By: Gerardo Saldaña
Algae had been cultivated
during the Second World War, mainly as a food source for nutrient supplement
and antibiotics. Not until the 1970’s through today, algae began to play a role
as an energy source for gas and electricity. Algae being used as a power source
can be beneficial for the environment and it could replace fossil fuels. In
order to obtain these microbes, cultivating techniques plays an impact. Algae
cultivation might sound simple, but it requires a balance in temperature and
water concentration (salts and PH) in order for them to grow. One cultivating
method involves large open pond that contains the algae; which makes them
exposed to sunlight, the water needs to be replace daily. One aspect is the
accumulation of salts if the water concentration is not balanced; too much salt
can be crucial for growth. The other method is the enclosed photo-bioreactor
(no sunlight) which contains the microbes and provides nutrients that they
need. The bioreactor has a pump that is connected to the chemostat, the pump
circulates the substrate as needed. In this process the substrate will always
be provided, unlike the open pond which algae produce their food by sunlight
(autotrophs). Algae can be an excellent biofuel, it does not harm the
environment and is efficient.
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