Right: Chisti with a photobioreactor
Definitions:
Photobioreactor: A production system in which all elements are controlled. In effect, there is no influence from the external environment other than light.
Nitrogen-fixing Algae: Algae which performs nitrogen fixation, a process which causes free nitrogen in the air to react with other elements to create more reactive substances, such as ammonia.
Summary:
Yusif Chisti of Massey University, New Zealand, believes that algae is the way to go in our world, where a new, clean, renewable energy source is desperately needed. However, contrary to many of today's experiments, which use freshwater algae, Chisti supports the use of marine algae for two reasons: first, it uses less freshwater, of which we have precious little, and second, it is easier to cultivate marine algae strains. Also, the marine strains can use waste carbon dioxide in its growing process and overall need a less complex habitat. One major problem is cultivating enough algae without using an equal amount of fossil fuels and an overlarge amount of fertilizer. As Chisti says, the way in which the algae is grown significantly affects its oil content. However, at this point, it needs too much energy to be a practical solution. Scientists are exploring nitrogen-fixing algae, and a possible solution for the energy requirement is a photobioreactor, which is more efficient than the current "grow it in a pond" method. Before algae can become a reliable energy source, though, much work is needed.
Discussion:
I agree with Professor Chisti that the way in which algae is grown can greatly affect its lipid content. I have done a lot of research on algae because it was part of my science project last year, and I was interested in this article because of that. Although energy efficiency is still a problem, it is true that algae would be a relatively simple change from fossil fuels, but it burns cleanly and is renewable. It is interesting that freshwater algae require more care as compared to marine strains, although this may be because marine algae is more used to changes in temperature and pH. This is because freshwater algae grows in sheltered ponds, into which there is no flow of water. I was not aware before that fertilizer usage as well as energy usage is a problem, but it is true that fertilizer is a somewhat exhaustible resource, so it would be good to reduce dependency on and usage of it.
Questions:
1) Why would nitrogen-fixing algae be more energy efficient than the average marine strain?
Photobioreactor: A production system in which all elements are controlled. In effect, there is no influence from the external environment other than light.
Nitrogen-fixing Algae: Algae which performs nitrogen fixation, a process which causes free nitrogen in the air to react with other elements to create more reactive substances, such as ammonia.
Summary:
Yusif Chisti of Massey University, New Zealand, believes that algae is the way to go in our world, where a new, clean, renewable energy source is desperately needed. However, contrary to many of today's experiments, which use freshwater algae, Chisti supports the use of marine algae for two reasons: first, it uses less freshwater, of which we have precious little, and second, it is easier to cultivate marine algae strains. Also, the marine strains can use waste carbon dioxide in its growing process and overall need a less complex habitat. One major problem is cultivating enough algae without using an equal amount of fossil fuels and an overlarge amount of fertilizer. As Chisti says, the way in which the algae is grown significantly affects its oil content. However, at this point, it needs too much energy to be a practical solution. Scientists are exploring nitrogen-fixing algae, and a possible solution for the energy requirement is a photobioreactor, which is more efficient than the current "grow it in a pond" method. Before algae can become a reliable energy source, though, much work is needed.
Discussion:
I agree with Professor Chisti that the way in which algae is grown can greatly affect its lipid content. I have done a lot of research on algae because it was part of my science project last year, and I was interested in this article because of that. Although energy efficiency is still a problem, it is true that algae would be a relatively simple change from fossil fuels, but it burns cleanly and is renewable. It is interesting that freshwater algae require more care as compared to marine strains, although this may be because marine algae is more used to changes in temperature and pH. This is because freshwater algae grows in sheltered ponds, into which there is no flow of water. I was not aware before that fertilizer usage as well as energy usage is a problem, but it is true that fertilizer is a somewhat exhaustible resource, so it would be good to reduce dependency on and usage of it.
Questions:
1) Why would nitrogen-fixing algae be more energy efficient than the average marine strain?
2) What methods of cultivation maximize lipid production?
Sources:
Nitrogen fixation:
Sources:
Nitrogen fixation:
"Nitrogen Fixation." Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Encyclopædia Britannica,
n.d. Web. 14 Oct. 2010..
n.d. Web. 14 Oct. 2010.
Article citation:
Extance, Andy. "Marine Algae Offer Sustainable Fuel Hope." environmental
research web. IOP, 13 Oct. 2010. Web. 14 Oct. 2010.
Article URL:
http://environmentalresearchweb.org/cws/article/news/44012
Extance, Andy. "Marine Algae Offer Sustainable Fuel Hope." environmental
research web. IOP, 13 Oct. 2010. Web. 14 Oct. 2010.
Article URL:
http://environmentalresearchweb.org/cws/article/news/44012
Add some more info on the "grow in the pond" - in my opinion this phrase means that one is just waiting for the algae to "grow in the pond," but it doesn't explain whether: they just wait for the algae to grow, but call it cultivating / they place the algae in certain places in a pond and figure out which ones grow the best, then use that spot again... - I DONT GET IT!!!...
ReplyDeleteAlso - Although energy efficiency is still a problem, it is true that algae would be a relatively simple change from fossil fuels, but it burns cleanly and is renewable --> WHAT IS THIS SENTENCE SAYING - what im reading s that energy efficiency is a problem + algae would be very easy to switch to even though it burns cleanly and is renewable... DESCRIBE MORE - doesn't make sense...
The overall content of the paragraph is excellent. - its very detailed and easy to follow (except for the two things i pointed out)... -
Another question you might want to add is "How come people haven't switched to using algae yet if it is so useful, clean, and renewable?"
otherwise - AWESOME JOB!!! - H.B.
Hi Hannah,
ReplyDeleteIn answer to your first question about the "grow it in a pond method," it means that freshwater species are grown in freshwater without control of outside variables, as opposed to the photobioreactor, in which every factor of algae growth is controlled excepting light.
The second point of confusion you had about the fact that algae is clean and fairly easy to switch too was probably a mis-wording on my part. What I mean is that algae biofuel burns cleanly, is renewable, and can be used in current car engines. However, the waste produced when making the energy used in creating enough fuel would be equivalent to the waste of the same fuel burned in the car, so more efficiency is needed.
The question that you had - why people haven't switched to algae yet with all of its obvious advantages - has a relatively simple answer. It is because, as I said earlier, there is no efficient way to produce enough fuel quickly enough.