Enhanced Practical Photosynthetic CO2 Mitigation (2003)

This quarterly report documents significant achievements in the Enhanced Practical Photosynthetic CO{sub 2} Mitigation project during the period from 4/2/2003 through 7/01/2003. As indicated in the list of accomplishments below we have completed some long-term model scale bioreactor tests and are prepared to begin pilot scale bioreactor testing. Specific results and accomplishments for the second quarter of 2003 include: (1) Bioreactor support systems and test facilities: (a) Qualitative long-term survivability tests for S.C.1.2(2) on Omnisil have been successfully completed and results demonstrate a growth rate that appears to be acceptable. (b) Quantitative tests of long-term growth productivity for S.C.1.2(2) on Omnisil have been completed and initial results are promising. Initial results show that the mass of organisms doubled (from 54.9 grams to 109.8 grams) in about 5 weeks. Full results will be available as soon as all membranes and filters are completely dried. The growth rate should increase significantly with the initiation of weekly harvesting during the long term tests. (c) The phase 1 construction of the pilot scale bioreactor has been completed, including the solar collector and light distribution system. We are now in the phase of system improvement as we wait for CRF-2 results in order to be able to finalize the design and construction of the pilot scale system. (d) A mass transfer experimental setup was constructed in order to measure the mass transfer rate from the gas to the liquid film flowing over a membrane and to study the hydrodynamics of the liquid film flowing over a membrane in the bioreactor. Results were reported for mass transfer coefficient, film thickness, and fluid velocity over an Omnisil membrane with a ''drilled hole'' header pipe design. (2) Organisms and Growth Surfaces: (a) A selectivity approach was used to obtain a cyanobacterial culture with elevated resistance to acid pH. Microlonies of ''3.2.2 S.C.1 Positive'' migrated towards light along a light gradient, and against acid gradient, in whole. Nonetheless, some microcolonies were able to generate ''secondary'' microcolonies with increased ability to move towards acid area. These microcolonies with elevated resistance to acidity have been isolated and inoculated in BG-11 with pH 6. They are still under incubation. (b) We have continued our work on the genotyping of unialgal cyanobacterial cultures isolated in YNP. Because partial sequence of 16S rRNA gene of the isolate 5.2 S.C.1 did not appear to be more than 93% identical to published cyanobacterial sequences, we carried out entire sequence of this gene using the combination of different primers. It appears that we have found a representative of putative new genus. We expect to publish all sequences. (c) The new species (even probably new genus) of cyanobacteria, 5.2 s. c. 1 that was isolated from La Duke Spring in Great Yellowstone Basin demonstrate an elevated resistance to some compounds of iron. This might be very important for our project, because plant gases may have elevated amount of iron. Our study of the effect of different concentration of FeCl3 6H2O on the growth of 5.2 S.C.1 isolate showed that iron additions stimulated rather then inhibited the growth of 5.2. S.C.1 isolate. Because of this we would recommend this isolate for further experiments.