# US 2021/0277344 A1 · Moving bed biofilm reactor system for production of algae biomass > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2021/0277344 A1 - Document ID: US20210277344A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/195,077 - Filed: 2021-03-08 - Published: 2021-09-09 - Earliest claimed: 2020-03-09 - Assignees: Kimle Aquaculture, LLC - Applicants: Kimle Aquaculture, LLC - Inventors: Jackson Kimle; Matthew Ellis - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210277344A1 ## CPC - C12M 21/02: {Photobioreactors (culturing algae A01G33/00, A01H4/001, C12N1/12)} - C12M 21/12: {for producing fuels or solvents (C12M21/04 takes precedence; liquid carbonaceous fuels C10L1/00, solid fuels C10L5/00)} - C02F 1/30: by irradiation - C02F 3/085: {Fluidized beds} - C02F 3/322: {use of algae} - C12M 25/16: {Particles; Beads; Granular material; Encapsulation (chemical or physical processes conducted in the presence of fluids and solid particles B01J8/00)} - C12M 25/20: {Fluidized bed (in chemical or physical processes B01J8/18)} - C12M 31/02: {located outside the reactor} - C12M 33/00: {Means for introduction, transport, positioning, extraction, harvesting, peeling or sampling of biological material in or from the apparatus (chemical or physical laboratory apparatus in general B01L, devices for taking cell samples A61B10/0045, withdrawing or distributing predetermined quantities of fluid B01L99/00)} - C12M 33/14: {with filters, sieves or membranes} - C12M 41/12: {of temperature (controlling the temperature of chemical or physical processes B01J19/0013, heating or cooling apparatus for laboratory use B01L7/00)} - C02F 2101/10: Inorganic compounds - C02F 2101/105: {Phosphorus compounds} - C02F 2101/16: Nitrogen compounds, e.g. ammonia - C02F 2305/06: Nutrients for stimulating the growth of microorganisms - Y02W 10/10: Biological treatment of water, waste water, or sewage - Y02W 10/37: using solar energy - 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} - 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) - Y02W: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO WASTEWATER TREATMENT OR WASTE MANAGEMENT ## Abstract A moving bed biofilm reactor system for growing microorganisms comprising a reservoir containing a fluid that contains nutrients conducive to growth of microorganisms and a plurality of inert biomass carriers having a surface area configured to support growth of microorganisms is provided. The microorganisms may be used to remove a pollutant from a fluid. Furthermore, the microorganisms may be harvested and used as a foodstuff fertilizer, biofuels, and bioplastics. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for cultivating photosynthetic microorganisms comprising: providing a first reservoir configured to contain a plurality of inert biomass carriers, each inert biomass carrier having a surface area configured to support growth of the microorganisms; and exposing the inert biomass carriers to a first fluid and nutrients within the reservoir. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising providing a light source configured to control a light condition in the reservoir. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2 wherein the light source produces photosynthetically active light. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising a temperature control mechanism configured to control a temperature condition of the first fluid. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising providing a mechanism configured to move carriers from fixed positions above or below the first fluid. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising exposing the carriers in the first reservoir to a pollutant. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6 wherein the pollutant is selected from commercially available nutrient solution, N, P, K, C, ammonia (NH3), carbon dioxide (CO2), metals, salts, pharmaceuticals or hormones. ### Claim 8 A method of cultivating photosynthetic microorganisms within a moving bed biofilm reactor comprising: providing within a reservoir of the moving bed biofilm reactor a plurality of inert biomass carriers having a surface area configured to support growth of the microorganisms; exposing the inert biomass carriers to a fluid and nutrients conducive to growth of microorganisms; and periodically moving the carriers within the reservoir. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8 further comprising controlling a light condition within the reservoir. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8 further comprising controlling a nutrient composition and amount. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8 wherein the microorganisms are photosynthetically active. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8 further comprising controlling movement of the carriers such that carriers move toward and away from a light source. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8 further comprising controlling movement of the carriers such that the carriers come into contact with each other. ### Claim 14 A method of cultivating photosynthetic microorganisms within a moving bed biofilm reactor comprising: providing within a reservoir of the moving bed biofilm reactor a plurality of inert biomass carriers having a surface area configured to support growth of the microorganisms; exposing the inert biomass carriers to a fluid and nutrients conducive to growth of microorganisms; and exposing the inert biomass carriers to a photosynthetic light source such that the photosynthetic microorganisms are exposed to a photosynthetic light condition. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14 further comprising controlling a light condition of the fluid. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14 further comprising controlling a nutrient composition and amount. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14 wherein the microorganisms are photosynthetically active. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14 further comprising controlling movement of the carriers such that carriers move toward and away from a light source. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14 further comprising controlling movement of the carriers such that the carriers come into contact with each other.