BEI — Biological — Engineering — Institute — Clean Biofuels and Energy Independence a presentation by + nancy ouyang + grant robinson for 20.020 (Introduction

BEI — Biological — Engineering — Institute —

Clean Biofuels and Energy Independence

a presentation by

+ nancy ouyang+ grant robinson

for20.020

(Introduction to Biological Engineering Design)

Three Ideas Presentation: Spring 2010

1. Algae2. Microbes 3. Q BacteriaBEI20.020 -- 3 Ideas

Importance

Knowns

Ideas &Impacts

Competition& Unknowns

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


Importance

Knowns

Ideas &Impacts


Economic Productivity Carbon Neutrality "Limitless" Energy Energy Independence Catastrophe Aversion Improved

Understanding of Biology

Benefits of Biological Energy


Importance

Knowns

Ideas &Impacts


Synthetic Algae Fuel

Microbe Modification Q Pathway Isolation


Importance

Knowns

Ideas &Impacts


Synthetic Algae Fuel


Importance

Knowns

Ideas &Impacts


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.


Importance

Knowns

Ideas &Impacts


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


Importance

Knowns

Ideas &Impacts


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.


Importance

Knowns

Ideas &Impacts



Importance

Knowns

Ideas &Impacts


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)


Importance

Knowns

Ideas &Impacts


Possibilities Genetically engineer bacteria to produce:

Hydrocarbons (Fuel) Hydrogen Methane (Biogas)


Importance

Knowns

Ideas &Impacts


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


Importance

Knowns

Ideas &Impacts


Unknowns Allow competing

bacteria to thrive?

Require carefully controlled (i.e. expensive) bioreactors?

Competitions

Existing infrastructure for biogas

Chemical synthesis


Importance

Knowns

Ideas &Impacts



Importance

Knowns

Ideas &Impacts


Background

Found in Massachusetts (Quabbin Lake)

Capable of Sugar -> Ethanol Digestion

Revolutionizing Biomass Fuel


Importance

Knowns

Ideas &Impacts


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


Importance

Knowns

Ideas &Impacts


Competition No competitors per se Competitors of biofuel

Unknowns Which enzymes? Which genes? Patented genes? Issues with

expression


Importance

Knowns

Ideas &Impacts


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

Documents

BEI — Biological — Engineering — Institute — Clean Biofuels and Energy Independence a presentation by + nancy ouyang + grant robinson for 20.020 (Introduction