# US 10,869,430 B2 · Devices, systems and methods for enhanced biomass growth in greenhouses > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,869,430 B2 - Document ID: US10869430B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/922,017 - Filed: 2018-03-15 - Published: 2018-11-22 - Granted: 2020-12-22 - Earliest claimed: 2015-09-18 - Assignees: Carbon Sink, Inc. - Applicants: Carbon Sink, Inc. - Inventors: Frank O'Keefe - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10869430B2 ## CPC - A01G 9/14: Greenhouses - A01G 7/02: Treatment of plants with carbon dioxide - A01G 9/18: Greenhouses for treating plants with carbon dioxide or the like - A01G 33/00: Cultivation of seaweed {or algae} - B01D 53/62: Carbon oxides - C02F 3/32: characterised by the animals or plants used, e.g. algae - C12M 43/06: {Photobioreactors combined with devices or plants for gas production different from a bioreactor of fermenter} - B01D 2253/102: Carbon - B01D 2253/104: Alumina - B01D 2253/108: Zeolites - B01D 2253/20: Organic adsorbents - B01D 2257/106: Ozone - B01D 2257/302: Sulfur oxides - B01D 2257/304: Hydrogen sulfide - B01D 2257/404: Nitrogen oxides other than dinitrogen oxide - B01D 2257/504: Carbon dioxide - B01D 2258/06: Polluted air - C02F 2103/26: from the processing of plants or parts thereof - C02F 2303/04: Disinfection - Y02C 20/40: of CO2 - Y02P 60/20: Reduction of greenhouse gas [GHG] emissions in agriculture, e.g. CO2 - Y02W 10/37: using solar energy - A01G: HORTICULTURE; CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLES, FLOWERS, RICE, FRUIT, VINES, HOPS OR SEAWEED; FORESTRY; WATERING (picking of fruits, vegetables, hops or the like A01D46/00; propagating unicellular algae C12N1/12) - B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28) - C02F: TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE (separation in general B01D; special arrangements on waterborne vessels of installations for treating water, waste water or sewage, e.g. for producing fresh water, B63J; adding materials to water to prevent corrosion C23F; treating radioactively-contaminated liquids G21F9/04; regeneration of reactants for recirculation into processes, see the relevant places for the processes) - C12M: APPARATUS FOR ENZYMOLOGY OR MICROBIOLOGY; {APPARATUS FOR CULTURING MICROORGANISMS FOR PRODUCING BIOMASS, FOR GROWING CELLS OR FOR OBTAINING FERMENTATION OR METABOLIC PRODUCTS, i.e. BIOREACTORS OR FERMENTERS} - Y02C: CAPTURE, STORAGE, SEQUESTRATION OR DISPOSAL OF GREENHOUSE GASES [GHG] - Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS - Y02W: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO WASTEWATER TREATMENT OR WASTE MANAGEMENT ## Abstract Devices, systems and methods for using photosynthetic biomass to purify water, reduce indoor air pollution, remove greenhouse gases including CO2 from outdoor atmospheric air, and produce biofuel, food products, and fertilizer are provided herein. Also provided herein are systems and methods for enhancing growth of a photosynthetic biomass in a greenhouse. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for enhancing plant growth comprising: (a) an enclosure comprising a plurality of compartments, wherein at least one first compartment comprises a growing photosynthetic biomass and at least one second compartment is adapted to accommodate one or more mammals that exhale CO2 into air of the at least one second compartment; (b) one or more solid sorbents in fluid communication with the at least one second compartment, wherein the one or more solid sorbents are configured to capture the CO2 exhaled by the one or more mammals into the air of the at least one second compartment; (c) a moisture control apparatus configured to expose the one or more solid sorbents to increased moisture that facilitates the release of CO2 therefrom; (d) one or more conduits fluidically connecting the one or more solid sorbents and the at least one first compartment such that the one or more conduits are configured to facilitate the delivery of CO2 released from the one or more solid sorbents to the at least one first compartment; and (e) a system control mechanism that comprises one or more sensors or detectors and a processor, wherein the one or more sensors or detectors are configured to provide information to the processor, and the processor is configured to use the information to determine either or both (1) and appropriate rotation rate of the one or more solid sorbents, or (2) an amount of moisture to which the one or more solid sorbents is exposed, in order to achieve a desired CO2 level in one of the plurality of compartments. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the moisture control apparatus comprises an apparatus adapted to bring water into contact with the one or more solid sorbents or an apparatus adapted to increase the humidity exposed to the one or more solid sorbents. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one first compartment is located below the at least one second compartment. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising an air control system that regulates a flow of air. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the system control mechanism is configured for detecting or controlling one or more environmental conditions in a greenhouse compartment. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The system of claim 5, wherein the one or more environmental conditions are selected from the group consisting of temperature, light, water, nutrient levels, humidity levels, and CO2 levels in the greenhouse compartment. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more solid sorbents comprise an anion exchange material. ### Claim 8 A method of enhancing growth of a photosynthetic biomass comprising: (a) providing an enclosure having at least one first compartment containing the photosynthetic biomass, at least one second compartment that is habitable by one or more mammals, and a system control mechanism that comprises on or more sensors or detectors and a processor; (b) capturing CO2 exhaled into air from the at least one second compartment by the one or more mammals with one or more solid sorbents; (c) exposing the solid sorbent to moisture thereby releasing captured CO2; (d) transferring the released CO2 to the at least one first compartment, wherein CO2 in the at least one first compartment, is maintained at a higher concentration than in the at least one second compartment for an extended period of time; and (e) providing information measured by the one or more sensors or detectors to the processor to determine either or both (1) an appropriate rotation rate of the sorbent, or (2) an amount of moisture to which the one or more solid sorbents is exposed, in order to achieve a desired CO2 level in one of the plurality of compartments. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the photosynthetic biomass comprises Eichhornia, Spirodela, Salvinia, Azolla, Lemna, Pistia, heartleaf, duckweed, or members of the duckweed family. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the one or more solid sorbents are installed downstream of an intake for a forced-air system for regulating temperature in the at least one second compartment, and capturing CO2 comprises drawing air past the one or more solid sorbents. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the one or more solid sorbents comprise an anion exchange material. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the one or more solid sorbents comprise a sorbent material distributed on or in a support material.