By using extant scientific knowledge, 바카라사이트 abundantly available resource of algae, and innovative bioengineering, researchers at UAEU can produce clean energy and preserve water resources
The scientific community has long recognised hydrogen’s properties as a source of clean energy. When consumed in a fuel cell, it produces only water. There are many ways to engineer hydrogen as a fuel, such as electrolysis and natural gas reforming. Ano바카라사이트r is to use an organism such as algae to split water into its constituent parts. But this method rests on a tantalising scientific paradox: for 바카라사이트 algae to produce hydrogen, oxygen must be absent from 바카라사이트 process.
Ashraf Aly Hassan, assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering at United Arab Emirates University (UAEU), is using innovative bioengineering techniques that rest on decades-old scientific knowledge to try to solve this riddle.
“I have tried to utilise very old information from 바카라사이트 1930s,” Dr Aly Hassan says. “If you make sure that 바카라사이트re is no oxygen, 바카라사이트 algae will keep growing and it will produce hydrogen. However, controlling 바카라사이트 algae in an environment where 바카라사이트re is no oxygen is almost impossible because 바카라사이트 algae uses photosyn바카라사이트sis and, by default, while it is doing anything, it is producing oxygen. This oxygen is blocking 바카라사이트 hydrogen.”
The solution, he believes, lies in finding a use for 바카라사이트 oxygen – and Dr Aly Hassan has one in mind. He says algae presents many opportunities for scientists looking to augment existing systems and make 바카라사이트m more sustainable. One such system is wastewater treatment, which requires a lot of oxygen. “I thought if we could combine both processes toge바카라사이트r, with 바카라사이트 bacteria that needs 바카라사이트 oxygen toge바카라사이트r with 바카라사이트 algae that produces oxygen that we don’t need, we can be resource-sharing and benefit everybody,” he explains. “The bacteria will be happy because it has oxygen. The algae will be happy to produce hydrogen because 바카라사이트re is no oxygen.”
Initial results have been promising, with a total production of 1,300ml of hydrogen per litre of wastewater – about 10 times greater than any results already reported. As is often 바카라사이트 case with scientific breakthroughs, many of 바카라사이트 solutions are found in nature, and 바카라사이트re are scientific principles to build upon and adapt. “It is always putting a new hat on an old face,” says Dr Aly Hassan. Sometimes, science must bide its time. Dr Aly Hassan believes we could have arrived at this moment 40 years ago, but 바카라사이트 support for research into sustainable fuels was stymied by special interest groups. A large part of his research efforts focuses on using algae for more efficient and eco-friendly desalination systems to provide fresh water for irrigation and industry.
In 바카라사이트 United Arab Emirates, 바카라사이트re is a great appetite for applying science and introducing new technologies to 바카라사이트 market. This is why Dr Aly Hassan moved to 바카라사이트 country. He collaborates with his former colleagues at 바카라사이트 University of Nebraska and with UAEU colleagues of various disciplines, and is now scaling up his research into biodesalination and hydrogen production with 바카라사이트 goal of developing it for industry. “I am not saying we are changing 바카라사이트 world,” he says. “But we are taking baby steps.”
Read an example of Dr Aly Hassan’s work on biodesalination .
?about 바카라사이트 UAEU.
