Statement of Purpose:
Problem: Algae in Clear Lake and: Pollution in the air. Cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) is contaminating Clear Lake, in Lake County, California. This algae does well in high nutrition and lots of sunlight. Microcystis and Aphanizomenon were two types of cyanobacteria discovered in various locations around Clear Lake.This algae can be harmful to humans, pets, and wildlife. The algae covers the southern end of the lake, near where the Konocti County Water District pumps out water for more than 17,000 homes and businesses. Toxins build up in the lake from many sources, both phosphorus and nitrogen.
Previous Attempted Solutions: Suck it out with a hose, crops for biofuel. Toxicology attempts so see how the algae reacted to chemicals have been used to try and clear it out (DRAFT REPORT Algal toxins bioassessment – Clear Lake, July&#. Figure 1: Study Our Map.). Another attempted solution was using an algae herbicide
Current Limitations/Present: The creation of biofuel requires a substantial amount of algae which may be hard to collect. It also requires a specific process which could be fairly costly and may push up the price of the oil. Biofuel is a somewhat new invention and biofuel through algae even newer so we have a lack of knowledge in the field which makes it harder to make advancement on. Cost is also currently a big issue that is holding back Lake County from taking aggressive step against algae in Clear Lake. Fortunately our plan is very cheap and cost efficient. Not to mention, that our idea is resourceful.
Your Proposed Solution/Product: Use a filter to remove algae from Clear Lake and use the algae to make genetically engineered biofuel. We would do that by creating a filter that can suck up the algae. We would have a boat and have a filter attached and then have a vacuum attached to that. It would all be resting along the water and would collect the water from the top. In order to make it so it would not vacuum up the fish, we would have a fan or something similar that scared the fish away from the boat. We will also have a net or wire such as chicken wire that would not allow fish to get into the vacuum. We would then use the algae to make fuel. We are not sure how we would do that but we would probably do something similar to how they use grease or oil to make diesel fuel.
Citations:
http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Water_Resources/Algae_in_Clear_Lake.htm
DRAFT REPORT Algal toxins bioassessment – Clear Lake, July&#. Figure 1: Study Our Map
energy.gov/eere/bioenergy/algal-biofuel
www.pressdemocrat.com/news/3059974-181/clear-lake-algae-tax-lacks
Virtual Mentor and Credentials:
Carolyn E. Ruttan
Invasive Species Program Coordinator
Lake County Water Resources
Problem: Algae in Clear Lake and: Pollution in the air. Cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) is contaminating Clear Lake, in Lake County, California. This algae does well in high nutrition and lots of sunlight. Microcystis and Aphanizomenon were two types of cyanobacteria discovered in various locations around Clear Lake.This algae can be harmful to humans, pets, and wildlife. The algae covers the southern end of the lake, near where the Konocti County Water District pumps out water for more than 17,000 homes and businesses. Toxins build up in the lake from many sources, both phosphorus and nitrogen.
Previous Attempted Solutions: Suck it out with a hose, crops for biofuel. Toxicology attempts so see how the algae reacted to chemicals have been used to try and clear it out (DRAFT REPORT Algal toxins bioassessment – Clear Lake, July&#. Figure 1: Study Our Map.). Another attempted solution was using an algae herbicide
Current Limitations/Present: The creation of biofuel requires a substantial amount of algae which may be hard to collect. It also requires a specific process which could be fairly costly and may push up the price of the oil. Biofuel is a somewhat new invention and biofuel through algae even newer so we have a lack of knowledge in the field which makes it harder to make advancement on. Cost is also currently a big issue that is holding back Lake County from taking aggressive step against algae in Clear Lake. Fortunately our plan is very cheap and cost efficient. Not to mention, that our idea is resourceful.
Your Proposed Solution/Product: Use a filter to remove algae from Clear Lake and use the algae to make genetically engineered biofuel. We would do that by creating a filter that can suck up the algae. We would have a boat and have a filter attached and then have a vacuum attached to that. It would all be resting along the water and would collect the water from the top. In order to make it so it would not vacuum up the fish, we would have a fan or something similar that scared the fish away from the boat. We will also have a net or wire such as chicken wire that would not allow fish to get into the vacuum. We would then use the algae to make fuel. We are not sure how we would do that but we would probably do something similar to how they use grease or oil to make diesel fuel.
Citations:
http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Water_Resources/Algae_in_Clear_Lake.htm
DRAFT REPORT Algal toxins bioassessment – Clear Lake, July&#. Figure 1: Study Our Map
energy.gov/eere/bioenergy/algal-biofuel
www.pressdemocrat.com/news/3059974-181/clear-lake-algae-tax-lacks
Virtual Mentor and Credentials:
Carolyn E. Ruttan
Invasive Species Program Coordinator
Lake County Water Resources
Mentor Feedback: We did not receive any mentor feedback. She told us she had received the email but has not yet given her opinion.
Reflection: The purpose of this project was to come up with a biotech solution for a world problem. For this project we started out brainstorming. We chose three biotech topics that interested us and that we wanted to find a solution to. After getting feedback from classmates we chose our favorite idea. We did some more brainstorming and researching on how to find a solution and had to answer some questions. After that we had to find an expert on our topic and had to email them and ask for their opinion and any ideas they had to improve our project. We then did an efficacy test where we put our possibly solutions/ideas/summary of project.
Two things we did well: We were all open minded and listened to others and we also all participated. We also came up with ideas that seem very efficient.
Two things we could improve: My group and I need to work on staying on task. We also need to all do the same amount of work. I think we could have researched more for how we would have turned the algae into bio-fuel.
Reflection: The purpose of this project was to come up with a biotech solution for a world problem. For this project we started out brainstorming. We chose three biotech topics that interested us and that we wanted to find a solution to. After getting feedback from classmates we chose our favorite idea. We did some more brainstorming and researching on how to find a solution and had to answer some questions. After that we had to find an expert on our topic and had to email them and ask for their opinion and any ideas they had to improve our project. We then did an efficacy test where we put our possibly solutions/ideas/summary of project.
Two things we did well: We were all open minded and listened to others and we also all participated. We also came up with ideas that seem very efficient.
Two things we could improve: My group and I need to work on staying on task. We also need to all do the same amount of work. I think we could have researched more for how we would have turned the algae into bio-fuel.