LOS ANGELES --- OriginOil Inc., a developer of algae-based biofuel, announced a partnership with Desmet Ballestra, an international pioneer in oil and fats technologies.  

OriginOil CEO and President Riggs Eckelberry announced this partnership during a speaking engagement at the National Algae Association's fifth quarterly meeting. 

"Desmet Ballestra is an early leader in the implementation and sale of full-scale algae extraction systems," Eckelberry said. "With Desmet Ballestra as a worldwide partner, OriginOil can begin commercializing its algae-to-oil technology on a global scale." 

Eckelberry said OriginOil's oil extraction technology could help Desmet Ballestra create a more cost-efficient algae oil extraction system. "In early studies, Desmet and OriginOil have estimated that energy efficiency gains may reach 90 percent in certain configurations," he said. 

"We are enthusiastically modeling the use of OriginOil's single-step extraction technology in commercial algal oil extraction systems, and expect to announce further industry-impacting details in the months to come," said Timothy G. Kemper, Desmet Ballestra's North America president and CEO. 

Conventional algae oil extraction systems use petrochemical or alcohol solvents to extract algae oil. In this process, the largest amount of energy consumption comes from the initial steps of dewatering and drying the algal biomass. The OriginOil extraction technology, however, allows the oil to be separated from the algal biomass in water with no dewatering or drying steps. As a result, substantial electrical and thermal energy can be saved, the company said.