Clean fuel from bioconversion of solar energy
Investigating the use of unicellular algae to produce glycolic acid for subsequent conversion to methane by anaerobic digestion, SRC (1) evaluated a defined medium that supports rapid autotrophic algae growth, (2) estimated the glycolic acid production rates of four genera of algae, choosing Chlorella pyrenoidosa and Chlamydomonas reinhardtii for further study, (3) determined the effects of temperature, pH, light source and intensity, and atmospheric CO/sub 2/ concentration on glycolic acid excretion of C. pyrenoidosa, (4) demonstrated the influence of varing CO/sub 2/ concentrations on the growth and glycolic acid production of C. pyrenoidosa and C. reinhardtii, (5) developed a procedure for separating and quantitating gylcolic acid in a culture medium, and (6) introduced a method of screening and isolating mutants of C. reinhardtii that produce more glycolic acid. Test results recommend further study of isolated mutants of C. reinhardtii in order to optimize the physiological conditions that would result in high levels of glycolic acid, and also exploration of the abiotic formation of formaldehyde from glycolic acid as another route to a usable fuel.
- Research Organization:
- Syracuse Research Corp., NY (USA)
- OSTI ID:
- 6408893
- Report Number(s):
- PB-83-136226
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
090122* -- Hydrocarbon Fuels-- Preparation from Wastes or Biomass-- (1976-1989)
140504 -- Solar Energy Conversion-- Biomass Production & Conversion-- (-1989)
ALGAE
ALKANES
ANAEROBIC DIGESTION
BIOCONVERSION
BIOMASS
BIOSYNTHESIS
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
DIGESTION
ENERGY
ENERGY SOURCES
FLUIDS
FUEL GAS
FUELS
GAS FUELS
GASES
GLYCOLIC ACID
HYDROCARBONS
HYDROXY ACIDS
MANAGEMENT
METHANE
MONOCARBOXYLIC ACIDS
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PLANTS
PROCESSING
PRODUCTION
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
SOLAR ENERGY
SYNTHESIS
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTE PROCESSING