ELECTROMAGNETIC BIOACCELERATOR

• US 20100120095A1
• Filed: 12/14/2007
• Published: 05/13/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bio-Tree Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Bio-Tree Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Gomis Catala, Cristian, Stroïazzo-Mougin, Bernard A. J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,969,074 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/72
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2251/95 Specific microorganisms
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2257/304 Hydrogen sulfide
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2257/404 Nitrogen oxides other than dinitrogen oxide
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2257/504 Carbon dioxide
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2257/7022 Aliphatic hydrocarbons
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/84 Biological processes
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 21/02 Photobioreactors culturing algae A01G33/00, A01H4/001, C12N1/12
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 21/12 for producing fuels or solvents C12M21/04 takes precedence; liquid carbonaceous fuels C10L1/00, solid fuels C10L5/00
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 23/58 Reaction vessels connected in series or in parallel combinations of bioreactors with other apparatus, C12M43/00
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 27/00 Means for mixing, agitating or circulating fluids in the vessel by introduction of gas C12M29/06, C12M29/14, mixing in general or mixers per se B01F; mixing in apparatus for chemical or physical processes B01J
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 37/00 Means for sterilizing, maintaining sterile conditions or avoiding chemical or biological contamination C12M23/38 takes precedence; filtration in general and filters per se B01D24/00-B01D41/00; autoclaves B01J3/04; treatment of microorganisms with electrical or wave energy C12N13/00
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 43/00 Combinations of bioreactors or fermenters with other apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 50/20 Air quality improvement or preservation, e.g. vehicle emission control or emission reduction by using catalytic converters
• CPC Class Codes: Y02C 20/20 of methane
• CPC Class Codes: Y02C 20/40 of CO2
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 50/30 Fuel from waste, e.g. synthetic alcohol or diesel
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 20/59 Biological synthesis; Biological purification

Abstract

The present invention relates to an electromagnetic bioaccelerator for obtaining biomass by simulating environmental marine conditions, comprising at least the following elements: octagonal biomass converters (1), seawater reserve tanks (3), particle filters (4), UV light filters (5), feedback and mixture tanks (6), pressurization feed tanks (8), manometers (9), pressure controllers (10), buffer tanks (11), expansion tanks with a safety valve (12), heat exchangers (13), temperature control thermostats (14), recycled water feedback tanks (15), reinjection pumps (16), centrifuges for separating the biomass from the water (17), desuperheaters (18); control panels (25), recirculation pumps (26), densimeters (27), biomass mechanical extraction systems by means of centrifugation (32) and biomass accumulation tanks (33).

Claims

1. An electromagnetic bioaccelerator to obtain biomass by simulating environmental marine conditions, comprising at least the following elements:

a. octagonal biomass converters (1);

b. seawater reserve tanks (3);

c. particle filters (4);

d. UV light filters (5);

e. feed and mixing tanks (6);

f. pressurization feed pumps (8);

g. manometers (9);

h. pressure controllers (10);

i. buffer tanks (11);

j. expansion tanks with safety valve (12);

k. heat exchangers (13);

l. temperature control thermostats (14);

m. recycled water feedback tanks (15);

n. reinjection pumps (16);

o. centrifuge for separating the biomass from the water (17);

p. desuperheaters (18);

q. control panels (25);

r. recirculation pumps (26);

s. densimeters (27);

t. mechanical biomass extraction systems by means of centrifugation (32); and

u. biomass accumulation tanks (33).

2. An electromagnetic bioaccelerator according to claim 1, characterized in that the biomass converters (1) are circular concentric single chamber-type converters.

3. An electromagnetic bioaccelerator according to claim 1, characterized in that the biomass converters (1) are circular concentric double chamber-type converters.

4. An electromagnetic bioaccelerator according to claim 1, characterized in that the biomass converters (1) are circular composite-type converters containing vertical tubes arranged around a central light well.

5. An electromagnetic bioaccelerator according to claim 1, characterized in that the biomass converters (1) are spatially arranged such that they form a beehive or module-type structure (FIG. 3).

6. An electromagnetic bioaccelerator according to claim 1, characterized in that the biomass converters (1) comprise at least the following elements:

a. vertical artificial light control tubes (24);

b. ion sprayers (36);

c. electromagnetic flow control valves (19);

d. electromagnetic biomass extraction valves (20);

e. culture medium control sensors (21);

f. oxygen extraction valves (22);

g. hydrogen extraction valves (23);

h. natural light inlets (2a and 2b);

i. artificial lighting lamps (24);

j. rotational cleaning systems (28);

k. helically arranged carbon dioxide injection valves (29);

l. helically arranged turbulence injection valves (30);

m. artificial lighting lamp regulation and extraction systems (31);

n. electromagnetic systems (34 and 35); and

o. phytoplankton present in the culture medium (37).

7. An electromagnetic bioaccelerator according to claim 6, characterized in that the culture medium comprises at least the following elements:

a. microorganisms;

b. microfiltered seawater;

c. carbon dioxide;

d. Nox;

e. vitamins;

f. trace elements;

g. orthophosphoric acid;

h. antibiotics; and

i. fungicides.

8. An electromagnetic bioaccelerator according to claim 6, characterized in that the microorganisms are phytoplankton and/or zooplankton-type microorganisms.

9. An electromagnetic bioaccelerator according to claim 6, characterized in that the phytoplankton-type microorganisms belong to the Dunaliella salina, Tetraselmis sp, Isochrysis galbana, Pavlova lutheri, Rhodomonas salina, Phaeodactylum tricornutum, Thalassiosira weissflogii and Chaetoceros socialis species.

10. An electromagnetic bioaccelerator according to claim 6, characterized in that the antibiotics are a mixture of penicillin and streptomycin and are in a range of concentrations from 100 to 300 mg/l each, preferably in a range of 150 mg/l and more preferably at a concentration of 200 mg/l.

11. An electromagnetic bioaccelerator according to claim 6, characterized in that the fungicides are a mixture of griseofulvin and nystatin and are in a range of concentrations from 100 to 300 mg/l each, preferably in a range of 150 mg/l and more preferably at a concentration of 200 mg/l.

12. An electromagnetic bioaccelerator according to claim 6, characterized in that the culture medium control sensors (21) are photometers, pH meters, temperature probes, carbon dioxide probes, and oxygen probes.

13. An electromagnetic bioaccelerator according to claim 12, characterized in that the photometers work in a range of 0 to 200 micromoles of photons/m²s, have a minimum resolution of 0.5 micromoles of photons/ns and have an error that is less than 4% of the measurement.

14. An electromagnetic bioaccelerator according to claim 6, characterized in that the oxygen extraction valves (22) and hydrogen extraction valves (23) are hydropneumatic-type extraction valves.

15. An electromagnetic bioaccelerator according to claim 6, characterized in that the natural light inlets (2a and 2b) are covered with a translucent plastic.

16. An electromagnetic bioaccelerator according to claim 6, characterized in that the artificial lighting lamps (24), have an intensity of 1 to 50 watts/m².

17. An electromagnetic bioaccelerator according to claim 6, characterized in that the rotational cleaning systems (28) are in the form of balls attached by a central wire.

18. An electromagnetic bioaccelerator according to claim 6, characterized in that the carbon dioxide injection valves (29) are arranged helically around the biomass converter (1).

19. An electromagnetic bioaccelerator according to claim 6, characterized in that the turbulence injection valves (30) are helically arranged.

20. An electromagnetic bioaccelerator according to claim 6, characterized in that the culture medium has the following conditions:

a. constant temperature in the range of 20 to 25°

C.;

b. wavelengths in the range of 400 to 700 nm;

c. solar light intensity from 200 to 900 watts/m²;

d. artificial light intensity from 1 to 50 watts/m²;

e. photoperiods from 24;

0 to 12;

12 light/dark hours;

f. salinity from 0.2‰

to 40‰

, preferably from 20‰

to 40‰

for salt water strains, 8‰

to 20‰

for brackish water strains and 0.2‰

to 8‰

for fresh water strains;

g. pressure from 1 to 5 atmospheres;

h. phytoplankton or zooplankton concentration from 30 to 500 million cells/ml; and

i. pH from 6.5 to 8.9.

21. An electromagnetic bioaccelerator according to claim 1, characterized in that the seawater reserve tanks (3) are cylindrical or polyhedral and made of a fiberglass material, having an inner volume comprised in the range of 1 to 20 m³.

22. An electromagnetic bioaccelerator according to claim 1, characterized in that the particle filters (4) are made of cellulose fiber and/or fiberglass and/or cellulose acetate.

23. An electromagnetic bioaccelerator according to claim 1, characterized in that the feed and mixing tanks (6) are cylindrical and/or polyhedral made of a transparent material, preferably of PVC, polycarbonate and/or methacrylate and have an inner volume of 3 to 14 m³.

24. An electromagnetic bioaccelerator according to claim 1, characterized in that the feed and mixing tanks (6) contain at least level control floats (7).

25. An electromagnetic bioaccelerator according to claim 1, characterized in that the feed and pressurization pumps (8) are centrifugal-type pumps and work in a range from 1 to 10 kg/cm².

27. An electromagnetic bioaccelerator according to claim 1, characterized in that the expansion tanks with a safety valve (12) are made of a stainless metal with an inner elastic membrane.

28. An electromagnetic bioaccelerator according to claim 1, characterized in that the heat exchangers (13) are laminar flow plate-type exchangers.

29. An electromagnetic bioaccelerator according to claim 1, characterized in that the reinjection pumps (16) are centrifugal-type pumps and work in a range from 1 to 10 kg/cm².

30. An electromagnetic bioaccelerator according to claim 1, characterized in that the centrifuges (17) are rotary plate type centrifuges.

31. An electromagnetic bioaccelerator according to claim 1, characterized in that the control panels (25) control the injection of the nutrients, gases, temperature, pH, salinity and conductivity of the medium.

32. An electromagnetic bioaccelerator according to claim 1, characterized in that the recirculation pumps (26) are centrifugal-type pumps.

33. An electromagnetic bioaccelerator according to claim 1, characterized in that in the mechanical extraction systems by means of centrifugation (32) the biomass containing at least lipids, carbohydrates, celluloses, hemicelluloses and secondary metabolism products are separated from the liquid culture medium.

34. An electromagnetic bioaccelerator according to claim 1, characterized in that sterilization is conducted by means of washing with a solution of water and hydrochloric acid in a range of concentrations from 0.5 to 5% v/v and/or with water and sodium hypochlorite at 5% v/v, and they are maintained for at least 24 hours submerged in the bioaccelerators.

35. A method for producing biofuels which comprises cultivating phytoplanton or zooplankton in an electromagnetic bioaccelerator as claimed in claim 1.

36. A method for producing pharmaceutical products which comprises cultivating phytoplanton or zooplankton in an electromagnetic bioaccelerator as claimed in claim 1.

37. A method for producing a cosmetic product which comprises cultivating phytoplanton or zooplankton in an electromagnetic bioaccelerator as claimed in claim 1.

38. A method for producing an industrial product with a high silica content which comprises cultivating phytoplanton or zooplankton in an electromagnetic bioaccelerator as claimed in claim 1.

39. A method for producing fertilizing products, agricultural products, industrial products and livestock products which comprises cultivating phytoplanton or zooplankton in an electromagnetic bioaccelerator as claimed in claim 1.

40. A method for producing a cellulose or hemicellulose which comprises cultivating phytoplanton or zooplankton in an electromagnetic bioaccelerator as claimed in claim 1.

41. A method for producing a tannins and astringent compounds which comprises cultivating phytoplanton or zooplankton in an electromagnetic bioaccelerator as claimed in claim 1.

42. A method for fixation of CO₂, CH₄, SH₂, NO₂, NO₃ and other greenhouse effect gases, and any salt derived from the reaction of these gases with a culture medium which corn irises cultivating phytoplanton or zooplankton in such culture medium in an electromagnetic bioaccelerator as claimed in claim 1.

43. A method according to claim 36, wherein the pharmaceutical product is selected from fatty acids and lutein.

44. A method according to claim 37, wherein the cosmetic product is selected from glycerin, pigments and emulsifying substances.

45. A method according to claim 38, wherein the industrial product is selected from borosilicates and ferrosilicates.

26. An electromagnetic bioaccelerator according to claim , characterized in that the buffer tanks (11) are made of a transparent material, preferably PVC, polycarbonate and/or methacrylate.