Page 92 - JCAU-5-3

Journal of Chinese
Architecture and Urbanism Regenerative algal futures

It is important to be aware of the difference between may prove to be unnecessary as systems could be developed
microalgae and cyanobacteria in terms of what species could to produce water on multiplanetary surfaces (Zubrin,
be beneficial for bioregenerative futures. Cyanobacteria 2023). To sustain life on a planet such as Mars from the
were previously known as blue-green algae as large density outset, in situ resource utilization is required (Pazar, 2020).
in water would make the color of the water bluish or Working with immobilized photosynthetic biomaterials
brownish green. However, cyanobacteria are technically in regenerative structures could have many advantages
bacteria. Microalgae are, in general, unicellular eukaryotic for multiplanetary built environments. However, it is
or prokaryotic plant-like organisms that possess a nucleus, important to consider the use of correct bioregenerative
chloroplasts and mitochondria, and can photosynthesize. PBR systems for each specific location and application.
Examples of microalgae are Chlamydomonas and Chlorella. Liquid suspension can be used for creating oxygen through
Examples of cyanobacteria are Anabaena and Nostoc, hybridized PBR systems efficiently, whereas biocomposites
which can fix nitrogen from the atmosphere into ammonia. may be beneficial to be used on architectures and be an
In research for extreme environmental applications, asset for building materials.
there has been generic favorite species for space-related The microalgae C. vulgaris is considered a resilient species
possibilities. However, more research is needed into and is an all-round resilient species for bioregenerative
which species will benefit each condition. A potential applications (Matula & Nabity, 2019; Detrell, 2021;
way to work with cyanobacteria in terms of nitrogen Niederwieser et al., 2018; Fahrion et al., 2021). The portfolio
fixing on the surface of planets could be the use of novel of species is vast and there are many species of microalgae
photosynthetic biomineralized living tissues (Figure 9). that require further research. In future research, it will be
This way living tissue can potentially photosynthesize by important to experiment with many species to understand
being embedded with cyanobacteria to produce oxygen, the applications that each species can be of special benefit for,
and at the same time fix atmospheric nitrogen. BioServe specifically which species would benefit in bioregenerative
space technologies, DLR, MIT, and Saarland University are immobilized biocomposite building materials (Caldwell et al.,
working in collaboration with NASA on a Space Biofilms 2021). Therefore, it is feasible that not only one species will
project, and its primary objective is to characterize fungal benefit bioregenerative algal architecture, but that multiple
and bacterial biofilm in space in a controlled way. species will be able to be used for differing applications in
NASA and their team aim at assessing mechanisms space or on Earth. It is not practical to rely on one species.
that aid biofilm formation in space. Working with 9. Microalgae: Promising organisms
photosynthetic tissues, hydrogels and biofilms could
alleviate relying on suspension-based microalgae in liquid Photoautotrophic growth with microalgae presents us
forms. Supplying water to multiplanetary surfaces will be with the following formula in which C. vulgaris conducts
a gargantuan task as microgravity and mass transport of photosynthesis.
water must be considered. This transfer of liquids and water 6 CO + 12 H O + ΔH → C H O + 6 H O + 6 O 2
2
hv
6
12
2
2
6
(Where ΔHhν = 2870 kJ mol glucose)
-1
Photosynthesis of microalgae and cyanobacteria produces
O as well as, in some cases, edible biomass from CO and H O
2
2,
2
in Biomass Production Chamber (Helisch et al., 2018). The
addition of microalgae and higher plants into a habitat enables
breathability and allows humans to be enclosed for long
periods. A resilient species of microalgae in a photobioreactor
system can allow for breathability for the human in varying
atmospheres. Evidence suggests that microalgae have a
high harvest index (Hi>95%) with high light utilization
(>10%) and do not require as much water as higher plants
(Helisch et al., 2018). In photobioreactor systems, microalgae
are cultivated in liquid medium (water enriched with the
Figure 9. Tectonic Conferviance. Emergent texture of photosynthetic necessary nutrients), enabling long cultivation periods.
biomineralized living tissue formed by the growth of filamentous Photosynthetic organisms are ideal for absorbing human
cynobacteria biofilm (Oscillatoria animalis) in hydrogel scaffold. This
project was led by Prantar Tamuli, together with Brenda Parker, Anete exhalations of CO in an enclosed environment, as oxygen
2
Salmane, and Marcos Cruz. Source: Image by Ram Shergill (UCL) is produced from photosynthetic activity (Häder, 2020). The
Volume 5 Issue 3 (2023) 10 https://doi.org/10.36922/jcau.179