An Israeli company has developed a cost effective way to capture carbon emissions that may offer a way out for coal-fired power plants looking to curb pollution. Seambiotic Limited cultivates microalgae using carbon emissions from power plants and is in talks with government organizations to set up a pilot project in India.
Microalgae or microphytes are tiny organisms that do not have stems or roots like higher plants but perform photosynthesis like them using CO2 and sunlight. Ami Ben-Amotz, chief advisor of Seambiotic, said the technology uses wastes of electric power plants to cultivate microalgae in seawater which are used to produce neutraceuticals, bio-diesel and bio-ethanol among other things.