Exposing C reinhardtii to Anaerobic Atmospheric Conditions to

Exposing C. reinhardtii to Anaerobic Atmospheric Conditions to Enhance Hydrogen Production Christina George Period 0, 1 Even

Need http: //www. physicalgeography. net/fundamentals/images/co 2_atmosphere. jpg

Need http: //www. tspusa. com/images/TICimages/alternativefuels 1. gif

Knowledge Base p Anaerobic Conditions: the absence of oxygen http: //www. ilmvac. co. uk/content/products/Anaerobic-container-p 112555 -01. html

Knowledge Base p Sulfur Deprivation: Growing the algae in Sulfurreplete medium or Sulfur-free medium http: //www. enasco. com/prod/images/products/8 A/VC 128314 l. jpg

Knowledge Base C. reinahrdtii p http: //www. sciencedaily. com/images/2009/0 3/090324171556 -large. jpg Autotrophic organism that produces hydrogen in sulfur deprived anaerobic conditions

Knowledge Base Light intensities v. the CO 2 exchange when measured by the photosynthetic rate http: //generalhorticulture. tamu. edu/lectsupl/Light/p 54 f 1. gif

Isoamylase p Important enzyme for starch accumulation which is important for hydrogen production (Posewitz, 2005). http: //www. mrc-lmb. cam. ac. uk/genomes/date/1 bf 2. gif

Literature Review p Rosenbaum, Miriam (2005) ‘Utilizing the Green Alga C. reinhardtii for Microbial Electricity Generation” • Direct electricity generation from microbial photosynthetic activity • Oxidative depletion of hydrogen, photosynthetically produced by C. reinahrdtii under sulfur deprived conditions, by polymer coated electro catalytic electrodes

Literature Review p Melis, Anastasios (2000) “Sustained Photobiological Hydrogen Gas Production upon Reversible Inactivation of oxygen Evolution in C. reinhardtii” • As sulfur deprivation increases, so does the hydrogen production

Literature Review p Posewitz, Matthew C. (2004) “Hydrogen Photoproduction is Attenuated by Disruption of an Isoamylase Gene in C. reinhardtii” • Time represents the anaerobic induction time • CC 425=C. reinhardtii

Literature Review p Logan, Bruce E. (2006) “Using Algae and other Biomass for Hydrogen Production in a Modified Microbial Fuel Cell” • A small voltage was applied (. 25 V) to the algae, which generated pure hydrogen gas at the cathode

Purpose p Therefore, the purpose of this experiment is to find the optimal duration of anaerobic exposure needed to optimize C. reinhardtii hydrogen production

Hypotheses p Alternate: A long period of anaerobic conditions will increase the hydrogen production p Null: The duration and frequency of anaerobic conditions will have no effect on the amount of hydrogen produced

Exposing C. reinhardtii to Anaerobic Atmospheric Conditions to Enhance Hydrogen Production Problem: What is the optimal duration of anaerobic exposure needed to optimize C. reinhardtii hydrogen production? Control Groups: The Algae growth medium, Temperatur e, and light intensity Control group of algae will be grown in the airlift bioreactor (700 ml) with no anaerobic or sulfur deprived conditions . 5 hours of anaerobic atmospher ic conditions Independent Variable: Growth of C. reinhardtii and hydrogen produced (original concentration 700 m. L) 3 hours of anaerobic atmospheri c conditions Dependent Variable: Carbon dioxide levels, p. H levels 6 hours of anaerobic atmospheric conditions Algae will be grown in designated duration of anaerobic time in an anaerobic container, and will be fertilized with sulfur deprived growth medium (100 m. L). Carbon dioxide concentration measured using a Pasco GLX Xplorer p. H levels measured using p. H paper growth of C. reinhardtii measured using a Spectrophotometer The hydrogen gas produced will be measured using an H 2 Scan hydrogen detector. A fluorometer will be used to measure the photosynthetic rate. All data will statistically analyzed by SPSS, by an ANOVA followed by a Sheffe Post Hoc Test. Data will then be put in line graphs.

Do Ability p C. reinhardtii: Can be grown in the lab as done in previous years p Anaerobic container can be purchased p A hydrogen sensor will be difficult to find at a low cost

Budget Vendor Order # Quantit y Description Price Carolina Biological 152040 2 C. reinhardtii 9. 50 (ea) Carolina Biological 153752 2 algae fertilizer 16. 85 (ea) Ilmavc 112555 -01 1 anaerobic container Warehouse Lighting WS-110344 1 flourescent light CYTO-Airlift 1 bioreactor A. W. Sperry 1 photometer 1 timer Total price fishsupply. com slnt sdt 02 Aturner Designs NEODYM 19 33. 7 99. 99 19. 99 169. 99 Fluorometer HK-GH-A 080 C-W 50 A-O 5 -R 1 -S 1 -E 2 -I 2 -P 1 -J 1 -Z 0 1 Hydrogen Sensor

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