Students turn algae into bio diesel

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - Rose-Hulman Institute Technology students are working on an efficient method to take algae and extract out its oils.

Students said algae is very abundant and easy to reproduce.

Students are learning to grow algae in growth chambers. Once they get a concentrated amount of algae, they dry it out and smash it up to eventually creating bio diesel.

"Algae is at the bottom of the food chain. If other animals are getting algae, we should be getting algae to have better renewable sources for energy,' chemical engineering student Liz Malola said.

Right now, the students are working on a small scale and hope to expand during the school year.