Factory, photosynthesis

Nano-photosynthesis can produce sugar and starch for food and further synthesis of cellulose can produce paper and wood to avoid clear-cutting forests. Carbon retrieved from the atmosphere and recycled from existing wastes by MNT will be used to make carbon nano-tubes, with superior properties to steel. Carbon will be the most common structural and functional element for a MNT-based civilization [32,33]. A carbon-based MNT material production model is conceptualized as in Fig. 9. If there is a specific need for metal, a nano-factory with trillions of nano-assemblers will synthesize steel, copper, and alloys in order to skip mining and refining [32,33]. Therefore, industrial wastewater, hazardous wastes and air pollution will all vanish. 

Fraser, M., et at. The Photosynthesis Energy Factory Analysis, Synthesis, and Demonstration" InterTechnology/Solar Corp. Warrenton, Va., 1977. 

FRASER ET AL. Photosynthesis Energy Factory WETLANDS WASTEWATER TREATMENT SUBSYSTEM... 

The concept of the Photosynthesis Energy Factory (PEF) was devised jointly by Dr. G. C. Szego of InterTechnology/Solar Corporation and Dr. W. J. Oswald of the University of California at Berkeley. The work reported in this paper was supported by the U. S. Department of Energy under Contract No. EX-76-C-01-2548 and No. ET-78-C-01-3024. The University of California at Berkeley participated in the initial project under a subcontract. 

Creation of ethanol in fact does not start in the factory but on farmers fields in planta via plant photosynthesis. Photosynthesis, which mainly takes place in the green leaves of plants, leads to the final carbohydrates hexosephosphates. Hexosephosphates are converted to sucrose, the first free carbohydrate, which is the most important transport carbohydrate in plants. 

Food consumption by an individual could be a starting point at 300 kcal day or 3 kWh day or 120 W, which is two light bulbs. This has to be multiplied by 16.5 to allow for the individual s share (on average) in roads, factories, cars, etc. Table 1 shows at once the low average efficiency of photosynthesis, so that there is scope for the development of high energy-yielding crops. 

Fig. P-30. Photosynthesis. With their tops In the sun and their roots In the soil, plants are green factories producing energy. (Courtesy, University of Maryland, College F rk, Md.)...

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