Jul 8 2010
Researchers at the Arizona State University’s Biodesign Institute have discovered that cyanobacteria represent a rich source of biofuels as well as biomaterials.
Researchers Raveender Vannela and Hyun Woo Kim are working out methods for culturing these microbes since the microbes have a rich potential and are significantly available in greater abundance. The atmospheric oxygen that people breathe today is generated by one of nature’s oldest living forms the cyanobacteria.
This work provides an important stepping stone for the purpose of optimizing the photobioreactor (PBR) device, into which these energy-rich photosynthetic organisms proliferate. The new research highlights that the customization of cyanobacterial growth necessitates a delicate interaction between phosphorus, CO2 and light irradiation, inside the PBR device comprising the microbial crop.
When compared with the other biofuel crops, photosynthetic cyanobacteria produce approximately 100 times the volume of clean fuel for every acre. This is attributed to the fact that their survival methodology is quite simple that they live on a few nutrients, CO2, water as well as sunlight. In fact, arable land is not needed for their growth since they can be grown on either rooftops or any other place with sufficient sunlight as well as CO2. The study also eventually aims at making the production of biomaterials and biofuels in commercial scale a reality.
Source: http://www.biodesign.asu.edu/