BEI
— Biological — Engineering — Institute —
Clean Biofuels and Energy Independence
a presentation by
+ nancy ouyang
+ grant robinson
for
20.020
(Introduction to Biological Engineering Design)
Three Ideas Presentation: Spring 2010
BEI
1. Algae 2. Microbes 3. Q Bacteria
20.020 -- 3 Ideas
Importance
The Twenty-First Century Challenge
Knowns
Ideas &
Impacts
Competition
& Unknowns

Fossil Fuel Disaster
 Peak Oil


Global Warming
Looming Energy Crisis
 Economic Depression

Political Conflicts
BEI
20.020 -- 3 Ideas
1. Algae 2. Microbes 3. Q Bacteria
Importance
Benefits of Biological Energy
Knowns
Ideas &
Impacts

Competition
& Unknowns





Economic
Productivity
Carbon Neutrality
"Limitless" Energy
Energy
Independence
Catastrophe
Aversion
Improved
BEI
20.020 -- 3 Ideas
Importance
1. Algae 2. Microbes 3. Q Bacteria
Synthetic Algae Fuel
Knowns
Ideas &
Impacts
Competition
& Unknowns
Microbe Modification
Q Pathway Isolation
BEI
20.020 -- 3 Ideas
1. Algae 2. Microbes 3. Q Bacteria
Importance
Knowns
Ideas &
Impacts
Competition
& Unknowns
Synthetic Algae Fuel
BEI
20.020 -- 3 Ideas
1. Algae 2. Microbes 3. Q Bacteria
Importance
Benefits
Knowns

Ideas &
Impacts
Potential to be an incredible fuel.

Competition
& Unknowns



30 times the oil content of plants
like soybeans.
Material for ethanol/butanol
production.
Grow about 20 to 30 times faster
than plants.
Produced one of two ways.



Open ponds and closed
photobioreactors.
Open means cheaper and easier
to scale up.
Closed means more controllable
BEI
20.020 -- 3 Ideas
1. Algae 2. Microbes 3. Q Bacteria
Importance
Possibilities
Knowns

Ideas &
Impacts
One: Contamination
Safeguard

Competition
& Unknowns

Two: Photosynthetic Efficiency


Genetic reduction of
antenna chlorophyll
concentration to maximize
productivity
Three: Algal Recovery


Transgenic resistance to
lowered pH or waste water
conditions
Flotation and filaments for
speedy recovery
Four: Oil Production

Modification of algae to
BEI
20.020 -- 3 Ideas
1. Algae 2. Microbes 3. Q Bacteria
Importance
Knowns

Ideas &
Impacts
Competition
Dozens of biofuel
companies.
 Ethanol: corn and
sugar cane.
 Oil: fossil fuels and
digestion.
 Solar and wind
platforms.

Competition
& Unknowns

Unknowns
BEI
20.020 -- 3 Ideas
Importance
Knowns
Ideas &
Impacts
Competition
& Unknowns
1. Algae 2. Microbes 3. Q Bacteria
BEI
20.020 -- 3 Ideas
1. Algae 2. Microbes 3. Q Bacteria
Importance
Already possible...
Knowns
Ideas &
Impacts

Competition
& Unknowns
Anaerobic
fermentation to
produce Biogas
Economically feasible
even with unmodified
bacteria
 High-efficiency,
require complicated
processes
Acidogenic bacteria that
convert ferment and
produce H2


BEI
20.020 -- 3 Ideas
1. Algae 2. Microbes 3. Q Bacteria
Importance
Possibilities
Knowns

Ideas &
Impacts
Competition
& Unknowns
Genetically engineer bacteria to produce:

Hydrocarbons (Fuel)

Hydrogen

Methane (Biogas)
BEI
20.020 -- 3 Ideas
1. Algae 2. Microbes 3. Q Bacteria
Importance
Specifically
Knowns

Ideas &
Impacts
Competition
& Unknowns
Genetically engineer
bacteria


Increase rate of
production
Biogas:
Cold-resistant bacteria
 Produce less CO2
(purer biogas / CH4)
 More tolerant of
different kinds of inputs
 Reduce water
requirement
Hydrogen:



Increase yields
BEI
20.020 -- 3 Ideas
1. Algae 2. Microbes 3. Q Bacteria
Importance
Knowns

Ideas &
Impacts
Unknowns

Competition
& Unknowns


Allow competing
bacteria to thrive?
Require carefully
controlled (i.e.
expensive)
bioreactors?
Competitions


Existing
infrastructure for
biogas
Chemical synthesis
BEI
20.020 -- 3 Ideas
Importance
Knowns
Ideas &
Impacts
Competition
& Unknowns
1. Algae 2. Microbes 3. Q Bacteria
BEI
20.020 -- 3 Ideas
1. Algae 2. Microbes 3. Q Bacteria
Importance
Background
Knowns
Ideas &
Impacts

Competition
& Unknowns


Found in Massachusetts
(Quabbin Lake)
Capable of Sugar ->
Ethanol Digestion
Revolutionizing Biomass
Fuel
BEI
20.020 -- 3 Ideas
1. Algae 2. Microbes 3. Q Bacteria
Importance
Knowns

Ideas &
Impacts
Possibility:
Degradation Pathway
Isolation
Competition
& Unknowns


Find
genetic/enzymati
c basis for
conversion
Design a
plasmid for
biofuel
modification
BEI
20.020 -- 3 Ideas
1. Algae 2. Microbes 3. Q Bacteria
Importance
Knowns

Ideas &
Impacts
Competition

Competition
& Unknowns


No competitors
per se
Competitors of
biofuel
Unknowns



Which
enzymes?
Which genes?
Patented genes?
BEI
20.020 -- 3 Ideas
1. Algae 2. Microbes 3. Q Bacteria
Importance
Bibliography
Knowns
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jurvetson/41
78161974/sizes/o/ Background image
 http://www.krr.org/renewablefp.com/grap
hix/algae.jpg Algae Image
 http://www.climatechangesocialchange.fi
les.wordpress.com/2009/04/renewableenergy-in-tourism.jpg Plants
http://www.ecosumo.files.wordpress.com
/2009/05/peakoil.jpg Peak Oil
 http://www.dailygalaxy.com/photos/uncat
egorized/2007/05/02/microbes.jpg Micr
obe Image

Ideas &
Impacts
Competition
& Unknowns