Integrated photo-bioelectrochemical systems

• US 9,130,216 B2
• Filed: 07/11/2012
• Issued: 09/08/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: UWM Research Foundation
• Original Assignee: UWM Research Foundation
• Inventors: He, Zhen
• Primary Examiner(s): Crepeau, Jonathan
• Application Number:
  US13/546,111
• Publication Number:
  US 20130017415A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,154 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 3/005 Combined electrochemical biological processes aeration by electrolytically produced oxygen bubbles C02F3/202
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/16 Biochemical fuel cells, i.e. cells in which microorganisms function as catalysts
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

A bioelectricalchemical system includes an anode, an algal bioreactor, and a cathode. The anode is at least partially positioned within an anode chamber containing a first aqueous reaction mixture including one or more organic compounds and one or more bacteria for oxidizing the organic compounds. The algal bioreactor contains a second aqueous reaction mixture including one or more nutrients and one or more algae for substantially removing the nutrients from the second aqueous reaction mixture. The cathode is at least partially positioned within the algal bioreactor.

Claims

1. A bioelectrochemical system, comprising:

an anode at least partially positioned within an anode chamber containing a first aqueous reaction mixture including one or more organic compounds and one or more bacteria for oxidizing the organic compounds;

an algal bioreactor containing a second aqueous reaction mixture including one or more nutrients and one or more algae for substantially removing the nutrients from the second aqueous reaction mixture; and

a cathode at least partially positioned within the algal bioreactor, wherein the cathode at least partially surrounds the anode chamber.

2. The bioelectrochemical system of claim 1, further comprising a cation exchange material at least partially surrounding and defining the anode chamber.

3. The bioelectrochemical system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the anode chamber and the cathode is cylindrical.

4. The bioelectrochemical system of claim 1, further comprising an external supply of carbon dioxide.

5. The bioelectrochemical system of claim 4, wherein the algal bioreactor has an inlet for receiving the external supply of carbon dioxide.

6. The bioelectrochemical system of claim 5, wherein the second aqueous reaction mixture is a catholyte and the catholyte is substantially saturated with carbon dioxide.

7. The bioelectrochemical system of claim 6, wherein a reaction occurring at the cathode buffers a pH of the catholyte.

8. The bioelectrochemical system of claim 1, wherein the one or more algae produce oxygen and the oxygen is reduced by a reaction occurring at the cathode.

9. The bioelectrochemical system of claim 1, further comprising a second anode at least partially positioned within a respective second anode chamber.