Enhanced practical photosynthetic CO2 mitigation
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for removing a carbon-containing compound from a flowing gas stream, said apparatus comprising:
- (a) at least one substantially immobile membrane mounted in said gas stream;
(b) a plurality of photosynthetic microbes, selected from the group of algae and cyanobacteria, on said membrane;
(c) a water and nutrient delivery device including a liquid-conveying conduit having at least one opening near a top edge of said at least one membrane for delivering water and nutrients in the conduit near the top edge of the membrane, wherein the membrane permits water and nutrients to flow through the membrane by capillary action; and
(d) means for changing a pressure of the water front a microbe-sustaining pressure, wherein water and nutrients are supplied to the microbes without substantial removal of microbes from the membrane, to a microbe-removing pressure, wherein at least water is applied to the membrane to remove at least some of the microbes from the membrane.
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Abstract
This process is unique in photosynthetic carbon sequestration. An on-site biological sequestration system directly decreases the concentration of carbon-containing compounds in the emissions of fossil generation units. In this process, photosynthetic microbes are attached to a growth surface arranged in a containment chamber that is lit by solar photons. A harvesting system ensures maximum organism growth and rate of CO2 uptake. Soluble carbon and nitrogen concentrations delivered to the cyanobacteria are enhanced, further increasing growth rate and carbon utilization.
89 Citations
15 Claims
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1. An apparatus for removing a carbon-containing compound from a flowing gas stream, said apparatus comprising:
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(a) at least one substantially immobile membrane mounted in said gas stream;
(b) a plurality of photosynthetic microbes, selected from the group of algae and cyanobacteria, on said membrane;
(c) a water and nutrient delivery device including a liquid-conveying conduit having at least one opening near a top edge of said at least one membrane for delivering water and nutrients in the conduit near the top edge of the membrane, wherein the membrane permits water and nutrients to flow through the membrane by capillary action; and
(d) means for changing a pressure of the water front a microbe-sustaining pressure, wherein water and nutrients are supplied to the microbes without substantial removal of microbes from the membrane, to a microbe-removing pressure, wherein at least water is applied to the membrane to remove at least some of the microbes from the membrane. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15)
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14. An apparatus for removing carbon dioxide from a flowing gas stream, said apparatus comprising:
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(a) at least one substantially immobile membrane mounted in said gas stream;
(b) a plurality of photosynthetic microbes selected from the group of algae and cyanobacteria on said membrane;
(c) means for illuminating said photosynthetic microbe for a period of time;
(d) a water and nutrient delivery device including at least one liquid-conveying conduit seating against the membrane near a top edge and openings in the conduit for injecting water and nutrients in the conduit into the top edge of the membrane, wherein the water and nutrients flow at least through the membrane by capillary action; and
(e) means for changing a pressure of the water from a microbe-sustaining pressure, wherein water and nutrients are supplied to the microbes without substantial removal of microbes from the membrane, to a microbe-removing pressure, wherein at least water is applied to the membrane to remove at least some of the microbes from the membrane.
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Specification