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US 8,574,887 B2Granted
Process to grow and concentrate algae
AssigneeCore Intellectual Properties Holdings, LLC
InventorsGary Scott Stepenoff, Karin L. Hastings
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method to grow and concentrate algae by adding a bacterium to an aqueous algal solution. After the bacteria are added, the algae and bacterial precipitate out of solution and produce a viable algal concentration that is 30 to 45 percent algae by wet weight.
Claims1
A method to grow and concentrate algae comprising the steps of
- (a) providing a nutritional composition including nutrients for algae;
- (b) preparing an aqueous solution of algae by growing algae in water in a first container while exposing said aqueous solution to sunlight and adding said nutritional composition to the water in said first container, said first container having a bottom;
- (c) preparing an aqueous solution of algal-agglomeration bacteria by growing bacteria in water in a second container;
- (d) admixing said aqueous solution of said algal-agglomeration bacteria to said aqueous solution of algae in said first container to produce an algal-bacterial aqueous solution and continuing to expose said algal-bacterial aqueous solution to sunlight to concentrate algae at said bottom of said first container;
- (e) discontinuing the addition to said first container of said nutritional composition;
- and
- (f) concentrating algae from said bottom of said container 24 to 48 hours after said algal-agglomeration bacteria is admixed to said aqueous solution of algae in step (d).
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.