goldenscale algae

They came looking for the fabled gold of $COUNTRY. I don't this is quite what they had in mind.

A monocellular freshwater algae with a characteristic 'flake gold' colour, Goldenscale algae is extensively farmed for bio-oil, especially for the production of phykoleum.

Commercial uses

Use as feed

Goldenscale's ease of cultivation and high protein content means that it has historically been grown as livestock feed by the rural farmers of $CONTINENT. The algae was pressed using a simple hand-crank, similar to a cider or olive press, to extract oil. The oil was used for light and heat, and the remaining biomass pulverised into a mash and fed to livestock. Goldenscale biomass contains up to 50% protein, 20% fat, and 15% carbohydrate, but, although it has supplemented the diets of farmers as a food of last resort, it is not grown for consumption outside of livestock feed. Faun and other principally herbivorous deorfolk may be able to digest the biomass, but goldenscale is not considered suitable for human consumption, as it is difficult to digest and can cause inflammation of the digestive system.

Use as a fuel

The algae oil's conversion into biodiesel evolved out of its traditional use as heating oil. It was first explored by $PERSON in $YEAR and developed into a commercial crop over the next $NUM years. Easy to cultivate, Goldenscale oil's high lipid content (over 50%), combined with the algae's rapid growth rate and tolerance to high population density means that it is an ideal candidate for bio-oil production.

Methods of farming

Open pond

Microalgenkwekerij te Heure bij Borculo by JanB46

The traditional method of farming goldenscale for feed is via a series of oval or elliptical ponds, with a a method of agitation - either from a spring or, more recently, a paddlewheel. This method is extremely cheap and simulates goldenscale's natural habitat, but can become contaminated by additional species and is subject to evaporation.
A open-pond farm covering 4km² can produce 10,000 tons of protein per annum and can be managed by as few as 20 people.

Photobioreactors

Photobioreactor PBR 4000 G IGV Biotech by IGV Biotech

Closed bioreactrs are the primary cultvation method for comercial bio-oil extraction. By providing ideal condition, goldenscale' photosynthetic efficiency can be raised to 10% and the algae can double its biomass in under 24 hours. Developed in the laboratories of $INSTITUTION, photobioreactors have successfully been adapted to commercial scale, and many countries have fully-fledged biodiesel production facilities. Photobioreactors take the form of a a wall of horizontally- or vertially-oriented glass tubes arranged North-South to capture the maximum amount of sunlight, with centralised utility tubes to feed nutrients and carbon dioxide and monitor environmental changes. The ground beneath the tubes is painted white or tiled with white stone or marble to increase reflected light. For this reason, and the golden colouring of the algae, workers are required to wear tined eye protection on the production floor.
The principle needs of goldenscae are carbon dioxide, water, and a small amount of nutrients, all of which are readily available. CO² sourcing at the scale required to support commercial production of goldenscae means that photobioreactors are often found in industrial areas.

by Karolina Grabowska