As you can see in the photo, the pond slime in my local pond is a brilliant florescent green color. It is so bright that it has caught my eye several times over the past week. Today, I just had to stop and photograph it. Sure, this stuff is pretty to look at, but what is it good for?
To answer this weighty question, I decided to Google “pond slime” to see if I might learn a thing or two about scum. What I found might surprise you. Apparently, some smart guys at MIT have devised a way to use green algae to remove nitrogen oxide & carbon dioxide from power plant flue gases. The ultimate goal of the process is not just reducing harmful emissions but to change the thriving algae into a source of hydrogen. Watch the photo-bioreactor video HERE.
Bio-fuel is the goal of another company that grows algae in a closed loop, vertical, bag like apparatus. Lipids, part of the plant cell that is a source of stored energy, are extracted from the algae giving the oily resource to manufacture bio-fuels. There are several videos about this subject (some are boring) but this one will get you started.
I for one am glad this green pond slime caught my attention. My guess is that we will all here more about this in the future.
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