A research group of the Ocean Research and Development Organization has discovered phytoplankton, which produces the same components as gasoline in the body, in the Arctic Ocean, and it is attracting attention as to whether it can lead to the development of new biofuels.

In a survey conducted by the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology's research vessel "Mirai" in the Arctic Ocean eight years ago (2013), the collected phytoplankton was cultivated and examined in detail. It means that they have discovered algae that they produce and store.



Until now, it has been known that it produces a specific oil component, but it is the first time that phytoplankton, which stores the same components as gasoline and diesel fuel, has been reported.



It is said that the amount stored in the body is small, but attention is being paid to whether improvements such as increasing the amount can lead to the development of new biofuels.

Naomi Harada, director of the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology, said, "I thought that oil was mixed in at the beginning, and I was surprised at how many times I repeated the analysis. It is said that it was completed in a relatively short time in the oil field. There are things that are involved, and these creatures may be involved. "