Conversion of halophilic algae into extractable oils¹ 1 Israeli Patent Pending, No. 57712, July 3, 1979.

A salt water slurry of Dunaliella Parva, an halophilic alga, was treated in order to convert it into benzene-soluble material, as rich as possible in carbon and hydrogen. Several features have been brought to light during the course of this work: 1. (1) 25% of the combined carbon can be extracted under mild conditions of pressure (atmospheric) and temperature; 2. (2) the presence of CO as well as transition metals salts, had only minor effect on the conversion and the composition of the product; 3. (3) up to 75% of the combined carbon is converted by in-situ presence of benzene during the pyrolysis of the alga-salt water slurry.