Carbon Cycle
This type of ecosystem was plowed under to make way for cornfields used in ethanol production.
Prairie Grassland
This is the most abundant greenhouse gas in Earth's atmosphere
water vapor
This pigment, found in algae, gives it a green color by absorbing blue and red light.
Chlorophyll
This chemical reaction is used to convert waste oils into biodiesel by breaking down triglycerides with an alcohol and a catalyst.
Transesterification
When prairie land is converted to cornfields, large amounts of this gas are released into the atmosphere.
carbon dioxide
Greenhouse gases primarily trap this type of radiation, contributing to global warming.
Infrared Radiation
The species of algae used in the "Build the Best Biofuel" experiment, originally isolated off the coast of Scotland.
Nannochloropsis oculata
Compared to vegetable oil, biodiesel burns cleaner in combustion engines because its molecules are smaller, requiring less of this for complete combustion.
Oxygen
Plowing prairie grasslands for corn ethanol production leads to the loss of this important soil component, which stores carbon and helps retain nutrients.
Organic Layer
The approximate concentration of carbon dioxide (CO₂) in the atmosphere in 1750 was this many parts per million (ppm).
280
Besides light, algae need these two key nutrients to grow, one of which is essential for ATP production and the other for protein synthesis.
Nitrogen and Phosphorous
Unlike fossil diesel, biodiesel is biodegradable, non-toxic, and contains very little of this pollutant, making it a more environmentally friendly fuel.
Sulfur
The conversion of prairies to cornfields reduces habitat for many species, including these migratory birds that rely on grasslands for nesting
ducks, geese, snakes, mice, literally anything that lives in the ground, or on it.
The primary human activity that most directly disrupts the natural carbon cycle is this.
burning fossil fuels
Unlike traditional plants, algae lack these three structures, which are typically found in land plants.
stems, roots, leaves
One major advantage of waste vegetable oil as a biofuel is that it does not compete with food production. What generation of biofuel does this classify it as?
second
The increased demand for corn ethanol production leads to higher use of this resource, which can contribute to depletion and contamination of local supplies
Water
This process is the number one way that Carbon-containing compounds are removed from the atmosphere.
Ocean absorption
These characteristics make algae a good alternative fuel source.
rapid growth, high oil content, and genetic adaptability, can grow them anywhere, don't compete with the food supply
Biodiesel is a good alternative to diesel since it does not require large engine modifications. However, there is a potential drawback in fuel efficiency. How efficient is biodiesel compared to regular diesel?
90%