High yield algal biomass production without concentrated CO2 supply under open pond conditions
First Claim
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1. A method for culturing algae, the method comprising:
- culturing alkaliphilic algae in an open pond medium having a pH above 9.5, sufficient to allow increased fixation of atmospheric CO2 into the open pond medium; and
incorporating into the open pond medium an inorganic carbon buffer, wherein the inorganic carbon buffer comprises HCO3−
present at a concentration ranging from 4.5 mM to 60 mM and the open pond medium has a salinity in the range of from about 10 g/L to about 30 g/L and an alkalinity of up to about 1 M;
wherein the open pond medium is free of any concentrated supply of CO2, and no concentrated source of CO2 is used to supply carbon for culturing the alkaliphilic algae.
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Abstract
Methods and systems for efficient culturing of algae in open ponds. Further, the methods include a method for culturing algae in an open pond medium that is free of any concentrated supply of CO2, and no concentrated source of CO2 is used to supply carbon for culturing the algae. Also, the algae are cultured in the open pond which has a pH above 9.5. In addition, the open pond medium has incorporated therein an inorganic carbon buffer at a specified concentration under conditions for obtaining an increased biomass. Also, the pH above 9.5 permits sufficient increased fixation of atmospheric CO2 into the open pond medium.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method for culturing algae, the method comprising:
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culturing alkaliphilic algae in an open pond medium having a pH above 9.5, sufficient to allow increased fixation of atmospheric CO2 into the open pond medium; and incorporating into the open pond medium an inorganic carbon buffer, wherein the inorganic carbon buffer comprises HCO3−
present at a concentration ranging from 4.5 mM to 60 mM and the open pond medium has a salinity in the range of from about 10 g/L to about 30 g/L and an alkalinity of up to about 1 M;wherein the open pond medium is free of any concentrated supply of CO2, and no concentrated source of CO2 is used to supply carbon for culturing the alkaliphilic algae. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for culturing algae, the method comprising:
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culturing alkaliphilic algae in an open pond medium having a pH above 9.5, sufficient to allow increased fixation of atmospheric CO2 into the open pond medium; and incorporating into the open pond medium an inorganic carbon buffer, wherein the inorganic carbon buffer comprises HCO3−
present at a concentration ranging from 4.5 mM to 60 mM and the open pond medium has a salinity in the range of from about 10 g/L to about 30 g/L and an alkalinity of up to about 1 M;wherein the open pond medium is free of any concentrated supply of CO2, and no concentrated source of CO2 is used to supply carbon for culturing the alkaliphilic algae, the method using atmospheric CO2 alone.
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19. A method for culturing an alkaliphilic algal strain, the method comprising:
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culturing the alkaliphilic algal strain, the algal strain comprising microalgae or cyanobacteria, in an open pond medium having a pH above 9.5, sufficient to allow increased fixation of atmospheric CO2 into the open pond medium, and a salinity in the range of from about 10 g/L to about 30 g/L, free of any concentrated supply of CO2, and no concentrated source of CO2 is used to supply carbon for culturing the alkaliphilic algal strain; incorporating into the open pond medium an inorganic carbon buffer at a total alkalinity ranging from about 3 mM to about 1 M; regulating nitrogen input in the open pond medium, in a range from about 5 mg/L to about 25 mg/L; and recovering the cultured algal strain.
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Specification