20.20(S10):Notebook/BEI/2010/04/11

Current Status

• Following tech spec review, we need to work out a final overall system:
  • The physical system which will influence our bio system design (flow through? closed tank?)
  • More details that need to be nailed down concretely:
    • Algae output
    • Bacteria decomposing metabolic pathway
    • Algae secretion
• We need to make sure that there are bacteria we need which we can use. This has priority over figuring out population control because if we don't need bacteria, no need for population control.
• Decide on exactly what is the need we are addressing / the issue with current systems or prior art

--Nancy Ouyang 02:32, 11 April 2010 (EDT)

• Things to look at:
• MIT Energy Research Council - Algae system transforms greenhouse emissions into green fuel

"For example, Berzin and his coworkers “tailor” algae to perform well at a specific power plant. They use a terrestrial cousin of a miniature bioreactor designed for the International Space Station. As algae grow inside the bioreactor, their environment is gradually shifted to conditions they will encounter at the plant. Within three months, the tailored algae are thriving on flue gases instead of air. No genetic engineering is involved. “We just use the natural tendency of algae to adapt to any environment,” said Berzin.

--Nancy Ouyang 02:32, 11 April 2010 (EDT)