Exposing C.reinhardtii to Anaerobic Atmospheric Conditions to Enhance Hydrogen Production Chrisitna George Period 0,1 Even June 1, 2009

Need

Need

Knowledge Base Autotrophic organism that produces hydrogen in sulfur deprived anaerobic conditions Autotrophic organism that produces hydrogen in sulfur deprived anaerobic conditions / large.jpg C.reinahrdtii

Knoweldge Base Light intensities v. the CO2 exchange when measured by the photosynthetic rate

Knowledge Base Anaerobic Conditions: the absence of oxygen Anaerobic Conditions: the absence of oxygen

Isoamylase Gene Important gene for starch accumulation which is important for hydrogen production (Posewitz, 2005). Important gene for starch accumulation which is important for hydrogen production (Posewitz, 2005).

Literature Review Rosenbaum, Miriam (2005) 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 Melis, Anastasios (2000) Melis, Anastasios (2000) “Sustained Photobiological Hydrogen Gas Production upon Reversible Inactivation of oxygen Evolution in C.reinhardtii” Method circumvents the severe oxygen sensitivity of the reversible hydrogenase by temporarily separating photosynthetic oxygen evolution and carbon dioxide accumulation

Literature Review Posewitz, Matthew C. (2004) Posewitz, Matthew C. (2004) “Hydrogen Photoproduction is Attenuated by Disruption of an Isoamylase Gene in C.reinhardtii” STA7 is an isoamylase gene in C.reinahrdtii, which is important for starch accumulation and metabolism, which plays an important role in hydrogen photoproduction

Literature Review Logan, Bruce E. (2006) 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

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

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

Exposing C.reinhardtii to Anaerobic Atmospheric Conditions to Enhance Hydrogen Production Problem: What is the optimal duration and frequency of anaerobic exposure needed to optimize C.reinhardtii hydrogen production? Control Groups: The Algae growth medium, Temperature, and light intensity Independent Variable: Growth of C.reinhardtii and hydrogen produced Dependent Variable: Carbon dioxide levels, pH levels 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. -The hydrogen gas produced will be measured using an H2Scan hydrogen detector. -A fluorometer will be used to measure the photosynthetic rate. 6 hours of anaerobic atmospheric conditions 12 hours of anaerobic atmospheric conditions 24 hours of anaerobic atmospheric conditions -Carbon dioxide concentration measured using a Pasco GLX Xplorer -pH levels measured using pH paper -growth of C.reinhardtii measured using a Spectrophotometer

Do Ability C.reinhardtii: Can be grown in the lab as done in previous years C.reinhardtii: Can be grown in the lab as done in previous years Light Intensities: Different bulbs can be purchased and used in the school lights Light Intensities: Different bulbs can be purchased and used in the school lights Microbial Fuel Cell: A simple fuel cell is owned by the school Microbial Fuel Cell: A simple fuel cell is owned by the school

Budget Christina George VendorOrder #QuantityDescriptionPriceTotal price Carolina Biological C.reinhardtii9.50 (ea)38 Carolina Biological Medium16.85 (ea)33.7 Ilmavc anaerobic container Warehouse Lighting WS light99.99 VibraFlobubbler fishsupply.com SPAEH sump-pump HomeDepottubing HomeDepot1wooding base Corning1stirrer A.W. Sperry1photometer fishsupply.com stm- heg thermo sensor12.99 fishsupply.com slnt-sdt02 1timer19.99 Aturner DesignsFluorometer h2Scan1HY-ALERTA™ 2600

Work Cited Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore. "Carbon Dioxide Transformed Into Methanol." ScienceDaily 17 April April Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore. "Carbon Dioxide Transformed Into Methanol." ScienceDaily 17 April April **“Algae Could One Day Be Major Hydrogen Fuel Source.” Science Daily. April 2, **“Algae Could One Day Be Major Hydrogen Fuel Source.” Science Daily. April 2, American Chemical Society. "'Ice That Burns' May Yield Clean, Sustainable Bridge To Global Energy Future." ScienceDaily 24 March April American Chemical Society. "'Ice That Burns' May Yield Clean, Sustainable Bridge To Global Energy Future." ScienceDaily 24 March April Basque Research. "Obtaining Bio-gas From Food Industry Waste." ScienceDaily 31 March May Basque Research. "Obtaining Bio-gas From Food Industry Waste." ScienceDaily 31 March May **Chisti, Yusuf. “Biodiesel from Microalgae.” Biotechnology Advances. Vol. 25, Pgs February 13, **Chisti, Yusuf. “Biodiesel from Microalgae.” Biotechnology Advances. Vol. 25, Pgs February 13, CNRS. "Renewable Energies: The Promise Of Organic Solar Cells." ScienceDaily 10 April May CNRS. "Renewable Energies: The Promise Of Organic Solar Cells." ScienceDaily 10 April May DOE/Los Alamos National Laboratory. "New Hope For Biomass Fuels: Breaking The Ties That Bind." ScienceDaily 29 April May DOE/Los Alamos National Laboratory. "New Hope For Biomass Fuels: Breaking The Ties That Bind." ScienceDaily 29 April May **Fouchard, Swanny. "Autotrophic and Mixotrophic Hydrogen Photoproduction in Sulfur Deprived C.Reinhardtii." Applied and Enviornmental Microbiology 71 (2005): May 2008 **Fouchard, Swanny. "Autotrophic and Mixotrophic Hydrogen Photoproduction in Sulfur Deprived C.Reinhardtii." Applied and Enviornmental Microbiology 71 (2005): May **Kim Pyo, Jun; et al. “Enhancing hydrogen production by controlling light intensity in sulfur-deprived Chlamydomonas reinhardtii culture.” International Journal of Hydrogen Energy. Vol.31, Pgs , September **Kim Pyo, Jun; et al. “Enhancing hydrogen production by controlling light intensity in sulfur-deprived Chlamydomonas reinhardtii culture.” International Journal of Hydrogen Energy. Vol.31, Pgs , September **Najafpour, G. "Continuous Hydrogen Production via Fermentation of Synthesis Gas." Petroleum and Coal 45 (2003): May **Najafpour, G. "Continuous Hydrogen Production via Fermentation of Synthesis Gas." Petroleum and Coal 45 (2003): May National Institute of Standards and Technology. "Discovery Of An Unexpected Boost For Solar Water-splitting Cells." ScienceDaily 26 April May National Institute of Standards and Technology. "Discovery Of An Unexpected Boost For Solar Water-splitting Cells." ScienceDaily 26 April May Natural Environment Research Council. "Plants Absorb More Carbon Dioxide Under Polluted Hazy Skies." ScienceDaily 23 April April Natural Environment Research Council. "Plants Absorb More Carbon Dioxide Under Polluted Hazy Skies." ScienceDaily 23 April April Weizmann Institute of Science. "New Way To Split Water Into Hydrogen And Oxygen Developed." ScienceDaily 8 April April Weizmann Institute of Science. "New Way To Split Water Into Hydrogen And Oxygen Developed." ScienceDaily 8 April April **(articles used from last years study) **(articles used from last years study)