840.119:Hydrogen Production by Chlamydomonas reinhardtii cells in Sulfur-deprived Environments

Hydrogen Production by Chlamydomonas reinhardtii cells in Sulfur-deprived Environments

Abstract or Project Description

Abstract

Many recent developments have been made in the research of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii for hydrogen production. The purpose of this webpage is to assist in understanding the recent developments coming from academic journals in this subject and help to clarify the idea of using a biological organism to produce hydrogen for energy use.

State of the Art

Many articles have been written about the ability to produce hydrogen from green algae and was known about for over 60 years [1]. The state of the research of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii is making the hydrogen production more efficient and less expensive.

Objectives

The main objective of the current research is lowering the cost of the hydrogen produced by the Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. These objectives have been outlined below:

1. Increasing the hydrogen production yeild per gram of organism.
2. The long recovery time between switching the Chlamydomonas reinhardtii from sulfur deprived to sulfur replete conditions.
3. Current expense of the reactor material.

Potential Impact

The potential impact of producing hydrogen by organism who utilize the sunlight to produce hydrogen is unmeasurable. If hydrogen is able to be made via the Chlamydomonas reinhardtii organism (or others) on an economically competitive level as fossil fuel or electrical hydrogen production then the world would use far less carbon based fuel for energy needs.

References

Tsygankov, A et al. "Hydrogen Production by Sulfur-deprived Chlamydomonas reinhardtii under Photoautotrophic Conditions." International Journal of Hydrogen Energy. 2006;31:1574-1584.