University:
Cameron University
Course:
1004 | General Biology
Academic year:

2021
Views:

324

Pages:

21
Author:

Clint W.

Multicellular Algae ~ The Seaweeds Economic Importance Economic Importance People around the world harvest seaweed for many uses  Mostly as a food source Economic Importance ~ Food Economic Importance People around the world harvest seaweed for many uses  Mostly as a food source Economic Importance ~ Food Economic Importance People around the world harvest seaweed for many uses  Used for: Fertilizer animal feed wound dressing Seaweeds produce gelatinous phycocolloids used in foods to produce viscous gels and suspensions Economic Importance ~ Fuel Algae-Powered Innovations for Sustainable Future Living Algae-Powered Vehicles ~ Wood motorcycle Algae-Powered Innovations for Sustainable Future Living BioCanopy ~ The canopy has the capability to produce Oxygen that is equivalent to four hectares of woodland and up to 15kg of biomass per day, which includes 60% of vegetal proteins Algae-Powered Innovations for Sustainable Future Living Algae Curtain ~ Developed by Loop.pH in Lille, France, the “Algae Curtain-a” is a living metabolic textile installation made up of transparent tubes that are knotted together to form architectural drapes. During the daytime, living algae is pumped in these tubes to photosynthesize and produce bio-fuel that can be used for local energy requirements, while also providing shading to the occupants sitting nearby. Algae-Powered Innovations for Sustainable Future Living Algae-Furnishings ~ Consisting of custom glass bioreactors designed as household furnishings, the project demonstrates three vignettes that function differently in each space by cultivating Spirulina algae. These furnishings also function as a lighting and heating elements for the occupants and simultaneously provide heat, light and air supply for the microorganism living inside. 9 Algae-Powered Innovations for Sustainable Future Living Algae-Powered Buildings ~ The international design firm Arup, worked with Germany’s SSC Strategic Science Consultants and Austria’s Splitterwerk Architects to develop the world’s first algaepowered building dubbed as BIQ House. The building features a bio-adaptive algae façade that not only helps in maintaining the required amount of solar shading, but it also captures solar thermal heat and Algae-Powered Innovations for Sustainable Future Living Algae Powered Eco City ~ Forget about fuelling your car or powering up your house with algae, the co-founders of ecoLogicStudio, Claudia Pasquero and Marco Polleto has already envisioned an eco-friendly city. They are experimenting the possibilities of building an entire town in Simrishamn, Sweden which will be centered on algae production and research that would eventually drive tourism. The project aims to harvest the algae for energy and food while keeping the environment pollution-free. A map of the project’s design can be viewed at Simrishamn Marine Center. Algae-Powered Innovations for Sustainable Future Living Algae-Powered Street Lamps ~ The self-powered lamp by Pierre Calleja utilizes the energy-producing capabilities of microalgae to offer light through natural process and simultaneously absorb CO2 from the surroundings. The lamp runs completely free of electricity and uses the energy produced by algae’s photosynthesis process. Pierra explains in his TED Talk that a single lamp has the capability to absorb at least a ton of carbon from the air in a single year, while illuminating the Algae-Powered Innovations for Sustainable Future Living Health Food Supplement ~ Microalgae is already successful in specialty food market. Spirulina, one of the types of algae is gaining popularity as a health food supplement. It is also marketed as an alternative to fish oil since fish gets the omegas by eating plankton. By extracting omega-3, omega-7 fatty acids directly from the crops, it is possible to cut the middlefish. Microalgae is also seen as a livestock feed for animals due to its valuable nutrient composition. Algae-Powered Innovations for Sustainable Future Living Biodegradable Algae Water Bottles ~ Algae isn’t just restricted to be used as a biofuel or CO2 absorber, it is equally useful in developing sustainable materials. The biodegradable water bottle designed by Ari Jonsson is an attempt in this direction. It uses a mixture of powdered agar and water with a capability to break down once it is empty. Being an allnatural alternative to plastic, drinkers can also chew the bottle if they like the taste and is safe for both humans and Algae-Powered Innovations for Sustainable Future Living Ink ~ Normal ink consists of 80% petroleum products and 20% pigments. Approximately 4 billion kg of ink are produced annually, which produces about 13.2 billion kg of CO2 equivalent. Not only are we replacing petroleum products in ink production, we are also able to use environmental CO2 during the algae growth. Every ton of algae removes 2 tons of carbon dioxide. We’re ‘pulling’ CO2 out of the air to get the materials to make our ink products. When you look at the algae cells, the dry pigments that we use for our ink, you can literally touch the carbon material that previously was carbon dioxide. Economic Importance ~ Algin Algin (type of phycocolloid) used as a stabilizer and emulsifier in dairy products like ice cream & cheese It gives it a smooth texture Keeps frosting and pies from becoming dry Also found in shampoo, shaving cream, plastics, rubber, paper, paints, cosmetics, and pesticides Economic Importance ~ Algin The giant brown kelp, Macrocystis, is a major crop for algin Harvesting ships off the California coast cut stipes and fronds (blades) to a depth of six feet below the surface Economic Importance ~ Carrageenan Carrageenan – used as an emulsifier Obtained from red algae Gives body to dairy products and pudding Economic Importance ~ Agar Agar – used for its ability to form jellies Obtained from red algae Protects ham, fish, and meats during canning Used in low-calorie foods, since it is not digestible by humans Used as a thickener, in laxatives, and in cosmetics Used by biologists to grow bacteria in Petri dishes