Algae Car

Car running on algae by producing hydrogen

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• algae
• renewable
• energy
• hydrogen
• car

[matattack2000]

Yes, that's true. I tried this quite a few times beforehand with no success because the gas wasn't pure enough. The H2 gas concentration changes over time through the experiment (about 5-7 days). We measure gas purity constantly with a GC and at one point during one of the experiments I was running I measured the concentration to reach about 95% so I tried again and it worked - then I got out the camera! It really depends on the fuel cell you use I guess but most are sensitive to contaminants.

[matattack2000]

Following from last comment - Generally with C. reinhardtii, the peak purity will reach between 85% - 92% I found but this can vary a lot of a whole variety of culture conditions and it's very hard to reproduce exactly each time. The peak purity comes at about 48 - 72 hours after sulphur deprivation (achieved by spinning and washing cells a few times in sulphur deplete media) in anaerobic conditions in the light. You'll have to look into other ways to purify the hydrogen.

[matattack2000]

Have a look at how industry performs the hydrogen purification. Molsieve columns, membranes etc. I'm not up to date with these procedures. It is a point though, from biological systems of hydrogen production there will be a need to purify the gas at a later point if using in fuel cells. I believe there are well established systems in place but they will likely only ever be feasible if working on a really large scale.

Matt

[mrnash75]

Can you tell what type of alge you are using please

[matattack2000]

Chlamydomonas reinhardtii is the best so far. We published some stuff recently searching for better Australian strains but didn't find any. Can read it by google searching "Phylogenetic and molecular analysis of hydrogen-producing green algae"

[melrobRTF]

@matattack2000 Hi awesome vid. What is that apparatus called you use to culture the algae in? the Erlenmeyer glass air tube combi?

[matattack2000]

Hi, it's just a typical lab style bottle that's been blown by the glass blower to have a few ports for sampling etc. The tubes are also just a basic design and made by the University of Queensland glass blowers. The have a thin tube on the inside for the gas to go up and this collects at the top and displaces water so that volume can be measured.

Cheers

[killmaster]

valcent is focused more on the oil side of algae, using algae to make hydrogen is a different process that requires different algae types and a special process the kinda "tricks" the algae to make hydrogen. rly it would be cool to see both processes funded.

[roidroid]

So, this happens when the algae is starved of oxygen correct? It produces Hydrogen gas.

It's very interesting.

Do you have a website, where is your lab? are you at CSIRO?

[Alacraneando]

@matattack2000 Hi, great video and congratulations for the results, but I have a question: I understand that the hydrogen gas that is introduced into the fuel cell of the car must have a certain purity level. How did you purified the hydrogen produced by C. reinhardtii? I ask you this because I have a project in which I'm trying to transform a bacteria (Rhizobium etli) in order to make it produce hydrogen, but I haven't found an easy way to purify it. Thanks.

Aarón UNAM-LCG Mexico iGEM team.

[Deltaglider777]

WERE DID YOU GET YOUR LAB COAT?!?!?

[HelenBakerInBenidorm]

I have designed a Bio-reactor that can produce Hydrogen cost effectively