# US 8,772,004 B2 · System and method for high-voltage pulse assisted aggregation of algae

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- Number: US 8,772,004 B2
- Document ID: US8772004B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 12/823,696
- Filed: 2010-06-25
- Published: 2011-01-06
- Granted: 2014-07-08
- Earliest claimed: 2009-06-25
- Assignees: Old Dominion University Research Foundation
- Applicants: Gary C. Schafran; Juergen F. Kolb; Aron Stubbins; Karl H. Schoenbach
- Inventors: Gary C. Schafran; Juergen F. Kolb; Aron Stubbins; Karl H. Schoenbach
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8772004B2

## CPC

- 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)}
- C12N 1/12: Unicellular algae; Culture media therefor (as new plants A01H13/00)
- C12N 13/00: Treatment of microorganisms or enzymes with electrical or wave energy, e.g. magnetism, sonic waves
- C12P 7/649: Biodiesel, i.e. fatty acid alkyl esters
- Y02E 50/10: Biofuels, e.g. bio-diesel
- 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}
- C12N: MICROORGANISMS OR ENZYMES; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF; PROPAGATING, PRESERVING, OR MAINTAINING MICROORGANISMS; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; CULTURE MEDIA (microbiological testing media C12Q1/00)
- C12P: FERMENTATION OR ENZYME-USING PROCESSES TO SYNTHESISE A DESIRED CHEMICAL COMPOUND OR COMPOSITION OR TO SEPARATE OPTICAL ISOMERS FROM A RACEMIC MIXTURE {(brewing of beer C12C; producing vinegar C12J; producing specific peptides or proteins C07K; producing enzymes C12N9/00; DNA or RNA concerning genetic engineering, vectors, e.g. plasmids, or their isolation, preparation or purification C12N15/00; measuring or testing processes involving enzymes or microorganisms C12Q; measuring or testing processes involving nucleic acid amplification reactions C12Q1/6844; fermentation processes to form a food composition, A21 or A23; compounds in general, see the relevant compound class, e.g. C01, C07)}
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

## Abstract

A method and device for aggregating algae in an aqueous solution is disclosed. The method can include providing an algae feed comprising a liquid and algae dispersed therein. The algae feed can be aggregated by applying a nanosecond pulsed electric field to the algae feed. The nanosecond pulsed electric field can include a plurality of electric pulses having a pulse duration ranging from 1 to 1,000 nanoseconds. The method can also include separating an aggregated algae stream from the algae feed and feeding the aggregated algae stream to a lipid extraction operation.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of aggregating algae in a solution, comprising: providing an algae feed comprising a liquid and algae dispersed therein, aggregating said algae feed, said aggregating comprising:
applying a nanosecond pulsed electric field to said algae feed, said nanosecond pulsed electric field generated by a plurality of electric pulses having a pulse duration ranging from 1 to 500 nanoseconds, wherein the nanosecond pulsed electric field neutralizes repulsive charges of said algae.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, further comprising: separating an aggregated algae stream from said algae feed after the applying step.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method according to claim 2, wherein the aggregating step and the separating step are performed continuously.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The method according to claim 2, further comprising: processing said aggregated algae stream to produce an algae biofuel.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein said algae lose less than 10 wt-% of a lipid content of said algae as a result of said aggregating step.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein said nanosecond pulsed electric field produces neither a plasma discharge nor an arc discharge.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein a peak electric field produced in said algae feed by said pulses ranges from 1 to 1000 kV/cm.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein a peak power of said electrical pulses is at least 1 megawatt.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein a peak voltage of said electrical pulses ranges from 1 kV to 500 kV.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the aggregating step comprises adding aggregating agents.