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I'm also going to design a better reactor. Something that can really work better. I've got a 1m length of 50mm clear PVC tubing that I will use for the main chamber. It's not rigid but if I wanted hard acrylic or polycarb it would have been about 5x as much so this will do. I'm also thinking of a inline filter. Then again it might just act as a good growing base and clog up. Oh the many things to think about.
Statistics: Posted by Jehu — Sun Feb 14, 2010 10:37 am
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The only thing I can think of is that the algae likes turbulance. Humm, and I thought it was the other way around. I might have to redesign the system. Maybe use a water pump to circulate the water around the reactor vessel and a redesign of the reactors. Have to figure out a new way of introducing the CO2. Humm, maybe by not bubbling it through the water but having it sit on top? I have noticed that there is a fair bit of growth around the necks of the bottles.
I've done a bit of research on hydrolosis of cellulose for fermentation. Looks like the method I stated a few posts ago should work ok. Maybe use a 'crockpot' to warm up the HCl. Still looking for the best way to extract the oil first. Alot of companies currently use Hexane but that's too far out of my league. Might have to look into pressing techniques.
Statistics: Posted by Jehu — Tue Jan 05, 2010 12:00 am
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I'm thinking of making a nice funnel out of PVC pipe. At least I will be able to have a decent amount in there at once to give it enough pressure to filter at a reasonable rate.
Another thing about this is the smell. It's rather strange. It smells like soggy veggie scraps left on the bench for a month and off milk. Not sure if it's flammable or not.
I've also noticed that when I transfer it from bottle to bottle the inside of the bottle being filled fogs up, like the water is hot but it's only room temp. Strange huh?
Statistics: Posted by Jehu — Mon Jan 04, 2010 1:47 am
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Anyway, I tried to harvest it. Ugh even two coffee filters aren't enough. Only the big bits get caught in it with a heck of alot going straight through. So that would also rule out using a coffee plunger to harvest it. Looks like I'm gonna have to build a better filter, probably using aquarium filter wool. Though I suppose I could use something else. Maybe sand or charcoal. Humm, have to think about that.
Statistics: Posted by Jehu — Sat Jan 02, 2010 2:41 am
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One thing I'm a bit worried about is that in the late afternoon for about an hour the bottles are exposed to direct sunlight. I'm worried that the UV exposure may have killed the algae a bit. I hope this isn't the case and some of the more shaded colonies have survived to continue growth.
I really should have harvested the current batch first before hooking up the booze wash. Oh well. I've still gotta do the whole artifical light source setup too. Now just to figure out what wavelengths and quantities I need for that.
Statistics: Posted by Jehu — Sat Jan 02, 2010 1:07 am
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But anyway, Just some comments on what people think would be encouraging. What does everyone think of these ideas?
Statistics: Posted by Jehu — Thu Dec 31, 2009 9:28 pm
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Sometimes I have to give the bottles a few squeezes as some of the hoses between the reactors are getting clogged with alge and crap. This just clears the lines and makes it all flow better.
Another thing I've noticed is that Algae isn't particually fond of direct sunlight. It seems to grow better in the shade with plenty of diffused, ambient light. Might be something to think about.
I'm also tinkering with the idea of using normal PVC sewer pipe and using red and blue LEDs for the growing. Maybe concentrating the light on those two wavelengths may help it grow better while using a solar panel to harvest the sunlight to power them.
Statistics: Posted by Jehu — Sat Dec 12, 2009 1:46 am
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