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Algae Action

A MUCKY PLANT IS POISED TO CLEAN UP THE ACTS OF INDUSTRIAL SMOKESTACKS ACROSS THE U.S.  HEAR ALL ABOUT THE NEW BENEFITS OF ALGAE ON TODAY’S ENVIRONMINUTE.      

RESEARCHERS AT OHIO UNIVERSITY HAVE CREATED A SYSTEM THAT USES BLUE-GREEN ALGAE TO REDUCE TOXIC EMISSIONS FROM COAL PLANTS.  ONCE IN ACTION, THE SYSTEM, WHICH SIMPLY FILTERS EMISSIONS THROUGH THE ALGAE, MAY BE ABLE TO REDUCE CARBON DIOXIDE, SULFUR DIOXIDE, AND NITROGEN OXIDE OUTPUT BY AS MUCH AS EIGHTY PERCENT IN SOME CASES.  BUT THAT’S NOT ALL.    

THE ALGAE CONSUME THE FUMES – AND THAT HELPS IT GROW VERY RAPIDLY.  ONCE THE ALGAE DIE, THEY CAN BE PROCESSED AND CONVERTED INTO VEGETABLE OIL AND EVEN USED AS BIODIESEL FUEL.  THE ALGAE REMNANTS LEFT BEHIND IN THE CONVERSION ARE USEFUL AS WELL – BECOMING ANIMAL FEED OR FERTILIZER.  THEY CAN EVEN BE DRIED AND BURNED AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO COAL.        

THE ENVIRONMINUTE IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE HEINZ FAMILY PHILANTHROPIES AND THE HEINZ ENDOWMENTS.  LEARN MORE BY VISITING ENVIRONMINUTE-DOT-COM. 

Read more in the Christian Science Monitor.