Developing a bioreactor that enables the efficient photosynthesis of algae on a large scale is no easy task. In this video, Dr. Nina Gaißert from the Festo Bionic Learning Network describes their PhotoBionicCell that uses algae in Festo's industrial biologisation system.
“Our aim is to make a significant contribution to improving the quality of life of today's and future generations by the large-scale cultivation of biomass using our automatic technology,” says Dr. Elias Knubben, Vice President Corporate Research and Innovation.
The system uses an innovative photobioreactor with which the algae is automatically cultivated and its growth controlled. The cells use photosynthesis in their chloroplasts to convert sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water into oxygen and chemical energy carriers or organic recyclable materials. The automation technology in the PhotoBionicCell from Festo provides optimal gassing and mixing so that algae can absorb 100X more carbon dioxide than land plants such as trees or maize.
An Army veteran, Alix Paultre was a signals intelligence soldier on the East/West German border in the early ‘80s, and eventually wound up helping launch and run a publication on consumer electronics for the US military stationed in Europe. Alix first began in this industry in 1998 at Electronic Products magazine, and since then has worked for a variety of publications in the embedded electronic engineering space. Alix currently lives in Wiesbaden, Germany.
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