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An Algae Bioreactor from Recycled Water Bottles
by 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 Bottles
In 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 the
form 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 many
experiments 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 its
production. The resulting product is a sustainable biofuel whose carbon footprint is neutral inasmuch as the CO2 produced on consumption is essentially balanced by the
CO2 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 bottles
with 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 System
To 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 the
threads 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 long
PVC pipe.
step 2:Attach Tubing to Manifold
For 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 the
rate 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 System
Mount 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 Bottles
Hot glue the water bottles to the metal rack.
http://www.instructables.com/id/An_Algae_Bioreactor_from_Recycled_Water_Bottles/
step 5:Make Algae Media
We 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 that
the algae need.
http://www.instructables.com/id/An_Algae_Bioreactor_from_Recycled_Water_Bottles/
step 6:Media Inoculation
A 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 a
fixed 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 Harvesting
After 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 dried
algae 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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Comments
6 comments Add Comment
gmjhowe says: Feb 3, 2009. 12:57 AM REPLY
Great work! Keep it up, and good luck in the contest.
PondPlantGirl says: Feb 2, 2009. 11:00 PM REPLY
I'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 REPLY
I'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 compressed
gasses 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 still
highly 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 again
doing 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 the
equation 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 even
take 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 REPLY
so 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 how
much oil do you get from algae-crushing?
I_am_Canadian says: Feb 2, 2009. 5:25 PM REPLY
This is incredible! I may try a small scale one if I can find time...
Thanks for sharing!