Botryococcus braunii living algae culture

Botryococcus braunii

This live culture of Botryococcus braunii algae ships suspended in appropriate medium in a 50 mL screw cap culture tube.

This is Botryococcus braunii race "A".

Environment: Fresh or Brackish water

Additional information available at http://www.algaedepot.org/algae-reference/algae-depot-wiki/doku.php?id=strains;botryococcus_braunii

B. braunii (Bb) is one of the most exciting and prized algae species with regards to the potential for production of biofuels.

Unlike many other species of algae which require, in some form, the extraction of oil found with the cells, Botryococcus braunii secretes its hydrocarbon oils outside of the cell wall for easy collection. Additionally, up to 86% of its dry weight can be composed of long chain hydrocarbons.

Botryococcene oil, the major oil of B. braunii, is a triterpene, and therefore cannot be easily used to make biodiesel. It can, however, be used to produce many fuels. Most interestingly, it can be directly used as feedstock for hydrocracking in an oil refinery for the creation of standard gasoline (octane), kerosene and diesel.

Note: Though B. braunii can be potentially used as a biodiesel feedstock, the processes required are relatively complex when compared to other algae species that are "ready-made" for the biodiesel processing.