8 ms·

Spirulina Algae Photobioreactor (2017)

66 points by seesawtron 6y ago

uppopallo 6y ago
This was just mentioned in this talk about spacecraft life support systems: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=25590724 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=25590724 I suppose you got it from there as well? It's surprising how simple a setup this turns out to be, for creating a working bioreactor that produces oxygen.
- ranma42 6y ago
  Also interesting on the spacecraft angle: Apparently spirulina will grow in dilute urine as a growth medium: "Attempts were made to culture Spirulina platensis in human urine directly to achieve biomass production and O2 evolution, for potential application to nutrient regeneration and air revitalization in life support system. The culture results showed that Spirulina platensis grows successfully in diluted human urine, and yields maximal biomass at urine dilution ratios of 140~240" https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1361757/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1361757/
SomaticPirate 6y ago
This is quite interesting for improving indoor air quality as well. We know high levels of CO2 cause a cognitive decrease. Maybe the solution is a bioreactor in every meeting room?
- deegles 6y ago
  Someone would have to do the math on how much spirulina + light you’d need to process e.g. a conference room’s worth of adult’s CO2
  - Palomides 6y ago
    enough algae to balance out one person's daily CO2 generation is in the hundreds of gallons, it's a fun idea but wildly impractical compared to opening a window or using a fan
    - uppopallo 6y ago
      Actually not that much: The russian https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BIOS-3 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BIOS-3 experiment tested this in the 70's, and found that given sufficient illumination, 17 litres of Chlorella Vulgaris algae are sufficient to provide oxygen for one person and scrub the exhaled CO_2 from the air. The talk about spacecraft life support systems linked below (https://media.ccc.de/v/rc3-158638-how_to_survive_in_spacecraft https://media.ccc.de/v/rc3-158638-how_to_survive_in_spacecra...) gives a thorough overview over the possibilities for plant-based oxygen generation.
      - Palomides 6y ago
        I'm kinda skeptical about 17 liters but don't have the time to dig into the literature, so I'll just say that the number I gave is second-hand but seems well-founded of course there are lots of factors, especially with illumination/surface area
        nkingsy 6y ago
        Not sure of the math but I had about 17 liters of grow medium, 2w of air pumps, and 50w of leds 24/7 and was producing a shocking amount of biomass. Also, fresh spirulina is most comparable to tofu. Very little flavor, gag-worthy sponge-like texture. Was trying to make fish feed but had to eat most of it myself as the fish and the dog wouldn’t touch it. Shut down the operation after a few harvests. Mine was kept warm by sitting on top of a water reservoir that water cooled other grow lights for my main indoor garden, but keeping it warm would be the major cost in most climates, as it grows best in 90 deg F water.
        dvh 6y ago
        Black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) are used to compost waste or convert the waste into animal feed. Fly larvae are among the most efficient animals at converting feed into biomass.
- elric 6y ago
  Define "high levels"?
- baybal2 6y ago
  More likely a calcium hydroxide, or a lithium scrubber, as amine scrubbers will make you smell like a submariner.
  - labawi 6y ago
    Is a bioreactor an amine scrubber?
    - baybal2 6y ago
      A scrubber is a way simpler, and can operate continuously.
deleted 6y ago
[deleted]
intrepidhero 6y ago
There are a lot of purported uses[1] for algae. The OP talks about oxygen generation[2] and food[3]. I've personally been really interested in cultivating algae as a source of carbon neutral jet fuel[4], specifically for personal energy independence. And, finally as fertilizer[5]. I haven't had time to do any experimentation yet but I'm excited to see that a DIY approach is so accessible. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Algae#Uses https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Algae#Uses [2] https://scholarlycommons.obu.edu/scholars_day_conference/2020/honors_theses/26/ https://scholarlycommons.obu.edu/scholars_day_conference/202... [3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spirulina_(dietary_supplement) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spirulina_(dietary_supplement) [4] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Algae_fuel https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Algae_fuel [5] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seaweed_fertiliser https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seaweed_fertiliser
rripken 6y ago
I remember a great article in Make Magazine that described growing Spirulina. I believe it was this article by Dr. Aaron Wolf Baum: http://www.algaelab.org/2011/05/09/algaelab-diy-spirulina-article-in-make-magazine/ http://www.algaelab.org/2011/05/09/algaelab-diy-spirulina-ar... A recent post (11/20/2020) on that blog announces that Dr Baum has started GreenSpring Farms in Brentwood,CA and is selling fresh Spirulina. https://www.freshspirulina.com/our-spirulina https://www.freshspirulina.com/our-spirulina

66 points by seesawtron 6y ago

This was just mentioned in this talk about spacecraft life support systems: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=25590724 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=25590724 I suppose you got it from there as well? It's surprising how simple a setup this turns out to be, for creating a working bioreactor that produces oxygen.

ranma42 6y ago
Also interesting on the spacecraft angle: Apparently spirulina will grow in dilute urine as a growth medium: "Attempts were made to culture Spirulina platensis in human urine directly to achieve biomass production and O2 evolution, for potential application to nutrient regeneration and air revitalization in life support system. The culture results showed that Spirulina platensis grows successfully in diluted human urine, and yields maximal biomass at urine dilution ratios of 140~240" https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1361757/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1361757/

SomaticPirate 6y ago

This is quite interesting for improving indoor air quality as well. We know high levels of CO2 cause a cognitive decrease. Maybe the solution is a bioreactor in every meeting room?

deegles 6y ago
Someone would have to do the math on how much spirulina + light you’d need to process e.g. a conference room’s worth of adult’s CO2
- Palomides 6y ago
  enough algae to balance out one person's daily CO2 generation is in the hundreds of gallons, it's a fun idea but wildly impractical compared to opening a window or using a fan
  - uppopallo 6y ago
    Actually not that much: The russian https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BIOS-3 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BIOS-3 experiment tested this in the 70's, and found that given sufficient illumination, 17 litres of Chlorella Vulgaris algae are sufficient to provide oxygen for one person and scrub the exhaled CO_2 from the air. The talk about spacecraft life support systems linked below (https://media.ccc.de/v/rc3-158638-how_to_survive_in_spacecraft https://media.ccc.de/v/rc3-158638-how_to_survive_in_spacecra...) gives a thorough overview over the possibilities for plant-based oxygen generation.
    - Palomides 6y ago
      I'm kinda skeptical about 17 liters but don't have the time to dig into the literature, so I'll just say that the number I gave is second-hand but seems well-founded of course there are lots of factors, especially with illumination/surface area
      - nkingsy 6y ago
        Not sure of the math but I had about 17 liters of grow medium, 2w of air pumps, and 50w of leds 24/7 and was producing a shocking amount of biomass. Also, fresh spirulina is most comparable to tofu. Very little flavor, gag-worthy sponge-like texture. Was trying to make fish feed but had to eat most of it myself as the fish and the dog wouldn’t touch it. Shut down the operation after a few harvests. Mine was kept warm by sitting on top of a water reservoir that water cooled other grow lights for my main indoor garden, but keeping it warm would be the major cost in most climates, as it grows best in 90 deg F water.
        dvh 6y ago
        Black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) are used to compost waste or convert the waste into animal feed. Fly larvae are among the most efficient animals at converting feed into biomass.
elric 6y ago
Define "high levels"?
baybal2 6y ago
More likely a calcium hydroxide, or a lithium scrubber, as amine scrubbers will make you smell like a submariner.
- labawi 6y ago
  Is a bioreactor an amine scrubber?
  - baybal2 6y ago
    A scrubber is a way simpler, and can operate continuously.

deleted 6y ago

[deleted]

intrepidhero 6y ago

There are a lot of purported uses[1] for algae. The OP talks about oxygen generation[2] and food[3]. I've personally been really interested in cultivating algae as a source of carbon neutral jet fuel[4], specifically for personal energy independence. And, finally as fertilizer[5]. I haven't had time to do any experimentation yet but I'm excited to see that a DIY approach is so accessible. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Algae#Uses https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Algae#Uses [2] https://scholarlycommons.obu.edu/scholars_day_conference/2020/honors_theses/26/ https://scholarlycommons.obu.edu/scholars_day_conference/202... [3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spirulina_(dietary_supplement) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spirulina_(dietary_supplement) [4] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Algae_fuel https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Algae_fuel [5] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seaweed_fertiliser https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seaweed_fertiliser

rripken 6y ago

I remember a great article in Make Magazine that described growing Spirulina. I believe it was this article by Dr. Aaron Wolf Baum: http://www.algaelab.org/2011/05/09/algaelab-diy-spirulina-article-in-make-magazine/ http://www.algaelab.org/2011/05/09/algaelab-diy-spirulina-ar... A recent post (11/20/2020) on that blog announces that Dr Baum has started GreenSpring Farms in Brentwood,CA and is selling fresh Spirulina. https://www.freshspirulina.com/our-spirulina https://www.freshspirulina.com/our-spirulina