Comments on: Macroalgal Culture http://sustainablebiotech.wordpress.com/2008/06/26/marcoalgal-culture/ Exploring the role of biotechnology in creating a sustainable future. Thu, 05 Nov 2009 06:42:29 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: benjaminjayp http://sustainablebiotech.wordpress.com/2008/06/26/marcoalgal-culture/#comment-33 benjaminjayp Thu, 17 Jul 2008 15:27:40 +0000 http://sustainablebiotech.wordpress.com/?p=23#comment-33 e.m. Smith, your arguments are not logic based, and you did not read the post carefully enough. What was supposed to be understood is that microalgal culture in the open ocean would be likely to have ecological impact due to the challenge of containing microalgae, and no real possibility of genetic modification. READ THE POST e.m. Smith, your arguments are not logic based, and you did not read the post carefully enough. What was supposed to be understood is that microalgal culture in the open ocean would be likely to have ecological impact due to the challenge of containing microalgae, and no real possibility of genetic modification. READ THE POST

]]> By: e.m.smith http://sustainablebiotech.wordpress.com/2008/06/26/marcoalgal-culture/#comment-32 e.m.smith Thu, 17 Jul 2008 08:35:57 +0000 http://sustainablebiotech.wordpress.com/?p=23#comment-32 Ecological issues detract from land based algae? Um, a square about 100 miles on a side would supply all the oil the U.S.A. needs. That would vanish into a small part of west Texas (and some of West Texas really is wasteland...). Think about the ecological improvement in the world if the U.S. did NO drilling in the Gulf of Mexico, indulged in NO wars to protect OPEC oil, had NO tankers plying the oceans spilling oil, had NO drilling in Alaska, etc. I don't care what impact the algae farm had, it would still be nothing in comparison to what we have now! Ecological issues detract from land based algae? Um, a square about 100 miles on a side would supply all the oil the U.S.A. needs. That would vanish into a small part of west Texas (and some of West Texas really is wasteland…). Think about the ecological improvement in the world if the U.S. did NO drilling in the Gulf of Mexico, indulged in NO wars to protect OPEC oil, had NO tankers plying the oceans spilling oil, had NO drilling in Alaska, etc. I don’t care what impact the algae farm had, it would still be nothing in comparison to what we have now!

]]> By: A. Cherson http://sustainablebiotech.wordpress.com/2008/06/26/marcoalgal-culture/#comment-24 A. Cherson Tue, 08 Jul 2008 23:33:12 +0000 http://sustainablebiotech.wordpress.com/?p=23#comment-24 I too think this is cool though I'm not yet sold on the idea of ocean based rather than vertical, land based cultivation. Looking at things from the DfE, cradle to cradle, and reduced human footprint angle there are some epic pros to a land based, hydroponic system: 1) management is easier to get to, 2) probably easier to maximize light exposure, 3) takes up less horizontal square footage (if we're thinking of massive scale production), 4) better control of nutrients and wastes, if any, 5) easier to integrate into CO2, sewage waste cycling, desalination brine, and other potential enhancers 6) shorter distance to inland end point industries and consumers. As you say, the nut is going to be species, optimization, etc. There are several pilot ventures working towards terrestrial cultivation as well so keep your ears perked. I too think this is cool though I’m not yet sold on the idea of ocean based rather than vertical, land based cultivation. Looking at things from the DfE, cradle to cradle, and reduced human footprint angle there are some epic pros to a land based, hydroponic system: 1) management is easier to get to, 2) probably easier to maximize light exposure, 3) takes up less horizontal square footage (if we’re thinking of massive scale production), 4) better control of nutrients and wastes, if any, 5) easier to integrate into CO2, sewage waste cycling, desalination brine, and other potential enhancers 6) shorter distance to inland end point industries and consumers. As you say, the nut is going to be species, optimization, etc. There are several pilot ventures working towards terrestrial cultivation as well so keep your ears perked.

]]> By: rankrank3000 http://sustainablebiotech.wordpress.com/2008/06/26/marcoalgal-culture/#comment-23 rankrank3000 Tue, 08 Jul 2008 04:14:36 +0000 http://sustainablebiotech.wordpress.com/?p=23#comment-23 I was really hoping the NSF grant had literature resources on it. But alas, only an abstract. I was really hoping the NSF grant had literature resources on it. But alas, only an abstract.

]]> By: benjaminjayp http://sustainablebiotech.wordpress.com/2008/06/26/marcoalgal-culture/#comment-21 benjaminjayp Mon, 07 Jul 2008 17:58:13 +0000 http://sustainablebiotech.wordpress.com/?p=23#comment-21 Hi, Here is the NSF grant award for Dr. Pei's research: http://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward.do?AwardNumber=0836610 Hi,

Here is the NSF grant award for Dr. Pei’s research:

http://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward.do?AwardNumber=0836610

]]> By: Robert Rankin http://sustainablebiotech.wordpress.com/2008/06/26/marcoalgal-culture/#comment-15 Robert Rankin Sun, 29 Jun 2008 00:15:01 +0000 http://sustainablebiotech.wordpress.com/?p=23#comment-15 Hey everyone, Check out the Assignee of the truss patent: The Electric Power Research Institute Inc. http://my.epri.com/portal/server.pt? Seems like they are doing some cool work. Robert Hey everyone,

Check out the Assignee of the truss patent:
The Electric Power Research Institute Inc.

http://my.epri.com/portal/server.pt?

Seems like they are doing some cool work.

Robert

]]> By: benjaminjayp http://sustainablebiotech.wordpress.com/2008/06/26/marcoalgal-culture/#comment-12 benjaminjayp Fri, 27 Jun 2008 21:16:30 +0000 http://sustainablebiotech.wordpress.com/?p=23#comment-12 Okay, so maybe its strange to reply to you own blog, but I got some new information for this... http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/542130/ Z.J. Pei from Kansas state is currently studying this macroalgal topic and is conducting species optimization. His idea is to select a species which will attach to floating carriers in the open ocean, as well as have oil content. He is an engineer, so selecting the right material for attachment is also important to him. "Selected algae species will be grown on solid carriers in a simulated ocean environment and will be evaluated for their ability to attach to solid carriers and grow in seawater, their biomass productivity, and their oil content," Pei said. "Top-ranked species in step one will be selected to test the performance of several carrier materials, including natural organic, synthetic organic and inorganic materials, with the same evaluation parameters as in step one." Okay, so maybe its strange to reply to you own blog, but I got some new information for this…

http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/542130/

Z.J. Pei from Kansas state is currently studying this macroalgal topic and is conducting species optimization. His idea is to select a species which will attach to floating carriers in the open ocean, as well as have oil content. He is an engineer, so selecting the right material for attachment is also important to him.

“Selected algae species will be grown on solid carriers in a simulated ocean environment and will be evaluated for their ability to attach to solid carriers and grow in seawater, their biomass productivity, and their oil content,” Pei said. “Top-ranked species in step one will be selected to test the performance of several carrier materials, including natural organic, synthetic organic and inorganic materials, with the same evaluation parameters as in step one.”

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