Difference between revisions of "Algae"

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[[Image:alga_and_bubbles.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Algae in algaculture with bubbles of oxygen]]
 
[[Image:alga_and_bubbles.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Algae in algaculture with bubbles of oxygen]]
 
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[[File:Food dome group.jpg|thumb|500x500px|A conceptual aerated tank farm of the surface of Mars.  The thermal inertia of water should prevent the tanks from freezing, and the use of infrared reflective membranes and multiwalled tanks could allow the heat to build up to useful temperatures.  Very hypothetical.  ]]
 
'''Algae''' are a diverse group of organisms, ranging from ten meter long kelp to [[microbes|unicellular]] dinoflagellate. These organisms are a vital link in many food chains on [[Earth]]. The farming of algae is called [[algaculture]].
 
'''Algae''' are a diverse group of organisms, ranging from ten meter long kelp to [[microbes|unicellular]] dinoflagellate. These organisms are a vital link in many food chains on [[Earth]]. The farming of algae is called [[algaculture]].
  
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===Open Pools===
 
===Open Pools===
Open pools are similar to the natural environment of many species of algae.  
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Open pools are similar to the natural environment of many species of algae.  
  
 
===Aerated Tanks===
 
===Aerated Tanks===
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==Uses of Algae==
 
==Uses of Algae==
  
===[[Food]]===
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===Food===
Algae are an excellent source of [[vitamins]], [[oil|oils]], [[fatty acids]], and [[minerals and trace elements in food|minerals]], and are eaten in many parts of the world. They can be grown in tanks filled with waste water, and aerated with CO<small>2</small> from the martian [[atmosphere]]. A welcome side effect is the release of free [[oxygen]].
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Algae are an excellent source of [[vitamins]], [[oil|oils]], [[fatty acids]], and [[minerals and trace elements in food|minerals]], and are [[food|eaten]] in many parts of the world. They can be grown in tanks filled with waste water, and aerated with CO<small>2</small> from the martian [[atmosphere]]. A welcome side effect is the release of free [[oxygen]].
  
===[[Fertilizer]]===
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===Fertilizer===
Algae is currently used on Earth as a fertilizer.
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Algae is currently used on Earth as a [[fertilizer]].
  
 
===Waste Water Treatment===
 
===Waste Water Treatment===
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Certain species of algae can be grown to produce [[hydrogen]] and [[hydrocarbon synthesis|hydrocarbons]].
 
Certain species of algae can be grown to produce [[hydrogen]] and [[hydrocarbon synthesis|hydrocarbons]].
  
==Open Issues==
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===Emergency Light===
*What is known about the efficiency factor of energy transformation from light energy to chemical energy? We need a [[food#Nutrition and Energy Calculations|calculation]] and a comparison with other food crop.
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Special algae produce light.<ref>[http://www.wikihow.com/Grow-Bioluminescent-Algae-at-Home How to Grow Bioluminescent Algae at Home]</ref> If placed in a sun-lit room, it produces oxygen and proteins during the day. At night it consumes part of the previously produced substances and gives a little light for the settlers, not for other plants to grow. I can imagine those lamps can be useful as an emergency illumination, or may be, if regularly carried towards the living quarters in the evening, as an alternative lighting technology for the living quarters.
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===CO2 eating algae===
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All algae feed off CO2 as well as sunlight to produce hydrocarbons for their structure and to store energy in oils, fats and sugars.<ref>[http://www.geek.com/news/biochemist-creates-co2-eating-light-that-runs-on-algae-1487699/ Biochemist creates CO2-eating light that runs on algae]</ref> Oxygen is a byproduct of photosynthesis. CO2 production can continue the dark and can help to clean the air in the Martian settlement.
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==Production==
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In the right climate on Earth, algae farms can produce 100 tonnes per hectare of biomass. <ref>http://franke.uchicago.edu/bigproblems/Team1-1209.pdf</ref> This compares to about 80 tonnes per hectare for tomatoes in greenhouses, and about 3-10 tonnes per hectare for many crops such as rice, corn and wheat.  As Mars gets roughly half the sunlight Earth does, a production rate of 50 tonnes per hectare might eventually be possible.  The energy conversion rate of photosynthesis driving this production is about 3-4%.<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photosynthetic_efficiency</ref>  The plant uses most of this energy to build itself and support its internal processes, so the yield of oil producing algae might be about 0,3 to 1%.  the average yield of crops is about 2% by mass and 1% of edible components.  Some types of algae produce about 40% oil by mass.
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A large support infrastructure to produce the necessary fertilizers, clean the water, control the plants genetics, gather the algae and control the environment would be required.
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==References==
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<references />
  
 
[[category:biospherics]]
 
[[category:biospherics]]
[[category:agriculture]]
 

Latest revision as of 09:36, 17 May 2019

Algae in algaculture with bubbles of oxygen
A conceptual aerated tank farm of the surface of Mars. The thermal inertia of water should prevent the tanks from freezing, and the use of infrared reflective membranes and multiwalled tanks could allow the heat to build up to useful temperatures. Very hypothetical.

Algae are a diverse group of organisms, ranging from ten meter long kelp to unicellular dinoflagellate. These organisms are a vital link in many food chains on Earth. The farming of algae is called algaculture.

Cultivation of Algae

Open Pools

Open pools are similar to the natural environment of many species of algae.

Aerated Tanks

Aerated tanks provide a controllable environment which can be tuned to the exact conditions needed by the target species.

Uses of Algae

Food

Algae are an excellent source of vitamins, oils, fatty acids, and minerals, and are eaten in many parts of the world. They can be grown in tanks filled with waste water, and aerated with CO2 from the martian atmosphere. A welcome side effect is the release of free oxygen.

Fertilizer

Algae is currently used on Earth as a fertilizer.

Waste Water Treatment

Algae digest excess organic molecules and CO2.

Chemosynthesis

Certain species of algae can be grown to produce hydrogen and hydrocarbons.

Emergency Light

Special algae produce light.[1] If placed in a sun-lit room, it produces oxygen and proteins during the day. At night it consumes part of the previously produced substances and gives a little light for the settlers, not for other plants to grow. I can imagine those lamps can be useful as an emergency illumination, or may be, if regularly carried towards the living quarters in the evening, as an alternative lighting technology for the living quarters.

CO2 eating algae

All algae feed off CO2 as well as sunlight to produce hydrocarbons for their structure and to store energy in oils, fats and sugars.[2] Oxygen is a byproduct of photosynthesis. CO2 production can continue the dark and can help to clean the air in the Martian settlement.

Production

In the right climate on Earth, algae farms can produce 100 tonnes per hectare of biomass. [3] This compares to about 80 tonnes per hectare for tomatoes in greenhouses, and about 3-10 tonnes per hectare for many crops such as rice, corn and wheat. As Mars gets roughly half the sunlight Earth does, a production rate of 50 tonnes per hectare might eventually be possible. The energy conversion rate of photosynthesis driving this production is about 3-4%.[4] The plant uses most of this energy to build itself and support its internal processes, so the yield of oil producing algae might be about 0,3 to 1%. the average yield of crops is about 2% by mass and 1% of edible components. Some types of algae produce about 40% oil by mass.

A large support infrastructure to produce the necessary fertilizers, clean the water, control the plants genetics, gather the algae and control the environment would be required.

References