PNAS: A new technology that can detect the health of algae crops

As we all know, well-trained dogs can use their keen sense of smell to recognize explosives, contraband and even certain diseases

Now, chemists at the University of California San Diego have developed a technique for monitoring the health of algae crops

As described in an article published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences on October 1, a group of different researchers—from undergraduates to senior faculty members—in A joint project of the Department of Energy developed a real-time measurement technology that could save hundreds of millions of dollars in the loss of algae biomass

"In order to have enough algae to supply all these renewable materials-biofuels, bioplastics, and nutrients-we need to find ways to increase algae production and production," senior author of the "Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences" paper, University of California Said Robert Pomeroy from the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at the University of San Diego

The most economically competitive method of growing algae is to grow tiny aquatic organisms in large "swirling" ponds

A research team at the University of California, San Diego has developed a new method for evaluating volatile gases, which are organic compounds released by microbial processes

This technology continuously monitors the normal health of the algae by tracking the volatile gases released during the growth and flowering cycle of the algae

"If you know that there is an attacking crop, from insects and bacteria, then you can mitigate the damage or unplug and harvest any damage before harvesting," said ghostly Mike Burkart chemist and biologist Steve Mayfield while working Discover the 21st Century Food and Fuel Project

The researchers pointed out in their experiments that the CIMS system detects grazing contamination by infectious microorganisms 37 to 76 hours earlier than traditional monitoring methods (including microscope and fluorescence)

Professor Prather is the founding director of the National Science Foundation (NSF) Center for Aerosols' Chemical Impact on the Environment (CAICE), which is the National Science Foundation (NSF) Chemical Innovation Center

"At CAICE, one of our main goals is to develop unique online analysis methods to detect complex mixtures in biological and environmental systems," Prather said

The researchers pointed out that CIMS can be used to monitor the health of other valuable sources, including cheese, beer, monoclonal antibodies, and certain laboratory-grown meats, all of which are vulnerable to infection by microorganisms

DOI

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Article title

Continuous measurements of volatile gases as detection of algae crop health