This technical book explores current and future applications of solar power as an unlimited source of energy that earth receives every day.  Photosynthetic organisms have learned to utilize this abundant source of energy by converting it into high-energy biochemical compounds.  Inspired by the efficient conversion of solar energy into an electron flow, attempts have been made to construct artificial photosynthetic systems capable of establishing a charge separation state for generating electricity or driving chemical reactions.  Another important aspect of photosynthesis is the CO2 fixation and the production of high energy compounds.  Photosynthesis can produce biomass using solar energy while reducing the CO2 level in air.  Biomass can be converted into biofuels such as biodiesel and bioethanol. Under certain conditions, photosynthetic organisms can also produce hydrogen gas which is one of the cleanest sources of energy.

REZA RAZEGHIFARD is an associate professor of biochemistry at Nova Southeastern University.

Chapter 1. Physics Overview of Solar Energy

1.1 Introduction

1.2 The Sun

1.3 Light

1.4 Thermodynamics

1.5 Photovoltaics

1.6 Photosynthesis

Chapter 2. Oxygenic Photosynthesis

2.1 Introduction

2.2 What can we learn from natural photosynthesis to do artificial photosynthesis?

2.3 Path of energy: from photons to charge separation

2.4 Electron transfer pathways

2.5 Photophosphorylation

2.6 Carbon-di-oxide to organic compounds

2.7 Evolution of oxygenic photosynthesis

2.8 Some interesting questions about whole plants

2.9 Concluding remarks: perspectives for the future

Chapter 3. Apparatus and Mechanism of Photosynthetic Watersplitting as Nature's Blueprint for Efficient Solar Energy Exploitation

3.1 Introduction

3.2 Overall reaction pattern of photosynthesis and respiration

3.3 Bioenergetic limit of solar energy exploitation: water splitting

3.4 Mankind's dream of using water and solar radiation as "clean fuel"

3.5 Nature's blueprint of light induced water splitting

3.6 Types of approaches in performing light driven H₂ and O₂ formation from water

3.7 Light- induced “stable” charge separation

3.8 Energetics of light induced charge separation

3.9 Oxidative water splitting: the Kok cycle

3.10 Y_z oxidation by P680

3.11 Structure and function of the WOC

3.12 Concluding remarks

Chapter 4. Artificial Photosynthesis

4.1 Introduction

4.2 Organic pigment assemblies on electrodes

4.3 Photosystem assemblies on electrodes

4.4 Hydrogen production by photosystem i hybrid systems

4.5 Mimicking water oxidation with manganese complexes

4.6 Protein design for introducing manganese chemistry in proteins

4.7 Protein design and photoactive proteins with Chl derivatives

4.8 Conclusion

Chapter 5. Artificial Photosynthesis: Ruthenium Complexes

5.1 Ruthenium(II)

5.2 Ligand influence on the photochemistry of Ru(II)

5.3 Importance of polypyridyl ligands and metal ion for tuning of MLCT transitions

5.4 Electron transfer of Ru(II) complexes

5.5 Light harvesting complexes using Ru(II) complexes

5.6 Ru(II) artificial photosystem models for photosystem II (PSII)

5.7 Ru(II) artificial photosystem models for hydrogenase

5.8 Conclusions

Chapter 6. CO₂ Sequestration and Hydrogen Production Using Cyanobacteria and Green Algae

6.1 Introduction

6.2 Microbiology

6.3 Biochemistry of CO₂ fixation

6.4 Parameters affecting the CO₂ sequestration process

6.5 Hydrogen production by cyanobacteria

6.6 Mechanisms of H₂ production in green algae

6.7 Photobioreactors

6.8 Conclusion

Chapter 7. Cyanobacterial Biofuel and Chemical Production for CO₂ Sequestration

7.1 Carbon sequestration by biomass

7.2 Intro to cyanobacteria

7.3 CO₂ uptake efficiency of cyanobacteria

7.4 Mitigation of costs through captured-carbon products

7.5 Captured-carbon products from engineered cyanobacteria

7.6 Conclusion

Chapter 8. Hydrogen Production by Microalgae

8.1 Introduction

8.2 Hydrogenase engineering

8.3 Metabolic reprograming

8.4 Light capture improvement

Chapter 9. Algal Biofuels

9.1 Introduction

9.2 Advantages of algae

9.3 Algal strains and biofuel production

9.4 Algal biofuels

9.5 Algal cultivation for biofuel production

9.6 Photobioreactors employed for algal biofuels

9.7 Recent achievements in algal biofuels

9.8 Strategies for enhancement of algal biofuel production

9.9 Conclusion

Chapter 10. Green Hydrogen: Algal Biohydrogen Production

10.1 Introduction

10.2 Hydrogen production by algae

10.3 Hydrogenase enzyme

10.4 Diversity of hydrogen producing algae

10.5 Model microalgae for H₂ production studies: Chlamydomonas reinhardtii

10.6 Approaches for enhancing hydrogen production

10.7 Conclusions

Chapter 11. Growth in Photobioreactors

11.1 Introduction

11.2 Design of photobioreactors

11.3 Limitations to productivity of microalgal cultures

11.4 Actual productivities of microalgal cultures

11.5 Distribution of light in photobioreactors

11.6 Gas exchange in photobioreactors

11.7 Shear stress in photobioreactors

11.8 Current trends in photobioreactor development

Chapter 12. Industrial Cultivation Systems for Intensive Production of Microalgae

12.1 Introduction

12.2 Relevant issues for design and operation of systems for microalgal cultures

12.3 Open systems

12.4 Closed systems: Photobioreactors

12.5 Novel photobioreactor configurations

12.6 Case study: intensive production of bio-oil

Chapter 13. Microalgae Biodiesel and Macroalgae Bioethanol: The Solar Conversion Challenge for Industrial Renewable Fuels

13.1 Introduction

13.2 Biofuel supply, demand, production, and new feedstocks

13.3 Feasibility of photosynthetic fuel production

13.4 Biodiesel production and feedstocks

13.5 Macroalgae biofuel feedstocks and production

13.6 Conclusion

Chapter 14. Techno-Economic Assessment of Large-Scale Production of Bioethanol from Microalgal Biomass

14.1 Introduction

14.2 Technology selection and process design

14.3 Economic analysis

14.4 Reduction of overall production cost

14.5 Conclusion

Chapter 15. Microalgae-Derived Chemicals: Opportunity for an Integrated Chemical Plant

15.1 Introduction

15.2 Microalgae cultivation systems

15.3 Outdoor open systems

15.4 Outdoor enclosed systems

15.5 Lipids

15.6 Polyunsaturated fatty acids

15.7 Carotenoid

15.8 Carbohydrates

15.9 Protein

15.10 Process integration

15.11 Conclusions

Chapter 16. Fuels and Chemicals from Lignocellulosic Biomass

16.1 Introduction

16.2 The nature of lignocellulosic biomass

16.3 Feedstocks for biomass processing

16.4 The production of fermentable sugars from biomass

16.5 Thermochemical conversion of biomass to fuels and chemicals

16.6 Fuels and chemicals from biomass

16.7 Conclusion