Algae could be a major hydrogen fuel source in future

Washington, April 2 : Scientists at U.S. Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory are working to chemically manipulate algae for production of the next generation of renewable fuels - hydrogen gas.

Some varieties of algae, a kind of unicellular plant, contain an enzyme called hydrogenase that can create small amounts of hydrogen gas.

According to senior chemist David Tiede, many believe this enzyme is used by nature as a way to get rid of excess reducing equivalents that are produced under high light conditions, but are of little benefit to the plant.

Tiede and his group are trying to find a way to take the part of the enzyme that creates the gas and introduce it into the photosynthesis process.

The result would be a large amount of hydrogen gas, possibly on par with the amount of oxygen created.

"We believe there is a fundamental advantage in looking at the production of hydrogen by photosynthesis as a renewable fuel," said Tiede.

"Right now, ethanol is being produced from corn, but generating ethanol from corn is a thermodynamically much more inefficient process," he added.

According to Tiede, "What we would like to do is take that catalyst out of hydrogenase and put into the photosynthetic protein framework."

Algae has several benefits over corn in fuel production.

It can be grown in a closed system almost anywhere including deserts or even rooftops, and there is no competition for food or fertile soil. Algae is also easier to harvest because it has no roots or fruit and grows dispersed in water.

"If you have terrestrial plants like corn, you are restricted to where you could grow them. Also, there is a problem now with biofuel crops competing with food crops because they are both using the same space," said Tiede.

"Algae provides an alternative, which can be grown in a closed photobioreactor analogous to a microbial fermentor that you could move any place," he added.

ANI