MIT Feeds Algae Greenhouse Gas
Prof. Issac Berzen of MIT has built a prototype Greenhouse Gas to Algae reactor on the roof of the MIT powerplant. The rig is a set of transparent tubes filled with water and algae. Flue gasses pass through the tubes, feeding the algae nitrogen oxide and carbon dioxide. The algae converts the gasses into plant matter which can then be used as a fuel source.
Current plans are to dry the algae with the waste heat from the power plant and to convert the algae powder to hydrogen, or to simply burn the algae. This process does produce CO2 which can be again treated in Dr. Berzen’s bio-reactor to make more algae.
The process is 80% efficient at capturing greenhouse gasses.
Check out the Youtube video of Alan Alda interviewing Dr. Berzen.
