Carbon dioxide in the environment 

According to data from the United Nations, carbon dioxide (CO2) levels and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere rose to new records in 2019. Additionally, climate-related events have become more and more extreme, thus affecting the lives od those in every continent. CO² is currently a well-known gas for being one of the main causes of the greenhouse effect, besides being one of the main contributors of air pollution.  According to the Climate Nasa website, over the past 170 years, human activities have raised atmospheric concentrations of CO2 by 47% above pre-industrial levels found in 1850.

The challenge and the search for the solution

The challenge proposed by “SpaceApps Nasa” is themed within Sustainability, more specifically towards “Sustaining Our Planet for Future Generations”. We seek sustainable manners of lowering the CO² concentration on the environment, specifically targeting the state organs, aiming at the well-being of the global population. We have found a project develope by a design company named Cloud Collective, that consists of a algae farm suspended over a viaduct in Genebra, Switszerland. This project also makes use of solar energy for the use of pumps and filters.

Solution

The proposal is to attach a bioreactor named “Mini Algae Farm”, inspired by the Cloud Collective´s project previously mentioned, in the upper surface of public transportation buses. This “Mini Algae Farm” would contain algae from the Chlorella Sorokiniana family. For this, a tubulation that is able to hold algae, which will be constantly moved by water due to the stimulus of a water pump. 

 This device receives the energy from the bus's own motor. Since the algar have it’s lifetime, the recycling of the ones that would not be able to perform this task can be directed to nutrient, medicine, cosmetic and fertilizer production. We would like to remind that to produce the fertilizer first we need to do the composting. We emphasize tht te algae can be found in abundance on rivers and would not cause eutrophication.

Viability

The projects viability comes from the low cost of the devices used. for example filter, tubes. pumps and labour on the algae exchange. We can notice the great result our project brings to the table, carrying on the carbon sequestration through the system the bus attached system. 

Adapting Cloud Collective’s project, and making sure the mini farms will be at an ideal height for higher a CO² harvesting rates, leading to a higher photosynthesis rate. This Carbon dioxide comes from buses and cars around the farm.

Informative video:

https://youtu.be/C_J2Tx6LF6w

Informative website:

https://appguiadigital.com.br/u-space/

References

NASA, “Carbon Dioxide”. Available in < https://climate.nasa.gov/vital-signs/carbon-dioxide/ >. Acess in October 4, 2020.

NASA. “Challenges | Sustain”. Available in <https://2020.spaceappschallenge.org/challenges/sustain/>. Acess in October 4, 2020.

NATIONS, UNITED "Goal 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts". Available in https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/climate-change/ Acess in October 4, 2020.

ECYCLE "O que é poluição do ar? Conheça causas e tipos“ Available in < https://www.ecycle.com.br/2949-poluicao-do-ar.html >. Acess in October 4, 2020.

ECYCLE “Fazenda de algas é instalada em viaduto para remover CO2“. Available in < https://www.ecycle.com.br/component/content/article/37-tecnologia-a-favor/2922-fazenda-de-algas-e-instalada-em-viaduto-para-remover-co2.html >. Acess in October 4, 2020.

SANTOS, E. “Eutrofização”. Disponível em <https://www.biologianet.com/ecologia/eutrofizacao.htm>. Acess in October 4, 2020.

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