micro-algae lamp absorbs 150 times more CO2 than a tree!
http://www.sciencedump.com/content/microalgae-lamp-absorbs-150-times-more-co2-tree
Showing posts with label Algae. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Algae. Show all posts
Saturday, December 8, 2012
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Researchers Turn Algae Into High-Temperature Hydrogen Source
From Red Orbit:
Researchers Turn Algae Into High-Temperature Hydrogen Source
Platinum-catalyzed photosynthetic process creates high-yield sustainable source of hydrogen
In the quest to make hydrogen as a clean alternative fuel source, researchers have been stymied about how to create usable hydrogen that is clean and sustainable without relying on an intensive, high-energy process that outweighs the benefits of not using petroleum to power vehicles.
New findings from a team of researchers from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and Oak Ridge National Laboratory, however, show that photosynthesis – the process by which plants regenerate using energy from the sun – may function as that clean, sustainable source of hydrogen.
The team, led by Barry Bruce, a professor of biochemistry and cellular and molecular biology at UT Knoxville, found that the inner machinery of photosynthesis can be isolated from certain algae and, when coupled with a platinum catalyst, is able to produce a steady supply of hydrogen when exposed to light.
The findings are outlined in this week's issue of the journal Nature Nanotechnology.
Bruce, who serves as the associate director for UT Knoxville's Sustainable Energy and Education Research Center, notes that we already get most of our energy from photosynthesis, albeit indirectly.
The fossil fuels of today were once, millions of years ago, energy-rich plant matter whose growth also was supported by the sun via the process of photosynthesis. There have been efforts to shorten this process, namely through the creation of biomass fuels that harvest plants and covert their hydrocarbons into ethanol or biodiesel.
"Biofuel as many people think of it now -- harvesting plants and converting their woody material into sugars which get distilled into combustible liquids -- probably cannot replace gasoline as a major source of fuel," said Bruce. "We found that our process is more direct and has the potential to create a much larger quantity of fuel using much less energy, which has a wide range of benefits."
A major benefit of Bruce's method is that it cuts out two key middlemen in the process of using plants' solar conversion abilities. The first middle man is the time required for a plant to capture solar energy, grow and reproduce, then die and eventually become fossil fuel. The second middle man is energy, in this case the substantial amount of energy required to cultivate, harvest and process plant material into biofuel. Bypassing these two options and directly using the plant or algae's built-in solar system to create clean fuel can be a major step forward.
Other scientists have studied the possibility of using photosynthesis as a hydrogen source, but have not yet found a way to make the reaction occur efficiently at the high temperatures that would exist in a large system designed to harness sunlight.
Bruce and his colleagues found that by starting with a thermophilic blue-green algae, which favors warmer temperatures, they could sustain the reaction at temperatures as high as 55 degrees C, or 131 degrees F. That is roughly the temperature in arid deserts with high solar irradiation, where the process would be most productive. They also found the process was more than 10 times more efficient as the temperature increased.
"As both a dean and a chemist, I am very impressed with this recent work by Professor Bruce and his colleagues," said Bruce Bursten, dean of UT Knoxville's College of Arts and Sciences. "Hydrogen has the potential to be the cleanest fuel alternative to petroleum, with no greenhouse gas production, and we need new innovations that allow for hydrogen to be readily produced from non-hydrocarbon sources. Professor Bruce and his team have provided a superb example of how excellence in basic research can contribute significantly to technological and societal advances."
Researchers Turn Algae Into High-Temperature Hydrogen Source
Platinum-catalyzed photosynthetic process creates high-yield sustainable source of hydrogen
In the quest to make hydrogen as a clean alternative fuel source, researchers have been stymied about how to create usable hydrogen that is clean and sustainable without relying on an intensive, high-energy process that outweighs the benefits of not using petroleum to power vehicles.
New findings from a team of researchers from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and Oak Ridge National Laboratory, however, show that photosynthesis – the process by which plants regenerate using energy from the sun – may function as that clean, sustainable source of hydrogen.
The team, led by Barry Bruce, a professor of biochemistry and cellular and molecular biology at UT Knoxville, found that the inner machinery of photosynthesis can be isolated from certain algae and, when coupled with a platinum catalyst, is able to produce a steady supply of hydrogen when exposed to light.
The findings are outlined in this week's issue of the journal Nature Nanotechnology.
Bruce, who serves as the associate director for UT Knoxville's Sustainable Energy and Education Research Center, notes that we already get most of our energy from photosynthesis, albeit indirectly.
The fossil fuels of today were once, millions of years ago, energy-rich plant matter whose growth also was supported by the sun via the process of photosynthesis. There have been efforts to shorten this process, namely through the creation of biomass fuels that harvest plants and covert their hydrocarbons into ethanol or biodiesel.
"Biofuel as many people think of it now -- harvesting plants and converting their woody material into sugars which get distilled into combustible liquids -- probably cannot replace gasoline as a major source of fuel," said Bruce. "We found that our process is more direct and has the potential to create a much larger quantity of fuel using much less energy, which has a wide range of benefits."
A major benefit of Bruce's method is that it cuts out two key middlemen in the process of using plants' solar conversion abilities. The first middle man is the time required for a plant to capture solar energy, grow and reproduce, then die and eventually become fossil fuel. The second middle man is energy, in this case the substantial amount of energy required to cultivate, harvest and process plant material into biofuel. Bypassing these two options and directly using the plant or algae's built-in solar system to create clean fuel can be a major step forward.
Other scientists have studied the possibility of using photosynthesis as a hydrogen source, but have not yet found a way to make the reaction occur efficiently at the high temperatures that would exist in a large system designed to harness sunlight.
Bruce and his colleagues found that by starting with a thermophilic blue-green algae, which favors warmer temperatures, they could sustain the reaction at temperatures as high as 55 degrees C, or 131 degrees F. That is roughly the temperature in arid deserts with high solar irradiation, where the process would be most productive. They also found the process was more than 10 times more efficient as the temperature increased.
"As both a dean and a chemist, I am very impressed with this recent work by Professor Bruce and his colleagues," said Bruce Bursten, dean of UT Knoxville's College of Arts and Sciences. "Hydrogen has the potential to be the cleanest fuel alternative to petroleum, with no greenhouse gas production, and we need new innovations that allow for hydrogen to be readily produced from non-hydrocarbon sources. Professor Bruce and his team have provided a superb example of how excellence in basic research can contribute significantly to technological and societal advances."
Friday, October 2, 2009
AlgaeGeek
http://algaegeek.com/
Arduino Strobe Algae Bioreactor
http://inventgeek.com/2009-Projects/Arduino-Strobe-Algae-Bioreactor/OverView.aspx
Arduino Strobe Algae Bioreactor
http://inventgeek.com/2009-Projects/Arduino-Strobe-Algae-Bioreactor/OverView.aspx
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Welcome to Green Ideas
I have been having many brainstorming session over E-mail, phone and Facebook. Ideas such as Solar, Wind, Geothermal, Bio Fuels as well as the problems associated with them like Energy Storage, Electric Vehicles, and Green Materials and manufacturing techniques. Also carbon sequestration, and anything that will move us past the petroleum age and the impending climate disaster it has brought.
Now I finally will have a place for the open discussion and hopefully new solutions leading to inventions and product. For any of these ideas to work, they must not only be green but economically viable and buy that I mean profitable.
I would like to invite as many smart people in to these brainstorming sessions as possible.
My only requirement is to keep an open mind. As I am even open to things like biblical references, but don't want to tangent too far down those paths.
The end goal is to work towards reversing global warming and other problems facing the continued expansion of the human race. I believe this idea of limiting the human race at 10 Billion is horrific. If we are to continue to progress, we must keep inventing and take control over all aspects of our environment. I think the earth could easily support 1 trillion people comfortable with trillions more living thought the solar system and beyond.
Below is a list of some of what I have been researching and getting in to some very deep discussions.
Now I finally will have a place for the open discussion and hopefully new solutions leading to inventions and product. For any of these ideas to work, they must not only be green but economically viable and buy that I mean profitable.
I would like to invite as many smart people in to these brainstorming sessions as possible.
My only requirement is to keep an open mind. As I am even open to things like biblical references, but don't want to tangent too far down those paths.
The end goal is to work towards reversing global warming and other problems facing the continued expansion of the human race. I believe this idea of limiting the human race at 10 Billion is horrific. If we are to continue to progress, we must keep inventing and take control over all aspects of our environment. I think the earth could easily support 1 trillion people comfortable with trillions more living thought the solar system and beyond.
Below is a list of some of what I have been researching and getting in to some very deep discussions.
- Bio Diesel - Algae, Jatropha, Fisher-Trope process, and other plant oils.
- Bio Gasoline - pyrolysis, hydropyrolysis,
- Bio Gas - HHO, Syngas, methane hydrates
- Solar, holographic lenses, flexible cells, alternatives to Silicon, ways to reduce cost,
- Wind - optimal designs, cost reductions
- Power storage, Super Caps, batteries, thermal
- Geothermal - way to reduce cost, maintenance
- Electrical generation, transmission and storage
- Non petroleum based plastics, Eco-epoxy and materials for manufacturing
- Materials for third world production, like using plant fibers
- Alternatives to Cement that release CO2 during production
- Methane and CO2 release during food production
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