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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
BEI
1. Algae 2. Microbes 3. Q Bacteria
20.020 -- 3 Ideas
Importance
The Twenty-First Century Challenge
Knowns
Ideas &
Impacts
Competition
& Unknowns
Fossil Fuel Disaster
Peak Oil
Global Warming
Looming Energy Crisis
Economic Depression
Political Conflicts
BEI
20.020 -- 3 Ideas
1. Algae 2. Microbes 3. Q Bacteria
Importance
Benefits of Biological Energy
Knowns
Ideas &
Impacts
Competition
& Unknowns
Economic
Productivity
Carbon Neutrality
"Limitless" Energy
Energy
Independence
Catastrophe
Aversion
Improved
BEI
20.020 -- 3 Ideas
Importance
1. Algae 2. Microbes 3. Q Bacteria
Synthetic Algae Fuel
Knowns
Ideas &
Impacts
Competition
& Unknowns
Microbe Modification
Q Pathway Isolation
BEI
20.020 -- 3 Ideas
1. Algae 2. Microbes 3. Q Bacteria
Importance
Knowns
Ideas &
Impacts
Competition
& Unknowns
Synthetic Algae Fuel
BEI
20.020 -- 3 Ideas
1. Algae 2. Microbes 3. Q Bacteria
Importance
Benefits
Knowns
Ideas &
Impacts
Potential to be an incredible fuel.
Competition
& Unknowns
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
BEI
20.020 -- 3 Ideas
1. Algae 2. Microbes 3. Q Bacteria
Importance
Possibilities
Knowns
Ideas &
Impacts
One: Contamination
Safeguard
Competition
& Unknowns
Two: Photosynthetic Efficiency
Genetic reduction of
antenna chlorophyll
concentration to maximize
productivity
Three: Algal Recovery
Transgenic resistance to
lowered pH or waste water
conditions
Flotation and filaments for
speedy recovery
Four: Oil Production
Modification of algae to
BEI
20.020 -- 3 Ideas
1. Algae 2. Microbes 3. Q Bacteria
Importance
Knowns
Ideas &
Impacts
Competition
Dozens of biofuel
companies.
Ethanol: corn and
sugar cane.
Oil: fossil fuels and
digestion.
Solar and wind
platforms.
Competition
& Unknowns
Unknowns
BEI
20.020 -- 3 Ideas
Importance
Knowns
Ideas &
Impacts
Competition
& Unknowns
1. Algae 2. Microbes 3. Q Bacteria
BEI
20.020 -- 3 Ideas
1. Algae 2. Microbes 3. Q Bacteria
Importance
Already possible...
Knowns
Ideas &
Impacts
Competition
& Unknowns
Anaerobic
fermentation to
produce Biogas
Economically feasible
even with unmodified
bacteria
High-efficiency,
require complicated
processes
Acidogenic bacteria that
convert ferment and
produce H2
BEI
20.020 -- 3 Ideas
1. Algae 2. Microbes 3. Q Bacteria
Importance
Possibilities
Knowns
Ideas &
Impacts
Competition
& Unknowns
Genetically engineer bacteria to produce:
Hydrocarbons (Fuel)
Hydrogen
Methane (Biogas)
BEI
20.020 -- 3 Ideas
1. Algae 2. Microbes 3. Q Bacteria
Importance
Specifically
Knowns
Ideas &
Impacts
Competition
& Unknowns
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
BEI
20.020 -- 3 Ideas
1. Algae 2. Microbes 3. Q Bacteria
Importance
Knowns
Ideas &
Impacts
Unknowns
Competition
& Unknowns
Allow competing
bacteria to thrive?
Require carefully
controlled (i.e.
expensive)
bioreactors?
Competitions
Existing
infrastructure for
biogas
Chemical synthesis
BEI
20.020 -- 3 Ideas
Importance
Knowns
Ideas &
Impacts
Competition
& Unknowns
1. Algae 2. Microbes 3. Q Bacteria
BEI
20.020 -- 3 Ideas
1. Algae 2. Microbes 3. Q Bacteria
Importance
Background
Knowns
Ideas &
Impacts
Competition
& Unknowns
Found in Massachusetts
(Quabbin Lake)
Capable of Sugar ->
Ethanol Digestion
Revolutionizing Biomass
Fuel
BEI
20.020 -- 3 Ideas
1. Algae 2. Microbes 3. Q Bacteria
Importance
Knowns
Ideas &
Impacts
Possibility:
Degradation Pathway
Isolation
Competition
& Unknowns
Find
genetic/enzymati
c basis for
conversion
Design a
plasmid for
biofuel
modification
BEI
20.020 -- 3 Ideas
1. Algae 2. Microbes 3. Q Bacteria
Importance
Knowns
Ideas &
Impacts
Competition
Competition
& Unknowns
No competitors
per se
Competitors of
biofuel
Unknowns
Which
enzymes?
Which genes?
Patented genes?
BEI
20.020 -- 3 Ideas
1. Algae 2. Microbes 3. Q Bacteria
Importance
Bibliography
Knowns
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jurvetson/41
78161974/sizes/o/ Background image
http://www.krr.org/renewablefp.com/grap
hix/algae.jpg Algae Image
http://www.climatechangesocialchange.fi
les.wordpress.com/2009/04/renewableenergy-in-tourism.jpg Plants
http://www.ecosumo.files.wordpress.com
/2009/05/peakoil.jpg Peak Oil
http://www.dailygalaxy.com/photos/uncat
egorized/2007/05/02/microbes.jpg Micr
obe Image
Ideas &
Impacts
Competition
& Unknowns