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algae
Using algae to create hydrogen. | |
Grow algae in a tank on a zinc wire mesh screen. That screen creates one electrode and the other is a carbon rod in the tank. The tank must have a large water surface area for gas exchange. The electrons released by the processes of the algae will charge a capacitor or battery, which will discharge periodically
to lyse water in a separate vessel. The oxygen will be infused into the algae tank, while the hydrogen will be used as a fuel.
Algae is good for this because it has a high rate of turnover, where it will die off and repopulate every few weeks. High metabolism! Woot!
Incase anyone is interested in PhotoSynthesis
http://www.uic.edu/...ectf03am/lect09.htm
[PainOCommonSense, Oct 04 2004, last modified Oct 06 2004]
Electricity from Sewage
http://www.sciencen...s/20040313/fob5.asp
The wave of the future. [bungston, Oct 04 2004, last modified Oct 06 2004]
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Annotation:
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Using algae to drive batteries is hardly a new idea. What is called for here is field research into what algae will do this wondrous thing. |
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This idea is nothing more than a rehash of ongoing research. However, I don't understand the zinc part, because you could dispense with the algae and still get H2 with this setup. So maybe it's a joke. |
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If we could make sugar industrially like plants can in photosynthesis from water and sunlight then we could power a generator and make electricity that way. But sadly the best we can come up with are photovoltaic cells. |
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ldischler, He's using the algae as bioreactors to make electricity (sorta like in The Matrix), which is then discharged into the tank to run electrolosis. Basically it's an overcomplicated way of saying we should use algae to make electricity. |
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Personally I'd put more money on using algae to make vegetable oils for use in biodeisel fuel. But this could be done at the same time. |
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This is a fine idea. Almost the exact same idea is being developed for sewage treatment, except it is bacteria, and they are digesting the waste, not photosynthesizing. These folks (link) think that they can draw enough electricity from the process to power the wastewater pumps. So: bread! |
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Zinc kills algae: Which goes back to the point I none too clearly made. The zinc kills the algae, yet (not so miraculously), hydrogen is still generated. |
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