, but a few years ago there was talk of a plan to pipe the methane from a local landfill to the BMW manufacturing plant in the Upstate of SC.


57 posted on 07/20/2006 11:53:52 AM PDT by VRWCtaz (A challenge to Liberals: I will read any book you name - if you will do the same. (very few takers))
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To: Alexander Rubin
My point about the Israelis and Japanese was that they also found ways to make oil from common items. That's not necessarily a major breathrough. It depends on the circumstances.

The difference being that in those other processes (e.g., the Israeli garbage conversion) the energy had to be applied externally and inefficiently, whereas this process uses biological energy conversion -- the chemistry and energy conversion would be done "for free."

The limiting factor in this plankton/algae process would appear to be the available surface area and CO2.

We can estimate the energy capture as follows:

1. Suppose sunlight deposits an average 880 W/m2

2. Suppose solar energy is collected into this process at an efficiency of 1% (a number pulled out of my wazoo).

3. Suppose there are 12 hours of sunlight per day.

The net energy collection would be on the order of 105 MWhrs per square kilometer.

Given real sunlight values and conversion efficiencies, the process should be relatively scaleable, though I think there'd probably be some size limitations.

58 posted on 07/20/2006 11:56:56 AM PDT by r9etb
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To: VRWCtaz
You should see Soylent Green just once. It's very dark, but Robinson and Heston are wonderful!

Re: the tag line... It's from the movie Dune.

It is by will alone I set my mind in motion.
It is by the juice of Saphoo that thoughts acquire speed,
lips acquire stain, the stains become a warning.
It is by will alone I set my mind in motion.

59 posted on 07/20/2006 11:59:40 AM PDT by LIConFem (It is by will alone I set my mind in motion...)
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To: Reeses; presidio9
I don't see why petroleum would need to uniquely be organic, when so many other hydrocarbons occur naturally without the need for life forms to create them.

These Harvard guys might agree with me.
60 posted on 07/20/2006 12:01:56 PM PDT by beezdotcom
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