Algae

 

     

    

Algae are a diverse group of aquatic organisms that have the ability to conduct photosynthesis. “Alga is a term that describes a large and incredibly diverse group of eukaryotic, photosynthetic lifeforms. These organisms do not share a common ancestor and hence, are not related to each other (polyphyletic).” Multicellular examples of algae include the giant kelp and brown algae.Algae are eukaryotic organisms that have no roots, stems, or leaves but do have chlorophyll and other pigments for carrying out photosynthesis. Algae can be multicellular or unicellular.Algae is a term used to describe a large, diverse group of eukaryotic, photosynthetic organisms.The unique feature of algae is the ability to perform photosynthesis. This is what differentiates them from other organisms and is also the main reason for their inclusion in the plant kingdom. The mode of nutrition is naturally autotrophic mode

Characteristics of Algae

• Algae are photosynthetic organisms

• Algae can be either unicellular or multicellular organisms

• Algae lack a well-defined body, so, structures like roots, stems or leaves are absent

• Algaes are found where there is adequate moisture.

• Reproduction in algae occurs in both asexual and sexual forms. Asexual reproduction occurs by spore formation.

• Algae are free-living, although some can form a symbiotic relationship with other organisms.

• Algae are the simplest multicellular plants. Some are unicellular eg. Chlamydomonas

• Pant body: known as Thallus and they are avascular

• Habitat: Algae are usually aquatic, either freshwater or marine and some are terresterial.

• Algae are eukaryotic thallophytes.

• Algae are photoautotrophs.

• Storage form of food: Starch

• Reproduction: Algae reproduce either by vegetative, asexual or sexual method

• Vevetative method: fragmentation, hormogonia

• Asexual spore: zoospores, aplanospores, hypnospores, akinetes, azygospore

• Sexual method:  isogamous, anisogamous, and oogamous gametic fusion

• Benefits

Algae are emerging to be one of the most promising long-term, sustainable sources of biomass and oils for fuel, food, feed, and other co-products. What makes them so attractive are the large number and wide variety of benefits associated with how and where they grow.

Nearly all these benefits stem from the fact that these plants have evolved over billions of years to produce and store energy in the form of oil, and they do this more efficiently than any other known natural or engineered process.

Here are 10 reasons why algae are a promising new source of fuel and other products:

1) Algae Grow Fast

Algae can double their numbers every few hours, can be harvested daily, and have the potential to produce a volume of biomass and biofuel many times greater than that of our most productive crops.

2) Algae Can Have High Biofuel Yields

Algae store energy in the form of oils and carbohydrates, which, combined with their high productivity, means they can produce from 2,000 to as many as 5,000 gallons of biofuels per acre per year.

3) Algae Consume CO2

Like any other plant, algae, when grown using sunlight, consume (or absorb) carbon dioxide (CO2) as they grow, releasing oxygen (O2) for the rest of us to breathe. For high productivity, algae require more CO2, which can be supplied by emissions sources such as power plants, ethanol facilities, and other sources.

4) Algae Do Not Compete With Agriculture

Algae cultivation uses both land that in many cases is unsuitable for traditional agriculture, as well as water sources that are not useable for other crops, such as sea-, brackish- and wastewater. As such, algae-based fuels complement biofuels made from traditional agricultural processes.

5) Microalgal Biomass Can Be Used for Fuel, Feed and Food

Microalgae can be cultivated to have a high protein and oil content, for example, which can be used to produce either biofuels or animal feeds, or both. In addition, microalgal biomass, which is rich in micronutrients, is already used for dietary supplements to advance human health.

6) Macroalgae Can Be Grown in the Sea

Macroalgae (seaweeds) are grown in the sea, or even on land with seawater, and their sugars can be converted into biofuels and chemicals.

7) Algae Can Purify Wastewaters

Algae thrive in nutrient-rich waters like municipal waste waters (sewage), animal wastes and some industrial effluents, at the same time purifying these wastes while producing a biomass suitable for biofuels production.

8) Algal Biomass Can Be Used as an Energy Source

After oil extraction, the remaining algal biomass can be dried and “pelletized” and used as fuel that is burned in industrial boilers and other power generation sources.

9) Algae Can Be Used to Produce Many Useful Products

Algae can be cultivated to produce a variety of products for large to small markets: plastics, chemical feedstocks, lubricants, fertilizers, and even cosmetics. See other products algae is used for here.

10) The Algae Industry is a Job Creation Engine

Algae can grow in a wide variety of climates in a multitude of production methods, from ponds to photobioreactors to fermenters, and thus will create a wide variety of jobs throughout the United States, from research to engineering, from construction to farming, from marketing to financial services.