Algae - Carbon Capture, Biofuel, etc.
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Xholon | |
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Title: Algae - Carbon Capture, Biofuel, etc. | |
Description: | |
Url: http://www.primordion.com/Xholon/gwt/ | |
InternalName: 13fb1be7346ebd423ede0719d2cf8bce | |
Keywords: | |
My Notes | |
-------- | |
3 August 2023 | |
### TODO | |
- do Xholon model of Brilliant Planet tech | |
References | |
----------- | |
(0) search: carbon capture algae | |
(1) https://newatlas.com/environment/brilliant-planet-algae-carbon-sequestration/ | |
Brilliant Planet plans cheap, gigaton-scale carbon capture using algae | |
By Loz Blain | |
April 26, 2022 | |
Direct air carbon capture is currently far too costly – but this London company says it can do it at enormous scale for a tenth the price, | |
using engineered algal blooms in ponds located near desert coastlines. | |
Oh, and it'll de-acidify the ocean, too. | |
(2) https://www.brilliantplanet.com/ | |
"carbon removal, with integrity" | |
Brilliant Planet uses algae to REMOVE CO2 from the atmosphere. | |
We produce algae and convert it into stable biomass. | |
We then bury that biomass, where it remains stable for thousands of years. | |
This removes CO₂ permanently from the atmosphere. | |
In the process we also deacidify vast amounts of seawater, strengthening the local coastal ecosystem. | |
() https://www.brilliantplanet.com/what-we-do | |
At Brilliant Planet, we're pioneering the future of climate solutions by harnessing the power of marine microalgae. | |
Our ground-breaking approach taps into these microscopic powerhouses to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, | |
confronting the urgent challenge of climate change. | |
But, how exactly does this work? | |
In this section, we'll take a deep dive into our innovative method, breaking down the steps involved in our process. | |
From nurturing microalgae to their role in carbon sequestration, | |
we'll guide you through our science-based approach to high-quality carbon removal. | |
- KSW: intriguing | |
- they have small plants in Morocco and Oman | |
() https://www.brilliantplanet.com/what-we-do/our-process | |
- has details | |
### CARBON FLOW (KSW: this is what I want to implement a model of) | |
Marine algae have the scale to make a meaningful difference: seasonal ocean blooms can transform thousands of square kilometres in a matter of days. | |
Beneficial coastal algal blooms feed almost all fisheries on our planet and already contribute 20% to photosynthesis-based global atmospheric CO2 reduction, | |
every year, more than all forests combined. | |
By replicating these beneficial blooms year-round, prime in hot coastal deserts, | |
they can significantly contribute to ‘new’ plant-based carbon fixation and storage without displacing existing agricultural land or ecosystem resources, | |
at the gigaton scale. | |
Similar to trees, when the algae grow, they use photosynthesis to convert CO2 into biomass, which is then stored locked in the biomass for millennial storage. | |
Our approach combines the affordability of nature-based systems with the durability and measurability of engineered systems. | |
By harnessing expansive deserts and unused seawater, we are given an extraordinary opportunity to draw down carbon from our atmosphere. | |
We use deep upwelled seawater that is pumped through a series of open, land-based ponds. | |
Each day the algae double in biomass and move forward into the next, larger, pond where new seawater is added. | |
At the end of the process, we then filter out the algae, to rapidly solar dry it and store them it underground at the same site. | |
Brilliant Planet cultivates locally sourced, wildtype, unmodified phytoplankton. | |
Our algae are isolated from the beach in front of each site. | |
Because the algae are local, they are resilient and readily accommodate natural environmental fluctuations, | |
local pathogens and the composition of the intake seawater. | |
Using wildtype strains allows us to cultivate the algae in open environments without posing a risk to the local environment. | |
### Step 1 - Lab | |
An algal starter monoculture is grown in the lab, which gives us the ability to control environmental conditions | |
and kick-start the ‘Bloom’ phase – a state in which they grow exponentially and divide more than once per day. | |
Beneficial coastal algae blooms are responsible for 20% of the global carbon cycle and in terms of productivity | |
makes them 10-50x more efficient at CO2 fixation than terrestrial plants per unit area. | |
### Step 2 - Greenhouse | |
After 10 days in the lab, the blooming algae are transferred into a greenhouse | |
This allows the organisms to acclimate to ambient desert conditions, so the cells can achieve maximum growth rate and density, | |
while still growing in a controlled environment. | |
### Step 3 - Outdoor ponds | |
After the greenhouse we move the organisms into outdoor ponds, where they spend the remaining five days growing rapidly in the large outdoor production ponds. | |
Due to the exponential growth, nearly 90% of the algae biomass is produced in these last 2 days. | |
### Step 4 - Harvesting | |
The last pond is filtered out of the water by letting it flow over special screens that let the water through but retain the algae, | |
forming a thick, algal slurry (think green smoothie) that is sent for drying. | |
The seawater returns to the shallow ocean surface, is de-acidified and ready to promote biodiversity restoration. | |
### Step 5 - Drying | |
We pump the biomass slurry produced at harvest up a drying tower, which sprays the mixture into the hot, dry desert air. | |
This is a new drying method, where we mist the algal slurry similar to a snow-blower at a ski resort creating a fine powder. | |
The particles rapidly dry as they float back to the ground. | |
### Step 6 - Storage | |
The dried algae is collected, weighed, and put into specially lined landfill sites located above future sea level projections and away from watersheds. | |
These locations are chosen to reduce the risk of water seeping in, and we use advanced tools to monitor the conditions inside these landfills. | |
We are also careful to monitor for the formation of any unexpected gases or emissions at all stages. | |
These biolandfills, are designed to slowly remove any leftover moisture from the algae and salt mixture, | |
and we keep a close watch on conditions like temperature, oxygen levels, and moisture inside. | |
Storing carbon in this way has several benefits: | |
1) the storage sites are co-located with our biomass production, so the transport of material is insignificant; | |
2) we follow well-established regulations set by the local authorities and US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to responsibly manage these landfill sites; | |
3) The biomass is available for straightforward physical verification, making it easy to demonstrate | |
that the carbon-rich biomass is durable and has not leaked or degraded. | |
### Step 7 - Seawater discharge | |
Half of the CO2 removed by system is taken directly from the atmosphere above the ponds. | |
The rest is taken from the bicarbonate in the seawater that is used in the ponds. | |
Our process does not change the seawater's alkalinity or chemistry. | |
When the seawater is released back to the ocean, it quickly restores its bicarbonate pool, removing the second half of the CO2 from the atmosphere. | |
85% of this rebalancing takes place with four days, and we confirm it through direct measurements and computer modelling. | |
Monitoring our carbon removal is easy: every 600kg of algae we bury represents one ton of CO2 removed from the atmosphere. | |
() https://www.brilliantplanet.com/what-we-do/faqs | |
(3) https://impactclimate.mit.edu/ | |
MIT Climate & Sustainability Consortium | |
A new kind of academia-industry collaboration | |
Working together to vastly accelerate the implementation of large-scale, real-world solutions, across sectors, | |
to help meet global climate and sustainability challenges. | |
Helping to lay the groundwork for one critical aspect of MIT’s continued and intensified commitment to climate: | |
helping large companies usher in, adapt to, and prosper in a decarbonized world. | |
- KSW: this is a multi-department effort aimed at getting industry memberships | |
- the technology content lives elsewhere; where ? | |
(4) https://impactclimate.mit.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/AlgalBiofuelCCS_AryaSasne.pdf _ | |
Recommendations for the Advancement of Combined Algal Biofuel and Carbon Capture Technology | |
Arya Sasne | |
MCSC UROP | |
- KSW: has some good references | |
(5) https://impactclimate.mit.edu/2023/07/12/video-building-a-network-to-develop-scalable-solutions-in-carbon-capture-storage/ | |
Video: Building a Network to Develop Scalable Solutions in Carbon Capture & Storage | |
July 12, 2023, Glen Junor | |
The MCSC’s work in its carbon capture & storage focus area has brought together, and leveraged, a vast network of MIT faculty and researchers. | |
These faculty members and their teams are collaborating with MCSC member companies that are eager to help scale promising lab breakthroughs. | |
Hear more from Glen Junor, whose leadership propelled this work forward, and view the work of the many people involved. | |
Video by In Short Media. | |
Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Sequestration (CCUS) | |
- | |
- at 1:18. it shows the Arya Sasne paper | |
(6) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microalgae | |
(7) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diatom | |
(8) https://www.usv.com/companies/ | |
Brilliant Planet, Series A, 2022 | |
Brilliant Planet is unlocking the power of algae as an affordable method of permanently and quantifiably sequestering carbon at the gigaton scale. | |
Read the Post | |
Union Square Ventures | |
817 Broadway, 14th Floor | |
New York, NY 10003 | |
() https://www.usv.com/writing/2022/04/brilliant-planet/ | |
Of the world’s 2,000 largest public companies, at least 21% now have net-zero commitments. | |
For most of these companies, even with significant emissions reduction, carbon offsetting will be essential to achieving their goals. | |
In fact, all of the 1.5c IPCC scenarios feature annual carbon removal at the gigaton level — somewhere between 8 to 13 gigatons per year. | |
If removing 8-13 gigatons annually was not challenging enough, the varying quality of carbon removal options makes it even harder. | |
Most of today’s carbon removal solutions, whether nature-based or technological, | |
have drawbacks and trade-offs related to measurement, additionality, price, and permanence. | |
In our view, responsible companies will seek more high-quality carbon removal technologies | |
that are additional, durable, scalable, verifiable, and socially beneficial. | |
This is exactly what Brilliant Planet offers. | |
Brilliant Planet has developed a unique microalgae production process that can sequester CO2 at a fraction of the cost of comparable systems. | |
(9) https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/jctb.6714?saml_referrer | |
Advances in the biological fixation of carbon dioxide by microalgae | |
Shuping Zhang, Zhenrong Liu | |
First published: 01 March 2021 | |
https://doi.org/10.1002/jctb.6714 | |
Citations: 26 | |
- includes a list of 160 references | |
Abstract | |
Global warming caused by carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions is one of the most important topics of concern in the fields of science, environment and global economy. | |
Carbon dioxide emissions have increased dramatically in recent years, and this trend is likely to continue with a projected increase | |
of both global energy consumption and CO2 emissions by 51% in 2050 compared with 2005. | |
To mitigate the negative impacts arising, a potential strategy to convert CO2 into renewable fuels or valuable chemicals can be applied. | |
Bio-CO2 emission reduction is receiving more and more attention as an environmentally friendly method. | |
Microalgae are attracting worldwide attention in this regard owing to their exceptional speed of growth, resistance to harsh environments and low production costs. | |
In this review, the biochemical principles of microalgae-CO2 fixation and the research progress of microalgae strains used for CO2 fixation are reviewed and discussed. | |
The latest progress in the co-development of a microalgae carbon sequestration industry and other industries are provided, | |
along with a survey of the progress in methods to improve microalgae-CO2 fixation. | |
Finally, the problems to be solved in the industry and its future directions of development are clarified. | |
© 2021 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI). | |
(10) https://www.primordion.com/Xholon/gwt/wb/editwb.html?app=2d578dcfa5ee459d9b52&src=gist | |
Biomass energy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) | |
- this is a previous Xholon workbook with a small amount of information (4 references), but no model | |
(11) https://parametric.press/issue-02/algae/ | |
October 19, 2020 | |
Tiny Algae and the Political Theater of Planting One Trillion Trees | |
To fight climate change, it’s time to start thinking big by thinking small. | |
Created by Benjamin Cooley | |
- this is a long and informative article | |
() https://github.com/ParametricPress/02-algae | |
generated from ParametricPress/issue-02-article-template | |
Javascript, npm | |
(12) https://www.intechopen.com/books/6889 | |
Algae | |
Editor, Yee Keung Wong, The Open University of Hong Kong | |
(13) https://www.intechopen.com/chapters/65952#B2 | |
Algae chapter | |
CO2 Capture for Industries by Algae | |
Written By Vetrivel Anguselvi, Reginald Ebhin Masto, Ashis Mukherjee and Pradeep Kumar Singh | |
Submitted: April 23rd, 2018 Reviewed: October 2nd, 2018 Published: May 29th, 2019 | |
(14) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chlorella_vulgaris | |
- the most studied? / best known? species of the genus Chlorella | |
Chlorella vulgaris is a species of green microalga in the division Chlorophyta. | |
It is mainly used as a dietary supplement or protein-rich food additive in Japan. | |
Description | |
C. vulgaris is a green eukaryotic microalga in the genus Chlorella, which has been present on earth since the Precambrian period. | |
This unicellular alga was discovered in 1890 by Martinus Willem Beijerinck as the first microalga with a well-defined nucleus. | |
At the beginning of the 1990s, German scientists noticed the high protein content of C. vulgaris and began to consider it as a new food source. | |
Japan is currently the largest consumer of Chlorella,[3][5] both for nutritional and therapeutic purposes. | |
(15) https://hal.science/hal-02064882/file/Safi_23269.pdf | |
Carl Safi, Bachar Zebib, Othmane Merah, Pierre-Yves Pontalier, Carlos Vaca-Garcia. | |
Morphology, composition, production, processing and applications of Chlorella vulgaris: A review. | |
Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 2014, 35, pp.265-278. | |
Economic and technical problems related to the reduction of petroleum resources require the | |
valorisation of renewable raw material. Recently, microalgae emerged as promising alternative feedstock | |
that represents an enormous biodiversity with multiple benefits exceeding the potential of conventional | |
agricultural feedstock. Thus, this comprehensive review article spots the light on one of the most | |
interesting microalga Chlorella vulgaris. It assembles the history and a thorough description of its | |
ultrastructure and composition a ccording to growth conditions.The harvesting techniques are presented | |
in relation to the nove! algo-refinery concept, with their technological advancements and potential | |
applications in the market. | |
Fig. 1. Schematic ultrastructure of C. vulgaris representing different organelles | |
(16) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photosynthesis | |
- a long article on Photosynthesis | |
Today, the average rate of energy capture by photosynthesis globally is approximately 130 terawatts, | |
which is about eight times the current power consumption of human civilization. | |
(17) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artificial_photosynthesis | |
Artificial photosynthesis is a chemical process that biomimics the natural process of photosynthesis | |
to convert sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide into carbohydrates and oxygen. | |
The term artificial photosynthesis is commonly used to refer to any scheme for capturing and storing | |
the energy from sunlight in the chemical bonds of a fuel (a solar fuel). | |
Photocatalytic water splitting converts water into hydrogen and oxygen and is a major research topic of artificial photosynthesis. | |
Light-driven carbon dioxide reduction is another process studied that replicates natural carbon fixation. | |
(18) The World of the Cell. Becker, Reece, Poenie. third edition | |
this is a book that I own | |
]]></Notes> | |
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