Back to results
US 7,682,821 B2Granted
Closed photobioreactor system for continued daily in situ production, separation, collection, and removal of ethanol from genetically enhanced photosynthetic organisms
AssigneeAlgenol Biofuels Switzerland GmbH
InventorsR. Paul Woods, Edward Legere, Benjamin Moll, Carlos Unamunzaga, Eulalia Mantecon
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The invention provides a device for growing genetically enhanced aquatic photoautotrophic organisms in a stable culture, causing said organisms to produce ethanol, and then separating, collecting, and removing the ethanol in situ.
Claims24
A photobioreactor closed from the outside environment comprising a chamber which comprises:
- a. a headspace;
- b. an upper part of the chamber which comprises a translucent or clear region to allow in sunlight:
- c. a lower part of the chamber which comprises an aqueous growth medium comprising a culture of genetically enhanced organisms disposed in the growth medium, wherein said organisms are selected from the group consisting of algae and cyanobacteria, and wherein said organisms produce ethanol on a continued daily basis which enters the growth medium;
- d. a plurality of openings for inlet and outlet tubes;
- and
- e. a collection trough located on the inner surface of the upper part of the chamber which collects a condensate comprising ethanol and water from the inner surface of the upper part of the chamber.
3 more elements
A method of producing ethanol comprising:
- placing a culture of genetically enhanced organisms capable of producing ethanol selected from the group consisting of algae and cyanobacteria in a photobioreactor, wherein said photobioreactor comprises:
- a) a lower part of the chamber containing an aqueous growth medium, and
- b) a gas-filled upper part of the chamber, wherein the upper part of the chamber is at least partially translucent;
- allowing ethanol to evaporate from growth medium into the upper part of the chamber;
- condensing the evaporated ethanol;
- and
- collecting the condensed ethanol in one or more collection troughs.
4 more elements
A method of producing ethanol comprising:
- placing a culture of genetically enhanced organisms capable of producing ethanol selected from the group consisting of algae and cyanobacteria in a photobioreactor, wherein said photobioreactor comprises:
- a) a lower chamber containing an aqueous growth medium, and
- b) an upper chamber, wherein the upper chamber is at least partially translucent, wherein the upper chamber comprises a head space and wherein the upper chamber contains troughs, allowing ethanol and water to evaporate from the growth medium into the head space;
- condensing ethanol and water;
- collecting the condensed ethanol liquid and water in troughs;
- removing gas from the head space, said gas comprising O2, ethanol gas, and water vapor, and separating ethanol from the removed head space gas.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.