Major Japanese auto parts maker Denso Corp. has begun investigating if it can use algae to absorb carbon dioxide emissions from its factories, a company spokesman said Wednesday.
Denso, part of auto giant Toyota, is looking at minute green algae called “pseudochoricystis,” which can be found in hot springs, among other places.
“The main purpose of the study is to make the algae absorb CO2 emissions from our factories and facilities,” the spokesman said, referring to carbon dioxide.
He said the algae also produced “light oil or biodiesel” but that Denso had no firm plan to mass-produce light oil at the moment.
The algae uses water and carbon dioxide for photosynthesis and makes fat and light oil.
The company's laboratory estimates the algae could produce light oil equal to a maximum of 30 percent of its weight, but the spokesman said that process was costlier than refining light oil from crude oil.
Research on making light oil from algae was underway in Japan and abroad, he added.
