Air travellers' breath to become biofuel

The exhalations of travellers passing through Liverpool’s John Lennon Airport could prove to be a new source of biofuels for the UK.

UK-based Origo Industries Ltd. plans to deploy its EcoBox system at the airport in a first-of-its kind trial. The test: to capture carbon dioxide from air handling units in the airport’s terminal building and filter the gas into a photo-bioreactor. Algae in the bioreactor will absorb the carbon dioxide, and Origo will then harvest the algae for conversion into biofuel.

The trial installation is expected to produce about 250 liters’ worth of biofuel per day, according to a report in the Liverpool Daily Post. If the system works as planned, a larger installation could eventually yield up to 3,000 litres of biofuel daily, according to the Post article.

Hey, if it works, getting all hot and bothered during air travel delays will have an upside: you’ll be helping the environment as you cope with your high blood pressure.