[Cowboy Scientist]

The DOE has funded some crazy projects so I'm almost inclined to believe this article is true. Please tell me it isn't. I thought some skeptical thinkers ought to consider this.

Article:

Biodiesel Magazine

Missouri tapping coal mines for ‘slime power’

Washington University’s Photosynthetic Research Center in St. Louis and the Advanced Biofuels Systems at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center recently received $35 million from the U.S. DOE to fund research related to the oil producing characteristics of algae.

Officials in the state said Missouri’s access to abundant water, flat land and fertilizer could make the state a hub for algae-to-fuel production. Also, Missouri has coal mines. With their constant temperature and controlled lighting, underground coal mines serve as ideal incubators. David Summers, professor of Mining Engineering at Missouri University of Science and Technology, said that mines also potentially provide an infrastructure for algae cultivation that does not have to be built—the ponds, reactors and other paraphernalia usually associated with algae production. “You can isolate the algae from the sun in a mine,” Summers said. “We have stable temperatures and underground ambient conditions, plus modulated light—this means better control.”

http://www.biodiesel...article_id=3858

From me:

Is is yet another brilliant but expensive parody from the DOE? Yes, mines have a constant temperature, about 50 °C, just the temperature where plants and microorganisms stop growing. And one other thing lacking.... hmmm, what is it you need to grow algae?... water, warmth, ... oh yeah sunlight -- the source of energy! I suppose we could just put heaters in those mines and artificial lighting! Then convert that energy to a biofuel! The first law of thermodynamics only applies to energy that isn't subsidized by the government. Just for the record, I recognized this is a joke right? Please tell me it is a joke. Just like that grant program to genetically engineer microbes to produce hydrogen from biomass (like the ones that have existed since the beginning of life). This was a big improvement over the idea of producing energy by converting water into hydrogen.

[Dr. Mabuse]

Cowboy Scientist, on 25 November 2009 - 05:49 PM, said:

Yes, mines have a constant temperature, about 50 °C,

From where do you get that number?
It can't be true for every single mine in that state...

Quote

just the temperature where plants and microorganisms stop growing.

That is simply not true. There are extremeophiles that thrive in excess of 80°C.
But I wonder if not most living organisms have trouble living above 42°C... Many plants living in the arctic simply refuse to survive anywhere Africa.

Quote

Just for the record, I recognized this is a joke right? Please tell me it is a joke. Just like that grant program to genetically engineer microbes to produce hydrogen from biomass (like the ones that have existed since the beginning of life). This was a big improvement over the idea of producing energy by converting water into hydrogen.

If it's a joke, I cannot tell, because I have no experience of DOE and who runs it. Or the projects they may fund. It feels a bit like crossing the bridge for water though.

Hydrogen fuel for cars have huge problems to overcome, producing it efficiently is one thing. Storing it effectively and safely is another.
Just this week a bio-engineering company in The Netherlands announced a genetically engineered yeast for ethanol production with a 10-15% higher ethanol yield in its conversion process while at the same time eliminating the waste product acetat (which inhibits the fermentation process) and greatly reducing waste glycerol.
That's just so much smarter. Ethanol can easily replace gasoline in cars. Infrastructure is there already. No dangerous hydrogen storage needed.

[sailingsoul]

Seems like a joke to me too but I would not put it past any government entity of blow millions on anything. I thought of the same reasons you touched upon, even before I read yours. "Modulated light- this means better control"???? As laser? Is the light found in mines modulated? Maybe the human eye can't detect it? That would explain the darkness. Now I joke! Seriously, there is nothing given that explains how growing algae in mines is viable, let alone producing a product that sells for more than it costs
However you said; "This was a big improvement over the idea of producing energy by converting water into hydrogen." . For the record Energy is NEVER produced, ever.The total amount of energy in the universe does not change, it does change from one form to another. We must remember ie: A wind turbine converts (changes)wind to electricity, both forms of energy. The energy from wind comes from our sun, as with oil. I'm sure you know this but I always cringe whenever "energy production" is voiced. Mumble, grumble . SS