Microorganism growth apparatus
First Claim
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1. A method of growing microalgae outdoors, comprising the steps of:
- A) providing a growth apparatus located outdoors,comprising in combination;
a) a plurality of vertical elongated transparent flexible cells, capable of containing a biomass, the plurality of cells being exposed to daylight;
b) vertical support means to support the plurality of cells in close juxtaposition to one another, and in vertical position;
c) at least one gas inlet and one gas outlet, to permit the bubbling of gas through the biomass in each cell and the ventilation of each cell;
d) at least one fluid inlet and/or fluid outlet to permit feeding of nutrient solution to the biomass and harvesting of the biomass from each cell; and
e) common conveying means connected to each said at least one fluid inlet and/or fluid outlet for harvesting the biomass, to receive and convey biomass harvested from the plurality of cells, all or part of them, away from the growth apparatus;
B) filling the cells of the provided growth apparatus through said at least one fluid inlet and/or fluid outlet with a nutrient solution containing microalgae to be grown;
C) bubbling through said at least one gas inlet and the growth apparatus cells filled with nutrient solution, air in an amount sufficient to obtain efficient mixing of the biomass and removal of oxygen therefrom through said at least one gas outlet;
D) providing to the growth apparatus cell contained biomass, CO2 in an amount sufficient to promote biomass growth;
E) periodically harvesting from the cells of the growth apparatus the biomass grown by removing a fraction of the volume contained in each cell through said common conveying means, causing solids contained therein to precipitate and recycling the solution from which the solids have precipitated to the cells through said at least one fluid inlet and/or fluid outlet; and
F) making-up the fraction removed from the growth apparatus cells with nutrient solution and/or materials as required.
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Abstract
A method of growing microalgae is described, which uses the outdoor sunlight as a source of energy. Growth is confined to an assembly of vertical, transparent tubes through which nutrient and air is carried with carbon dioxide. The microalgae is periodically harvested from the tubes.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method of growing microalgae outdoors, comprising the steps of:
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A) providing a growth apparatus located outdoors, comprising in combination; a) a plurality of vertical elongated transparent flexible cells, capable of containing a biomass, the plurality of cells being exposed to daylight; b) vertical support means to support the plurality of cells in close juxtaposition to one another, and in vertical position; c) at least one gas inlet and one gas outlet, to permit the bubbling of gas through the biomass in each cell and the ventilation of each cell; d) at least one fluid inlet and/or fluid outlet to permit feeding of nutrient solution to the biomass and harvesting of the biomass from each cell; and e) common conveying means connected to each said at least one fluid inlet and/or fluid outlet for harvesting the biomass, to receive and convey biomass harvested from the plurality of cells, all or part of them, away from the growth apparatus; B) filling the cells of the provided growth apparatus through said at least one fluid inlet and/or fluid outlet with a nutrient solution containing microalgae to be grown; C) bubbling through said at least one gas inlet and the growth apparatus cells filled with nutrient solution, air in an amount sufficient to obtain efficient mixing of the biomass and removal of oxygen therefrom through said at least one gas outlet; D) providing to the growth apparatus cell contained biomass, CO2 in an amount sufficient to promote biomass growth; E) periodically harvesting from the cells of the growth apparatus the biomass grown by removing a fraction of the volume contained in each cell through said common conveying means, causing solids contained therein to precipitate and recycling the solution from which the solids have precipitated to the cells through said at least one fluid inlet and/or fluid outlet; and F) making-up the fraction removed from the growth apparatus cells with nutrient solution and/or materials as required. - 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 of producing β
- -carotene from β
-carotene-producing microalgae, comprising the steps of;A) providing a growth apparatus, comprising in combination; a) a plurality of vertical elongated transparent flexible cells, capable of containing a microalgae biomass; b) vertical support means to support the plurality of cells in close juxtaposition to one another, and in vertical position; c) at least one gas inlet and one gas outlet, to permit the bubbling of gas through the biomass in each cell and the ventilation of each cell; d) at least one cell fluid inlet and/or fluid outlet, to permit feeding of nutrient solution to the biomass and harvesting of the biomass from each cell; and e) central conveying means connected to each said at least one cell fluid inlet and/or fluid outlet to receive and convey biomass harvested from the plurality of cells, all or part of them, away from the growth apparatus; B) filling the cells growth apparatus through said at least one cell fluid inlet and/or fluid outlet with a nutrient solution containing biomass of carotene producing microalgae to be grown; C) bubbling through said at least one gas inlet of the cell filled with nutrient solution, air in an amount sufficient to obtain efficient mixing of the biomass and removal of oxygen therefrom through said at least one gas outlet; D) providing to the growth apparatus cell contained biomass, CO2 in an amount sufficient to promote biomass growth; E) periodically harvesting from the cell of the growth apparatus, the biomass grown by removing a fraction of the volume contained in each cell through said common conveying means, causing solids contained therein to precipitate and recycling the solution from which the solids have precipitated to the cells through said at least one fluid inlet and/or fluid outlet; F) making-up the fraction removed from the cells with nutrient solution and/or materials as required; and G) recovering β
-carotene from the harvested biomass. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
- -carotene from β
Specification