Photosynthesis + Algae = Hydrogen Fuel

Photosynthesis is the process from which plants generate energy and food in the presence of sunlight. But, now a combination of researchers at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and Oak Ridge National Laboratory, has discovered that it is possible to produce Hydrogen fuel by isolating inner steps of this process ( Hydrogen fuel is considered as a clean and sustainable alternative fuel )

In order to conduct this within the laboratory they have used an algae identified as thermophilic blue-green algae. This algae was first coupled with Platinum catalyst and then exposed to sunlight in order to obtain a steady supply of hydrogen out from the photosynthesis process.

A major benefit of Bruce’s method is that it cuts out two key middlemen in the process of using plants’ solar conversion abilities. The first middle man is the time required for a plant to capture solar energy, grow and reproduce, then die and eventually become fossil fuel. The second middle man is energy, in this case the substantial amount of energy required to cultivate, harvest and process plant material into biofuel. Bypassing these two options and directly using the plant or algae’s built-in solar system to create clean fuel can be a major step forward.

Other scientists have studied the possibility of using photosynthesis as a hydrogen source, but have not yet found a way to make the reaction occur efficiently at the high temperatures that would exist in a large system designed to harness sunlight.

Bruce and his colleagues found that by starting with a thermophilic blue-green algae, which favors warmer temperatures, they could sustain the reaction at temperatures as high as 55 degrees C, or 131 degrees F. That is roughly the temperature in arid deserts with high solar irradiation, where the process would be most productive. They also found the process was more than 10 times more efficient as the temperature increased.

Finally, this is our conclusion;

The advantages of producing hydrogen fuel from blue-green algae

1. It is possible to sustain this reaction in high temperatures
2. Speed of the process increases when the temperature increases
3. Capability to produce hydrogen fuel from a hydrocarbon source
4. Has a potential to create larger quantities of fuel consuming much less energy

via: Eureka alert (UT Knoxville and ORNL researchers turn algae into high-temperature hydrogen source)

source: University of Knoxville