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An Algae Bioreactor from Recycled Water Bottlesby mfischer on February 1, 2009

Table of Contents

intro:   An Algae Bioreactor from Recycled Water Bottles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Video . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

step 1:   Make Carbon Dioxide Delivery System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

step 2:   Attach Tubing to Manifold . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

step 3:   Mount Carbon Dioxide System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

step 4:   Mount Water Bottles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

step 5:   Make Algae Media . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

step 6:   Media Inoculation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

step 7:   Growth and Harvesting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

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Comments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

http://www.instructables.com/id/An_Algae_Bioreactor_from_Recycled_Water_Bottles/

intro:  An Algae Bioreactor from Recycled Water BottlesIn this instructable, we describe how to build a photo-bioreactor that uses algae to convert carbon dioxide and sunlight into energy. The energy that is produced is in theform of algae biomass. The photo-bioreactor is built from plastic recycled water bottles. By designing the apparatus to be compartmentalized, we are able to do manyexperiments in parallel.

Video

By using algae as a biofuel, we can increase the world's supply of oil while at the same time we decrease the amount of atmospheric carbon dioxide used during itsproduction. The resulting product is a sustainable biofuel whose carbon footprint is neutral inasmuch as the CO2 produced on consumption is essentially balanced by theCO2 used in its production. In this instructable, we first make the carbon dioxide delivery system, then mount the water bottles on a rack, and then inoculate the bottleswith algae. After letting the algae grow for a week, we extract the biomass.

http://www.instructables.com/id/An_Algae_Bioreactor_from_Recycled_Water_Bottles/

step 1: Make Carbon Dioxide Delivery SystemTo make the carbon dioxide delivery system, connect an eight port sprinkler system manifold to a one inch long PVC pipe. To get good seals, use Teflon tape to tape thethreads before attaching the pieces together. Next, attach the one inch pipe to a T-connector. Block off one end of the T-connector and attach the other end to a foot longPVC pipe.

step 2: Attach Tubing to ManifoldFor each manifold, cut eight-pieces of flexible tubing and connect each piece to a port of the manifold. The manifold that I am using has a dial on each port to control therate of flow. Make sure all the ports that you use are open and allow approximately the same amount of carbon dioxide to flow through the port.

step 3: Mount Carbon Dioxide SystemMount the air system to a metal rack using zip ties. Attach the air system to a tank of carbon dioxide.

http://www.instructables.com/id/An_Algae_Bioreactor_from_Recycled_Water_Bottles/

step 4: Mount Water BottlesHot glue the water bottles to the metal rack.

http://www.instructables.com/id/An_Algae_Bioreactor_from_Recycled_Water_Bottles/

step 5: Make Algae MediaWe next make the medium to grow the algae. Although there are many possible mediums, a standard garden store fertilizer contains all the nitrogen and nutrients thatthe algae need.

http://www.instructables.com/id/An_Algae_Bioreactor_from_Recycled_Water_Bottles/

step 6: Media InoculationA good source of algae is pond algae, if available. If not, there are a large number of online vendors that sell batches of algae. To inoculate the culture, measure out afixed amount of algae and add it to the growth medium.

http://www.instructables.com/id/An_Algae_Bioreactor_from_Recycled_Water_Bottles/

step 7: Growth and HarvestingAfter several days of sunlight and CO2 exposure, the algae are much denser. A French press is then used to extract the algae from the solution. The biomass of the driedalgae can then be used as a fuel. As a by-product of this process, a large amount of atmospheric CO2 is sequestered.

http://www.instructables.com/id/An_Algae_Bioreactor_from_Recycled_Water_Bottles/

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Comments6 comments Add Comment

 gmjhowe says:  Feb 3, 2009. 12:57 AM  REPLYGreat work! Keep it up, and good luck in the contest.

 PondPlantGirl says:  Feb 2, 2009. 11:00 PM  REPLYI've got tons of algae in my pond that I'm willing to share! I'm always looking for ways to "go green." No pun intended! Great algae project!

http://www.instructables.com/id/An_Algae_Bioreactor_from_Recycled_Water_Bottles/

 Mikey D says:  Feb 2, 2009. 8:58 PM  REPLYI'm sorry to be skeptical but I do not think the end result is worth your investment. Maybe worthwile on a grand scale but how much was invested in this?

How long does a tank of CO2 last? - much of the CO2 pumped into your system bubbled out imediately into the atmosphere.

Why use pure CO2? - with this you are not removing any CO2 from the atmosphere.

Also...What was the carbon expenditure to compress that CO2 by the manufacturer? - If it was obtaind by gas liquification (As is much of the pure compressedgasses like O2) then you are in the + range of adding CO2 to the atmosphere.

What will you power your centrifuge with to spin out the oil. If you are using electricity fromt the grid ,you have again negated your negative carbon footprint.If you can rig a pedal powered centrifuge then you may have something.

Would it not be simpler to pump air into the system, again using a non grid powered pump? - bicycle powered air compressor, solar power etc...

What was the source of "all the nitrogen and nutrients " you added to the water? - where is the fertilizer come from? What did you do wtih the undoubtly stillhighly concentrated fertilized water? If it went down the drain (as I suppose it did from the proximity of your "french press" to the sink) then you are againdoing our planet a dis-service.

Please don't think I am flaming you. I am requesting that you (and everyone else coming up with these "green" inventions) mulitply all of the factors into theequation and not just the easy, convienent ones.

The time it would take to produce enough "alge oil" just to negate the carbon footprint from using the glue gun alone would be staggering. This does not eventake into account the PVC, ABS and vinal tubing involved.

Again Kudos to your trying to do the right thing, just remove a few of the negative factors and you will be onto something.

Mikey

 cfishy says:  Feb 2, 2009. 6:04 PM  REPLYso you just burn the dried green stuff? how much yield do you get? does it cover the cost of electricity for pumping CO2?

 moisture says:  Feb 2, 2009. 6:01 PM  REPLY"very similar to the one shown here, on my feet," hahah, cool stuff.

Unless they're trade secrets, hit us with some numbers: how much CO2 are you pumping in? how much algae and medium are added per bottle? And howmuch oil do you get from algae-crushing?

 I_am_Canadian says:  Feb 2, 2009. 5:25 PM  REPLYThis is incredible! I may try a small scale one if I can find time...

Thanks for sharing!