I posted it Before Nature started requiring a subscribing membership, here is a link to the original pdf version. The pdf version is still accessible without a membership.

http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v442/n7103/pdf/442624a.pdf

GS CleanTech’s patented C02 Bioreactor reduces greenhouse gas emissions while creating an additional feedstock for renewable fuel production. If applied at ethanol facilities, it would boost fuel production by more than 15%, and if applied to coal fired power generation, it could produce more than 200 million gallons of renewable fuel annually for every 1,000 MW of electricity produced. Even more significant, however, is the relatively small footprint of the bioreactor. While traditional corn derived ethanol produces up to 450 gallons of fuel per acre, GS CleanTech’s C02 Bioreactor can produce more than 200,000 gallons of fuel per acre. With GS CleanTech’s C02 Bioreactor, our clients can reduce their carbon footprint while turning their exhaust carbon dioxide into a valuable source of clean, homegrown fuels.

GS CleanTech’s C02 Bioreactor is an enclosed structure with the ability to convert a concentrated supply of C02 into oxygen and biomass. The biomass can then be converted into fuel through traditional means.

All plants, including algae, need the following to live and grow: a supply of C02, light, a growth media and water with nutrients. The GS CleanTech C02 Bioreactor provides these resources in a compact, cost-efficient way.

First, concentrated C02 is captured at power plants or other source and piped to the bioreactor. The sunlight is then collected using efficient parabolic mirrors that transfer and filter the light to a series of light pipes. The light pipes channel the light into the bioreactor structure where it is distributed and radiated throughout the structure using light panels. The algae requires as little as 1.5% direct light which means that our collected light can be distributed over a substantial surface area.

Next, a growth media, such as polyester, is inserted between each lighting surface. Water, containing nutrients, continuously cascades down the growth media to facilitate the final required step for optimal growth.

Finally, to harvest the algae, the flow rate of the water over the growth media is increased slightly to gently remove a portion of the algae, allowing a portion of algae to remain and to begin the next growth cycle. The removed algae is then collected and routed for conversion into renewable fuels.

This technology is also very flexible and can accommodate a variety of algae types. High starch, high oil, or high cellulose algae can be grown in our bioreactor depending on output fuel requirements.

There are processes that you can have your Bio-fuel and fertility too, it seems a perfect synergy to get this sort of virtuous cycle happening .

This entire thread on ‘Terra Preta’ soils I feel has great possibilities to revolutionize sustainable agriculture into a major CO2 sequestration strategy. http://forums.hypography.com/earth-science/3451-terra-preta-9.html

I thought, I first read about these soils in ” Botany of Desire ” or “Guns,Germs,&Steel” but I could not find reference to them. I finely found the reference in “1491″, but I did not realize their potential .

The Georgia Inst. of Technology page:
http://www.energy.gatech.edu/presentations/dday.pdf

There is an ecology going on in these soils that is not completely understood, and if replicated and applied at scale would have multiple benefits for farmers and environmentalist.

As you will see the Japanese work with these soils is impressive, Especially with trees.

Another finding that supports the need to develop Terra Preta soils on a large scale:
New Scientist News - Fertilisers give the lungs of the planet bad breath

Also, Terra Preta is on the Agenda at this years world Soil Science Conference !
http://crops.confex.com/crops/wc2006/techprogram/P16274.HTM

I’ve sent this thread to the researchers at M-Roots, who make Mycorisal fungus inoculations for acceleration of the reestablishment of the symbiotic fungal / root relationship. Here’s the M-Roots site: http://www.rootsinc.com/

I also sent it to Dr. Jared Diamond, if he replies, I will probably have an orgasm!

Here is a great article that high lights this pyrolysis process , ( http://www.eprida.com/hydro/ ) which could use existing infrastructure to provide Charcoal sustainable Agriculture , Syn-Fuels, and a variation of this process would also work as well for H2 , Charcoal-Fertilizer, while sequestering CO2 from Coal fired plants to build soils at large scales , be sure to read the “See an initial analysis NEW”. of this technology to clean up Coal fired power plants.

Soil erosion, energy scarcity, excess greenhouse gas all answered through regenerative carbon management
http://www.newfarm.org/columns/research_paul/2006/0106/charcoal.shtml

Hopefully this reply from the Foundation on Economic Trends, to one of my postings will get some traction. My thought was this new agricultural technology called marker-assisted selection, or MAS offers a sophisticated method to greatly accelerate classical breeding could be the key to the local large scale development of Terra Preta agriculture.

Dear Erich,

Mr. Rifkin is out of the office today. I have sent some of your materials to our research team and will look into them further. I will be sure that Mr. Rifkin sees your message and the supporting attachments. Thank you for your message.

Kind regards,
Drew

~~~~~

Andrew H. Johnston

Chief of Staff

Foundation on Economic Trends

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From: Shengar at aol.com
Sent: Tuesday, July 04, 2006 4:20 PM
To: jrifkin At foet.org; letters@washpost.com
Subject: Terra Preta Soils: A solution to Numerous Problems

” Dear Mr. Rifkin: After seeing article on MAS in The Washington Post :

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/03/AR2006070300922.html

I felt you may be interested in this MUCH larger systemic and holistic approach to sustainable agricultural development.

MAS could be the key to the local large scale development of Terra Preta agriculture.”

Re: Terra Preta - 08-15-2006, 12:18 AM

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Hi All:

Here is a reply from Danny Day of http://www.eprida.com/hydro/
Also, be sure to read the ” See an initial analysis. NEW ” LINK of the variation of this technology to clean up Coal fired power plants that utilizes exsiting infrastructure.

“Dear Erich:

We are in the early stages of marketing equipment to produce fuel and char for 1-8ton/hr dry biomass conversion systems. The initial beta units are being designed/deployed at 1tph. Our field trials with the university look promising. Thanks for your support. If you are in the Athens area, give us a call for a tour.

Danny

On 8/14/06, wrote:

Dear Dr. Day:
Could you please update me on any progress on the hydrogen production/ ECOSSTM Fertilizer Project?

Erich J. Knight