Carbon-negative bioplastic
AssigneeCharlotte Mccurdy Research LLC
InventorCharlotte Trumbull McCurdy
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Through sourcing net-primary productivity additive algae-based biomass feedstock, the exclusive use of renewable energy in processing, and the appropriate formulation and processing, a novel algae-derived bio-based plastic is both carbon-negative and provides some performance advantages over existing algae-based film plastics especially with regard to optical clarity. A system may be provided that produces a carbon-negative bioplastic. The production of the bioplastic in a process chamber may be controlled by an electronic controller. The electronic controller may be controlled by a host system, such a server. The electronic controller may be configured to direct production of the bioplastic in the process chamber using hydrocolloid, which is derived from algae.
Claims19
A bioreactor system to produce a bioplastic from macroalgae, the bioreactor system comprising:
- a process chamber with a surface having an inlet, the process chamber including a temperature sensor and a pressure sensor;
- a rotor stator disperser;
- a variable rate compressor motor;
- a refrigerator including a drive motor;
- a heating element;
- a sieve;
- a mold;
- and
- an electronic controller configured to:
- control release of hydrocolloid, which is derived from the macroalgae, to a volume of water in the process chamber through the inlet on the surface of the process chamber to form an agar solution;
- cause the rotor stator disperser to homogenize the agar solution in the process chamber, wherein the rotor stator disperser is submerged into the agar solution via the inlet on the surface of the process chamber;
- request a temperature reading from the temperature sensor in the process chamber to measure the temperature of the homogenized agar solution;
- execute predictive algorithms to control the variable rate compressor motor based on temperature, pressure, and air quality readings in the process chamber to regulate a rate of release of heat, refrigerant, purge gas or oxygen in the process chamber via the variable rate compressor motor;
- respond to a measured temperature that exceeds a threshold temperature by causing the temperature of the process chamber to be reduced by varying speed of the drive motor of the refrigerator based on pressure readings from the pressure sensor and temperature readings from the temperature sensor in the process chamber;
- request instructions from the predictive algorithms for an assessment of image quality of the agar solution for cloudy characteristics to identify impurities of low optical transparency;
- respond to the measured temperature and the assessment from the predictive algorithms, by controlling temperature in the process chamber via the heating element, the heating element configured to heat the homogenized agar solution in the process chamber;
- direct the sieve to facilitate transport of the homogenized, heated agar solution in the process chamber to the mold;
- control cooling the homogenized, heated, molded agar solution to a temperature sufficient for the homogenized, heated, molded agar solution to solidify;
- cause the homogenized, heated, molded, solidified agar solution to rest for a time sufficient for at least a component of the homogenized, heated, molded, solidified agar solution to saturate and disperse;
- and cause dehydration of the homogenized, heated, molded, solidified agar solution to form a bioplastic having substantial optical transparency and durability.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.