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BEI — Biological — Engineering — Institute — Clean Biofuels and Energy Independence

BEI — Biological — Engineering — Institute — Clean Biofuels and Energy Independence. a presentation by + nancy ouyang + grant robinson for 20.020 (Introduction to Biological Engineering Design) Three Ideas Presentation: Spring 2010. Fossil Fuel Disaster Peak Oil Global Warming

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BEI — Biological — Engineering — Institute — Clean Biofuels and Energy Independence

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  1. BEI — Biological — Engineering — Institute —Clean Biofuels and Energy Independence a presentation by + nancy ouyang + grant robinson for 20.020 (Introduction to Biological Engineering Design) Three Ideas Presentation: Spring 2010

  2. Fossil Fuel Disaster Peak Oil Global Warming Looming Energy Crisis Economic Depression Political Conflicts Dirty & Limited vs. Clean & Independent Stay the Course... Go Green! The Twenty-First Century Challenge

  3. Economic Productivity Carbon Neutrality  "Limitless" Energy  Energy Independence  Catastrophe Aversion  Improved Understanding of Biology Benefits of Biological Energy

  4. Synthetic Algae Fuel Q Pathway Isolation Microbe Modification

  5. Synthetic Algae Fuel

  6. Benefits Potential to be an incredible fuel. 30 times the oil content of plants like soybeans.   Material for ethanol/butanol production.  Grow about 20 to 30 times faster than plants. Produced one of two ways. Open ponds and closed photobioreactors. Open means cheaper and easier to scale up. Closed means more controllable and better for us! Known Importance Biotechnology companies abound. Basic research abounds. DARPA is investing in a radical algae jet fuel idea.

  7. Possibilities One: Contamination Safeguard Transgenic resistance to lowered pH or waste water conditions Two: Photosynthetic Efficiency Genetic reduction of antenna chlorophyll concentration to maximize productivity Three: Algal Recovery Flotation and filaments for speedy recovery Four: Oil Production Modification of algae to produce lipids and hydrocarbons during growth periods 

  8. Competition  Dozens of biofuel companies. Ethanol: corn and sugar cane. Oil: fossil fuels and digestion. Solar and wind platforms.  Unknowns  Issues with modification approval. Issues with producing viable mutants. Issues with oil and survival. Issues with structural modification. Issues with pond/reactor upkeep.

  9. Already possible... Anaerobic fermentation to produce Biogas Economically feasible even with unmodified bacteria High-efficiency, require complicated processes Acidogenic bacteria that convert ferment and produce H2 Genus Clostridium high efficiency Still relatively low production, not economical Directly produce/excrete fuels (see Q bacteria)

  10. Possibilities Genetically engineer bacteria to produce: Hydrocarbons (Fuel) Hydrogen Methane (Biogas)

  11. Specifically Genetically engineer bacteria Increase rate of production Biogas: Cold-resistant bacteria Produce less CO2 (purer biogas / CH4) More tolerant of different kinds of inputs Reduce water requirement Hydrogen: Increase yields

  12. Unknowns Allow competing bacteria to thrive? Require carefully controlled (i.e. expensive) bioreactors? Competitions Existing infrastructure for biogas Chemical synthesis

  13. Background Found in Massachusetts (Quabbin Lake) Capable of Sugar -> Ethanol Digestion  Revolutionizing Biomass Fuel 

  14. Possibility: Degradation Pathway Isolation Find genetic/enzymatic basis for conversion Design a plasmid for biofuel modification Impact of Pathway Isolation Cellulose breakdown Direct ethanol production Time & cost savings Engineering benefits

  15. Competition No competitors per se Competitors of biofuel Unknowns Which enzymes? Which genes? Patented genes? Issues with expression

  16. Bibliography http://www.flickr.com/photos/jurvetson/4178161974/sizes/o/ Background image http://www.krr.org/renewablefp.com/graphix/algae.jpg    Algae Image http://www.climatechangesocialchange.files.wordpress.com/2009/04/renewable-energy-in-tourism.jpg Plants http://www.ecosumo.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/peakoil.jpg    Peak Oil http://www.dailygalaxy.com/photos/uncategorized/2007/05/02/microbes.jpg    Microbe Image http://www.biorays.com/user/cimage/Bio-Energy-Sphere-Logo.jpg Second Logo http://www.stmichaelsyork.org/cps/images/stories/socialaction/recycle.jpg Recycle Logo http://www.rudekinc.com/algae_1.jpg Raceway Pond http://www.technologyreview.in/files/33702/qteros_x220.jpg Q Action http://www.bostonmagazine.com/articles/q_to_the_rescue/    Q Background http://www.technolog.it.umn.edu/technolog/issues/fall2004/genome2.jpg Genome Image p://blogs.reuters.com/environment/files/2007/10/algae.jpg Algae Arrays http://www.scharfphoto.com/fine_art_prints/archives/199812-026-Staph-Bacteria.jpg Final Image http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/03/AR2008010303907.html Algae Background http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE5196HB20090210?pageNumber=2&virtualBrandChannel=0 Algae Back http://www.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/fulltext/123195764/PDFSTART Main Algae Article http://www.images.clipartof.com/small/24246-Clipart-Illustration-Of-An-Uncertain-Lime-Green-Man-And-Child-Standing-At-A-Wooden-Post-Trying-To-Decide-Which-Direction-To-Go-At-A-Crossroads.jpg Decide http://www.flickr.com/photos/jurvetson/2126204366/ Microscrope Green http://nasdrovya.blogspot.com/2009/04/bio-digester.html Biogas http://www.flickr.com/photos/robven/459001652/ Cyanobacteria Petri http://www.flickr.com/photos/cdepaz/3372727630/ Microbes Mobile Petri

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