- Breakthrough Bioreactor Design to Make Around-the-Clock Algae Production a Reality –
Los Angeles, CA — May 27, 2008 — OriginOil, Inc. (OTCBB: OOIL), the developer of a breakthrough technology to transform algae, the most promising source of renewable oil, into a true competitor to petroleum, announced today the recent filing of its second patent application.
The patent application, “Apparatus and Method for Optimizing Photosynthetic Growth in a Photo Bioreactor,” discloses OriginOil’s invention of a system designed to increase and optimize photosynthetic growth of an algae culture. This system, known as the Helix BioReactor™ , is the core algae growth system that will be used in OriginOil’s prototypes, pilots and full-scale production systems.
“The key to dependable, high algae yield is continuous lighting of multiple growth planes,” said Nicholas Eckelberry, Director of Development and an inventor of the Helix Bioreactor. “In a natural pond, the sun only illuminates one growth plane, down to about half an inch below the surface. In contrast, the Helix Bioreactor features a rotating vertical shaft with very low energy lights arranged in a helix or spiral pattern, which results in a theoretically unlimited number of layers. Additionally, each lighting element is engineered to produce specific light waves and frequencies for optimal algae growth. By giving algae only the light it needs, throughout the growth tank, all of the time, we’re growing algae quickly and cost-effectively.”
“Our field needs researchers who think outside the box and apply multi-disciplinary approaches to their work, and this team has it,” said Paul Reep, Senior Technical Advisor to the Company. “OriginOil has succeeded in a major development — one I believe is a critical next step in the process for algae production to replace petroleum as a fuel feedstock.”
About OriginOil, Inc.
OriginOil helps algae growers extract oil from algae for use as a feedstock for the commercial production of transportation fuels, chemicals and foods. In a single step, our breakthrough technology efficiently dewaters and breaks down algae for its useful products, overcoming one of the greatest challenges in making algae a viable replacement for petroleum. As a pioneer and the emerging leader in the global algae oil services field, OriginOil supports its core algae extraction technology with an array of process innovations for some of the world’s most successful algae growers and refiners, just as pioneers like Schlumberger and Halliburton have done in the oilfield services industry. To learn more about OriginOil®, please visit our website at www.originoil.com.
Safe Harbor Statement:
Matters discussed in this press release contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. When used in this press release, the words "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "may," "intend," "expect" and similar expressions identify such forward-looking statements. Actual results, performance or achievements could differ materially from those contemplated, expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements contained herein. These forward-looking statements are based largely on the expectations of the Company and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. These include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties associated with our history of losses and our need to raise additional financing, the acceptance of our products and technology in the marketplace, our ability to demonstrate the commercial viability of our products and technology and our need to increase the size of our organization. Further information on the Company's risk factors is contained in the Company's quarterly and annual reports as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company undertakes no obligation to revise or update publicly any forward-looking statements for any reason.
