Algae bioreactor using submerged enclosures with semi-permeable membranes

A method for producing at least one micro-organism (“μorg”), the method comprising:

• providing a first type liquid;
• providing a sealable enclosure, having an enclosure interior and being defined by first and second enclosure surfaces;
• partially filling the enclosure interior with a second type liquid, and providing at least one selected micro-organism (“μorg”) in the enclosure interior;
• closing the enclosure;
• positioning the enclosure in the first type liquid;
• providing at least one of the first and second enclosure surfaces with one or more semi-permeable first membranes that are permeable to at least one of CO2 gas and NH3 gas and are substantially impermeable to the at least one selected μorg;
• providing an exterior source of at least one of CO2 gas and NH3 gas in contact with the one or more first membranes;
• providing a controller that senses a pH value, pH(sens), within the second type liquid, compares the value pH(sens) with a reference value, pH(ref), for the pH value within the second type liquid, and introduces at least one of the CO2 gas and the NH3 gas into the second type liquid in order to bring pH(sens) into closer agreement with pH(ref);
• providing a semi-permeable second membrane, positioned on at least one of the first and second enclosure surfaces, that is permeable to the second liquid and is not permeable to the at least one μorg;
• and
• allowing at least a portion of the second type liquid within the enclosure interior to pass through the second membrane, positioned on at least one of the first and second enclosure surfaces, into the first type liquid by forward osmosis, to thereby remove at least part of the second type liquid from the enclosure interior.

A method for producing at least one micro-organism (“μorg”), the method comprising:

• providing a sealable enclosure, having an enclosure interior and being defined by first and second opposed enclosure surfaces that are joined together;
• partially or fully immersing the enclosure in a first type liquid;
• partially filling the enclosure with the at least one μorg and a second type liquid;
• closing the enclosure with the second type liquid and the at least one μorg contained in the enclosure interior, where at least one of the enclosure first and second surfaces comprises one or more semi-permeable first membranes that are permeable to the second type liquid and are substantially impermeable to the at least one μorg;
• allowing at least a portion of the second type liquid within the enclosure interior to pass through the one or more first membranes into the first type liquid by forward osmosis, to thereby remove at least a portion of the second type liquid in the enclosure interior;
• providing the one or more first membranes on the enclosure first surface;
• and
• positioning at least one of the one or more first membranes above a surface of the first type liquid in order to reduce or suppress transport of said second liquid through the first membrane into said first type liquid.

A method for producing at least one micro-organism (“μorg”), the method comprising:

• providing a sealable enclosure, having an enclosure interior and being defined by first and second opposed enclosure surfaces that are joined together;
• partially or fully immersing the enclosure in a first type liquid;
• partially filling the enclosure with the at least one μorg and a second type liquid;
• closing the enclosure with the second type liquid and the at least one μorg contained in the enclosure interior, where at least one of the enclosure first and second surfaces comprises one or more semi-permeable first membranes that are permeable to the second type liquid and are substantially impermeable to the at least one μorg;
• allowing at least a portion of the second type liquid within the enclosure interior to pass through the one or more first membranes into the first type liquid by forward osmosis, to thereby remove at least a portion of the second type liquid in the enclosure interior;
• and
• providing one or more second membranes on at least one of the first enclosure surface and the second enclosure surface, which are permeable to at least one selected nutrient for the at least one μorg.

A method for producing at least one micro-organism (“μorg”), the method comprising:

• providing a sealable enclosure, having an enclosure interior and being defined by first and second opposed enclosure surfaces that are joined together;
• partially or fully immersing the enclosure in a first type liquid;
• partially filling the enclosure with the at least one μorg and a second type liquid;
• closing the enclosure with the second type liquid and the at least one μorg contained in the enclosure interior, where at least one of the enclosure first and second surfaces comprises one or more semi-permeable first membranes that are permeable to the second type liquid and are substantially impermeable to the at least one μorg;
• allowing at least a portion of the second type liquid within the enclosure interior to pass through the one or more first membranes into the first type liquid by forward osmosis, to thereby remove at least a portion of the second type liquid in the enclosure interior;
• and
• adding a selected chemical to the second type liquid to promote production of at least one of CO2 and NH3 within the enclosure.

A method for producing at least one micro-organism (“μorg”), the method comprising:

• providing a sealable enclosure, having an enclosure interior and being defined by first and second opposed enclosure surfaces that are joined together;
• partially or fully immersing the enclosure in a first type liquid;
• partially filling the enclosure with the at least one μorg and a second type liquid;
• closing the enclosure with the second type liquid and the at least one μorg contained in the enclosure interior, where at least one of the enclosure first and second surfaces comprises one or more semi-permeable first membranes that are permeable to the second type liquid and are substantially impermeable to the at least one μorg;
• allowing at least a portion of the second type liquid within the enclosure interior to pass through the one or more first membranes into the first type liquid by forward osmosis, to thereby remove at least a portion of the second type liquid in the enclosure interior;
• and
• applying a process of inverting positions of said enclosure first surface and said enclosure second surface, relative to a surface of said first liquid, to reduce or terminate forward osmosis that has begun across the one or more first membranes.