QuantumSphere Awarded Research Grant for Algae Biogasification Process
25 February 2009
QuantumSphere, Inc., a developer of advanced catalyst materials, high-performance electrode systems, and related process chemistries for portable power and clean-tech applications, has been awarded a research grant from the California Energy Commission to develop a process using nanocatalysts to convert algae biomass into biofuels via gasification.
The grant was awarded under the commission’s Energy Innovations Small Grant program (EISG) and will fund the one-year development of an algae biogasification process that utilizes nanometals as catalysts for the purposes of turning vegetation and similar biomass materials into methane, hydrogen, or other synthetic gases that can be used for transportation and other energy needs. QuantumSphere will build a small-scale platform over the next 12 months to demonstrate the effectiveness of the process.
Our vision for this project was to use this process to take wet algae produced in a place like the Salton Sea in the Imperial Valley of California and convert it into renewable fuels. The Salton Sea is a place for large amounts of agricultural runoff which sometimes creates large algae blooms. If successful, we envision a large plant on the shore of the Salton Sea that could convert large amounts of wet algae into renewable fuels.
—Subra Iyer, principal technologist for QuantumSphere, Inc.
The feasibility of the proposal is based on research the company has conducted using nanometals as catalysts. Iyer said the process is designed to convert any biomass, such as leaves, algae, vegetable waste, or corn stalks, into fuel.
The Energy Innovations Small Grant (EISG) Program provides up to $95,000 for hardware projects and $50,000 for modeling projects to small businesses, non-profits, individuals and academic institutions to conduct research that establishes the feasibility of new, innovative energy concepts. Research projects must target one of the Public Interest Energy Research (PIER) areas, address a California energy problem, and provide a potential benefit to California electric and natural gas consumers.
If successful, we envision a large plant on the shore of the Salton Sea that could convert large amounts of wet algae into renewable fuels.
I hope this works out and provides a bit of insight into the effects on the ecology.
There will be upsides and downsides to filtering this large waterbody noting the dual use aspect but it's hard to imagine the egatives in this instance.
I was going to mention fish farming and harvesting at bur the anglers will want to know they aren't missing out.
I wonder If the pump (return) may be able to displace more concentrated CO2 from bottom waters (if deep enough) which would be replaced by atmospheric infiltration.
I'm not informed as to how Amospheric CO2 would be favoured by 'decarbonated water?' ie gas balance.
That's a whole new subject.
Posted by: arnold | 26 February 2009 at 12:07 AM
Harvesting algae from eutrophic waters like the Salton Sea would yield a double bonus. It would not only provide renewable fuel, it would remove nitrogen and phosphorus from the water and help clean it up. It may even be possible to recycle the phosphorus into new fertilizer and help close one of the nutrient loops.
Posted by: Engineer-Poet | 27 February 2009 at 05:28 AM