This proposal concerns the development of an innovative approach to enhancing the growth of algae in aquaculture systems. This new approach involves an enzyme-based collection system to utilize atmospheric carbon dioxide allowing dense, sustained algal production. Naturally, algae obtain carbon dioxide, used as their carbon source, from surrounding water which is slowly replenished from atmospheric earbon dioxide. Recently, it has been clearly established that algal growth in aquaeulture systems can be greatly enhanced by the artificial addition of extra carbon dioxide. Presently this is accomplished by commercial compressed carbon dioxide bubbled in the water of the aquaculture system. While effective, this is extremely expensive. The proposed process uses an enzyme, carbonic anhydrase, to effectively trap atmospheric carbon dioxide and equilibrate it rapidly within the aquaculture water. This proposal calls for laboratory scale testing of the process, optimization of operating, and scale model testing with a variety of algal cultures. The results of this study will provide the necessary information for testing the process with large seale commercial aquaeulture (Phase II). In the longer term, this technology offers the potential for both considerably reduced costs for supplying carbon dioxide and for complete on-site production.Applications:A cost benefit analysis indicates that an enzyme-based system would provide carbon dioxide at a cost of S540/aere/year compared to S2400/aere/year (Compressed CO2). The process, once harnessed, could be applied to environmental concerns, adapted to underwater and space-based re-breathers.
