# US 12,371,654 B2 · Biological and algae harvesting and cultivation systems and methods > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,371,654 B2 - Document ID: US12371654B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/133,402 - Filed: 2023-04-11 - Published: 2023-08-03 - Granted: 2025-07-29 - Earliest claimed: 2016-05-09 - Assignees: Global Algae Technology, LLC - Applicants: Global Algae Technology, LLC - Inventors: David A. Hazlebeck; William Rickman - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12371654B2 ## CPC - C12N 1/12: Unicellular algae; Culture media therefor (as new plants A01H13/00) - B01D 61/22: Controlling or regulating - B01D 63/02: Hollow fibre modules - B01D 63/04: comprising multiple hollow fibre assemblies - B01D 63/046: {in separate housings} - B01D 65/02: Membrane cleaning or sterilisation {; Membrane regeneration} - C12M 21/02: {Photobioreactors (culturing algae A01G33/00, A01H4/001, C12N1/12)} - C12M 29/04: {Filters; Permeable or porous membranes or plates, e.g. dialysis} - C12M 29/16: {Hollow fibers (hollow fiber modules in general B01D63/02)} - C12M 29/18: {External loop; Means for reintroduction of fermented biomass or liquid percolate (loop type reactors for chemical or physical processes B01J19/2435)} - C12M 29/20: {Degassing; Venting; Bubble traps (means for collection or storage of gas C12M23/36; gas collection apparatus for laboratory use B01L5/02)} - C12M 33/14: {with filters, sieves or membranes} - C12M 41/32: {of substances in solution} - C12M 41/44: {of volume or liquid level} - C12M 41/48: {Automatic or computerized control (automatic analysis G01N35/00)} - C12M 45/00: {Means for pre-treatment of biological substances} - C12M 47/02: {Separating microorganisms from the culture medium; Concentration of biomass (separating microorganisms from their culture media C12N1/02)} - C12N 1/02: Separating microorganisms from their culture media - B01D 2311/04: Specific process operations in the feed stream; Feed pretreatment - B01D 2311/06: Specific process operations in the permeate stream - B01D 2311/2626: Absorption or adsorption - B01D 2311/2688: Biological processes - B01D 2313/18: Specific valves - B01D 2313/26: Specific gas distributors or gas intakes - B01D 2313/501: Permeate storage tanks - B01D 2315/06: Submerged-type; Immersion type - B01D 2315/08: Fully permeating type; Dead-end filtration - B01D 2317/02: Elements in series - B01D 2317/022: Reject series - B01D 2321/04: Backflushing - B01D 2321/18: Use of gases - B01D 2321/185: Aeration - B01D 2321/40: Automatic control of cleaning processes - Y02A 40/80: in fisheries management - C12N: MICROORGANISMS OR ENZYMES; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF; PROPAGATING, PRESERVING, OR MAINTAINING MICROORGANISMS; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; CULTURE MEDIA (microbiological testing media C12Q1/00) - 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) - 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} - Y02A: TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE ## Abstract Algae harvesting and cultivating systems and methods for producing high concentrations of algae product with minimal energy. In an embodiment, a dead-end filtration system and method includes at least one tank and a plurality hollow fiber membranes positioned in the at least one tank. An algae medium is pulled through the hollow fiber membranes such that a retentate and a permeate are produced. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An algae harvesting and cultivation system comprising: a first algae cultivator defining a first cultivation stage, the first cultivation stage including a first at least one cultivation device having a first algae cultivation media for cultivating algae; a first separation system in fluid communication with the first cultivation stage such that the first separation system receives at least a portion of the algae cultivated from the first cultivation stage, the first separation system configured to separate the algae received from the first cultivation stage so as to produce a first algae slurry and a first substantially algae-free media; a first carbon dioxide adder configured to add carbon dioxide only from air to the first substantially algae-free media prior to the first substantially algae-free media flowing to the first cultivation stage; wherein the system is constructed and arranged such that the first substantially algae-free media flows back to the first cultivation stage; a second algae cultivator defining a second cultivation stage, the second cultivation stage in fluid communication with the first separation system such that the second cultivation stage receives the first algae slurry, the second cultivation stage including a second at least one cultivation device having a second media for cultivating additional algae using the first algae slurry; a second separation system in fluid communication with the second cultivation stage such that the second separation system receives at least a portion of said additional algae cultivated in the second cultivation stage, the second separation system configured to separate the additional algae received from the second cultivation stage so as to produce a second substantially algae-free media and a second algae slurry; and a second carbon dioxide adder configured to add carbon dioxide only from air to the second substantially algae-free media prior to the second substantially algae-free media flowing to the second cultivation stage; wherein the system is further constructed and arranged such that the second substantially algae-free media flows back to the second cultivation stage. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The algae harvesting and cultivation system of claim 1, wherein (i) the first carbon dioxide adder includes a first gas-liquid contactor that enables the first substantially algae-free media to absorb carbon dioxide from the air and convert carbonate ions in the first substantially algae-free media to bicarbonate ions; and (ii) the second carbon dioxide adder includes a second gas-liquid contactor that enables the second substantially algae-free media to absorb carbon dioxide from the air and convert carbonate ions in the second substantially algae-free media to bicarbonate ions. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The algae harvesting and cultivation system of claim 2, wherein at least one of the first gas-liquid contactor or the second gas-liquid contactor is a carbon dioxide absorber. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The algae harvesting and cultivation system of claim 2, wherein the first gas-liquid contactor is in fluid communication with a first holding reservoir so as to receive the first substantially algae-free media from the first holding reservoir prior to the first substantially algae-free media flowing back to the first cultivation stage. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The algae harvesting and cultivation system of claim 4, wherein the second gas-liquid contactor is in fluid communication with a second holding reservoir so as to receive the second substantially algae-free media from the second holding reservoir prior to the second substantially algae-free media flowing back to the second cultivation stage. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The algae harvesting and cultivation system of claim 5, wherein the first gas-liquid contactor includes a gas stream inlet for receiving the air, and wherein the second gas-liquid contactor includes a gas stream inlet for receiving the air. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The algae harvesting and cultivation system of claim 5, further comprising: a third holding reservoir constructed and arranged to receive the first substantially algae-free media from the first gas-liquid contactor, and arranged such that the first substantially algae-free media flows from the third holding reservoir back to the first cultivation stage. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The algae harvesting and cultivation system of claim 7, wherein the third holding reservoir includes a carbon dioxide retaining cover. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The algae harvesting and cultivation system of claim 7, further comprising: a fourth holding reservoir constructed and arranged to receive the second substantially algae-free media from the second gas-liquid contactor, wherein the system is constructed and arranged such that the second substantially algae-free media can flow from the fourth holding reservoir back to the second cultivation stage. ### Claim 10 (depends on 2) The algae harvesting and cultivation system of claim 2 further comprising: a first holding reservoir constructed and arranged to receive the first substantially algae-free media, arranged such that the first gas-liquid contactor is connected to or held within the first holding reservoir, and arranged such that the first substantially algae-free media flows from the first holding reservoir back to the first cultivation stage. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The algae harvesting and cultivation system of claim 10 further comprising: a second holding reservoir constructed and arranged to receive the second substantially algae-free media, arranged such that the second gas-liquid contactor is connected to or held within the second holding reservoir, and arranged such that the second substantially algae-free media flows from the second holding reservoir back to the second cultivation stage. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The algae harvesting and cultivation system of claim 1, wherein the first separation system includes hollow fiber membranes to filter the first algae slurry from the first algae cultivation media. ### Claim 13 An algae harvesting and cultivation system comprising: a first algae cultivator including a first at least one cultivation device having a first algae cultivation media for cultivating algae; a first separation system in fluid communication with the first at least one cultivation device such that the first separation system receives at least a portion of the algae cultivated from the first at least one cultivation device, the first separation system configured to separate the algae received from the first at least one cultivation device so as to produce a first algae slurry and a first substantially algae-free media; and a first carbon dioxide adder configured to add carbon dioxide only from air to the first substantially algae-free media prior to the first substantially algae-free media flowing to the first at least one cultivation device; wherein the system is constructed and arranged such that the first substantially algae-free media flows back to the first at least one cultivation device. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The algae harvesting and cultivation system of claim 13, wherein the first carbon dioxide adder includes a first gas-liquid contactor that enables the first substantially algae-free media to absorb carbon dioxide from the air and convert carbonate ions in the first substantially algae-free media to bicarbonate ions. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The algae harvesting and cultivation system of claim 14, wherein the first gas-liquid contactor is a first carbon dioxide absorber. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The algae harvesting and cultivation system of claim 15, wherein the first gas-liquid contactor is in fluid communication with a first holding reservoir so as to receive the first substantially algae-free media from the first holding reservoir prior to the first substantially algae-free media flowing back to the first at least one cultivation device. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The algae harvesting and cultivation system of claim 16, further comprising: an additional holding reservoir constructed and arranged to receive the first substantially algae-free media from the first gas-liquid contactor, wherein the system is constructed and arranged such that the first substantially algae-free media flows from the additional holding reservoir back to the first at least one cultivation device. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The algae harvesting and cultivation system of claim 14 further comprising: a first holding reservoir constructed and arranged to receive the first substantially algae-free media, arranged such that the first gas-liquid contactor is connected to or held within the first holding reservoir, and arranged such that the first substantially algae-free media flows from the first holding reservoir back to the first at least one cultivation device. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The algae harvesting and cultivation system of claim 13, wherein the first algae cultivator defines a first cultivation stage, the system further comprising: a second algae cultivator defining a second cultivation stage, the second cultivation stage in fluid communication with the first separation system such that the second cultivation stage receives the first algae slurry, the second cultivation stage including a second at least one cultivation device having a second media for cultivating additional algae using the first algae slurry; a second separation system in fluid communication with the second cultivation stage such that the second separation system receives at least a portion of said additional algae cultivated in the second cultivation stage, the second separation system configured to separate the additional algae received from the second cultivation stage so as to produce a second substantially algae-free media and a second algae slurry; and a second carbon dioxide adder configured to add carbon dioxide only from air to the second substantially algae-free media prior to the second substantially algae-free media flowing to the second cultivation stage, the second carbon dioxide adder including a second carbon dioxide absorber that enables the second substantially algae-free media to absorb carbon dioxide only from air and convert carbonate ions in the second substantially algae-free media to bicarbonate ions and a second packed bed absorption column in fluid communication with a second holding reservoir. ### Claim 20 (depends on 13) The algae harvesting and cultivation system of claim 13, wherein the first separation system includes hollow fiber membranes to filter the first algae slurry from the first algae cultivation media.