Algae+Technology

=//**Algae Technology page**//=

Algae Technology has been developing over the past 30 years, mostly due to oil related crises. However it is a product that we as a consumer have been unaware of how much we already use algae products. Only with our current economic crises, entrepenuers, laboratories, universities, and firms have been coming together to answer the energy problem, with algae. Algae has numerous commercial uses, with very little enviromental impact. some of the products we use are alginate, oils, fertilizers, animal feedstock, and dyes. Lately, algae has been utilized as a waste water treatment alternative. Another important thing to remeber when discussing possibilities with algae technology, is that existing technology and processes are availabe today. Such as the combustion engine, today the majority of fuels used for the automotive and other combustion engines are derived from fossil resources. With the economic and enviromental prices rising for these resources, and alternative renewable source must be developed. Automotive technology is being developed to have better fuel economy, and much more durable. These technologies combined will change the paradigm of private and public transportation.

As for an economic answer for energy, algae oil can be used to create products such as kerosene, Biodiesel, and gasoline. Many other crops are produces for this use, such as corn, however algae has many advantages. One such advantage is that one can control the size and speed or plant growth, by dictating the amount of sunshine and nutrients the algae needs to grow. Thus, instead of waiting a whole season for harvesting of a crop, you could harvest your product with in a matter of days. Another positive of algae, is that algae can produce 50 percent of its mass, as a lipid (oil). As compared to to other crops such as corn and soy, where the oil yeild is closer to 7 to 15 percent lipid (oil). The bottom chart details the diffrences in yields. A photobioreactor, is the process that many use to grow and control algae for research as well as production. There are a vast number of ways to create a photobioreactor, ranging from ponds and troughs, to upright cylinder tubes and wheels to grow crops. As an example of the current trends with algae bio-products, the Algal Biomass Organization holds a summit every year, and the last summit hosted over 800 companies and participates from over 28 countries. The Chart below, is a common process for growing, and harvesting algae for use of consumption. A key thing about algae, is the inputs are the direct outputs of many industrial tools, such as a combustion engine.

Many communities and businesses are striving to be more enviromentally freindly, and algae technology is just one aspect. Many other technologies can be used in conjuction to create a sustainable society. Solar Technology can be used to power algae production processes, so as the cultivation and production of algae would be completely renewable with little to no impact on the surrounding enviroment. With that thier are many other applications that algae can be used in conjunction with, algae is a vaible alternative in Clean water applications. The algae microorganism uses the nitrates, phosphates, and carbon dioxide molecules in dirty water to grow. With sunlight as an energy source, the algae consumes these molecules and converts them into phospholipids (oil), sugers, and carbohydrates before releasing oxygen and hydrogen as a byproduct. The chart below is an example of this process. .

Select the link to watch a presentation about Algae Technology, its trends, uses, and how we can use this technology today. [|Algae Technology Presentation]
 * //Key Reading://**
 * //[|National Renewable Energy Laboratory Close-out Summary]//**
 * //[|Arizona State University]//** is qiuckly becoming a key leader in alternative energy resources. In the field of Algae Technology, there are several institution for research and development already being utilized. The [|Arizona Center for Algae Technology and Innovation (AzCATI)] is located at Arizona State University's Polytechnic campus in Mesa and will partner with the rapidly growing algae industry to propel Arizona into the forefront of innovation in biofuels and bio-product research and development. AzCATI will serve as a statewide and international intellectual and resource hub for algae-based goods, find innovative commercial uses for algae, operate as a learning environment for next generation scientists, facilitate collaboration between higher education, industry and national entities and be a national "test bed" for algae technology. AzCATI is administered and funded in part by Science Foundation Arizona and managed by ASU. At ASU, Professors Milton Sommerfield and Qiang Hu, are some of the leaders in creating and researching Biofuel and Biodiesel**.** Researchers in the [|Laboratory for Biotechnology and Algal Research] are studying the use of algae as a source of oils for conversion to fuels. This research involves the search for additional uses of algae in the oil production processes including feedstock (biomass) and production of bioproducts. Additional research in the College of Technology and Innovation is being conducted to optimize processes for manufacturing biodiesel from waste oils that could be collected from local restaurants.

The **//[|Bachelor of Science in Technological Entrepreneurship and Management (TEM)]//** bridges the gap between technology and business for students who want to launch their own technology-based ventures, profit or non-profit, or prepare for a career in product/service design and development, or technology management. TEM is a collaborative effort bringing together faculty from diverse programs focused on entrepreneurship and technological advances across campuses. Many focus areas are being developed to specialize in various fields, the document below, shows the various focus areas, and the proposed area of algae technology.