The state-backed QR45.5m ($12.50m) biofuel project, which began 2 years ago, has demonstrated the viability of sustainable biofuels generation from photosynthetic microorganisms that are prevalent in the arid country.
Research in the field was undertaken in collaboration with Qatar Airways and Qatar Science and Technology Park (QSTP), wherein fat was extracted from lab cultures to develop fuel, which was then converted to bioethanol using carbohydrates.
Biofuels project director Dr Malcolm Potts stated that the team is using versatile micro-organisms which are particularly suitable to Qatar’s environment.
"We are trying to develop a biofuel industry here in Qatar, using new technologies not found anywhere else in the world," Potts said.
The varsity will now seek to scale up production from the earlier 1,500 liters to 25,000 liters in outdoor research ponds.
On successful production, a pilot plant will be constructed and is expected to generate 1.5million liters in the future.
