MIT Develops Anti-Fouling Technology for CO2 Capture in Photobioreactors.
MIT researchers have developed a new technology that can limit the buildup of algae on the walls of photobioreactors, which can help convert carbon dioxide into useful products. The key is to coat the transparent containers with a material that can hold an electrostatic charge, and then applying a very small voltage to that layer. The system has worked well in lab-scale tests, and with further development might be applied to commercial production within a few years.