[Source: SoftPedia] – The blue-green algae, scientifically called cyanobacteria, is one of the oldest living forms in nature, responsible for generating oxygen in the air we breathe. Researchers Hyun Woo Kim and Raveender Vannela, from the Biodesign Institute at Arizona State University, are searching for ways to grow these microbes in large quantities. This is also an opportunity for optimizing the photobioreactor(PBR), a device in which these photosynthetic organisms proliferate.
Several methods to produce clean forms of energy and replace fossil fuels were tested, still cyanobacteria turns out to be the most attractive. Hyun Woo Kim explains that the bacteria are much easier to re-engineer because scientists have a lot of information about them. Their growth can be controlled so that a large production of biofuel and biomaterial can be sustained.
For more information: Growing Cyanobacteria for Oxygen and Biofuel