Blue-Green Algae Hydrogen Production, an Evaluation of a New Source of Energy

1. Blue-Green Algae Hydrogen Production, an Evaluation of a New Source of Energy Rodriguez-Gallegos Hugo B. Filamentous, Blue green algae 

2. Introduction • The scarceness of fossil based fuels and the environmental impact produced by the conventional sources of energy over the planet, as led new work research to seek new sustainable sources of energy. • New sources of energy should be evaluated and developed in terms of efficiency, affordability, and safety.

3. Hydrogen as source of energy • Hydrogen as new energy source appears to be efficient in comparison to other closer compounds such as acetylene were its energy production is 11,800 Joules/gr C2H2 against 24,000 Joules/gr H2 (Robert, Zweig, 1982). • Hydrogen is one of the most efficient and clean desired energy sources (Robert, Zweig, 1982). • Hydrogen is found as one of the most abundant compounds that human could use as source of energy, which provide a longer sustainable source of resources than fossils fuel derived.

4. Blue Green Algae as Source of Energy A few candidates systems have been studied using bio-systems. • Hydrogenase- mediated H2 production by green algae, • Nitrogenase-catalyzed photo-production of H2 by blue-green algae, • Combined systems of algae and bacteria and • Artificial reconstituted systems of photosynthesis components, ferredoxin and hydrogenase (Miura et al., 1979).

5. Process in Natural Conditions (Philip S. 1998)

6. Nitrogen Starving Conditions (Miura et al., 1979)

7. Limitations • In comparison with other systems this type of hydrogen source still needs to minimize costs. Cost of light from electricity sources could be replaced by solar energy (Miura et al., 1979). • Dawar S. (1998) developed a bioreactor using Nostoc spp. to increase not only hydrogen production but also electricity generation. Dawar S. used enrichment techniques to increase the bio fuel production and allow the commercialization of the bioreactor. • (As electricity source)Low cost fuel cell with hight efficiency of current out put is needed to achieve a profitable source of hydrogen using algae (Dawar S. et al., 1998).

8. More Research Needed • The actual most benefic method to produce hydrogen appears to be the uses of photovoltaic electrolysis, photo-biosynthesis, and proteolysis techniques where the sun plays a major role this according to Robert and Zweig, (1982). • It seem that further research could focusing on the nitrogenase enzyme functions and sugars such as glycogen and glucose as production booster (Yagishita et al. 1996, and Dawar et al. 1998) have shown.