Emily Chan
“Our system does not use any of the hazardous gases or microfibers needed for the silicon fabrication technology that photovoltaic cells rely on,” said Muthukumaran Packirisamy, a co-author of the study and a professor in the Department of Mechanical, Industrial, and Aerospace Engineering.
“Furthermore, disposing of silicon computer chips is not easy. We use biocompatible polymers, so the whole system is easily decomposable and very cheap to manufacture.”
In addition, algae can grow in a range of environments, including wastewater, artificially constructed ponds, and brackish water.
It can help remove phosphorous from water by harnessing solar energy. Phosphorous contributes to harmful algal blooms in bodies of water around the globe, which can be a danger to wildlife, livestock, and humans.
To treat the water and remove phosphorous, chemicals and energy-intensive solutions are used.
The energy that algae create can take these methods out of the equation, providing our globe with a cleaner future.
