# US 9,040,012 B2 · System and method for renewable resource production, for example, hydrogen production by microbial electrolysis, fermentation, and/or photosynthesis

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- Number: US 9,040,012 B2
- Document ID: US9040012B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/027,236
- Filed: 2011-02-14
- Published: 2011-10-20
- Granted: 2015-05-26
- Earliest claimed: 2009-02-17
- Assignees: McAlister Technologies, LLC
- Applicants: Roy Edward McAlister
- Inventors: Roy Edward McAlister
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9040012B2

## CPC

- C25B 11/03: perforated or foraminous
- C01B 3/24: of hydrocarbons
- C12P 3/00: Preparation of elements or inorganic compounds except carbon dioxide {(recovery of carbon dioxides as by-products C12F3/02)}
- C25B 1/02: Hydrogen or oxygen
- C25B 9/19: with diaphragms
- C25B 11/02: characterised by shape or form
- C25B 13/02: characterised by shape or form
- C25B 15/00: Operating or servicing cells
- C01B 3/02: Production of hydrogen; Production of gaseous mixtures containing hydrogen
- C01B 3/06: by reaction of inorganic compounds containing electro-positively bound hydrogen with inorganic reducing agents
- C01B 2203/0272: containing a non-catalytic decomposition step
- C01B 2203/1235: Hydrocarbons
- C02F 3/28: Anaerobic digestion processes
- C25B 1/04: by electrolysis of water
- Y02E 50/30: Fuel from waste, e.g. synthetic alcohol or diesel
- Y02E 60/36: Hydrogen production from non-carbon containing sources, e.g. by water electrolysis
- Y02P 20/133: Renewable energy sources, e.g. sunlight
- Y02W 10/33: using wind energy
- Y02W 10/37: using solar energy
- C25B: ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES FOR THE PRODUCTION OF COMPOUNDS OR NON-METALS; APPARATUS THEREFOR (anodic or cathodic protection C23F13/00; single-crystal growth C30B)
- C01B: NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; {METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C}
- 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)}
- 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)
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS
- Y02W: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO WASTEWATER TREATMENT OR WASTE MANAGEMENT

## Abstract

System and method for sustainable economic development which includes hydrogen extracted from substances, for example, sea water, industrial waste water, agricultural waste water, sewage, and landfill waste water. The hydrogen extraction is accomplished by thermal dissociation, electrical dissociation, optical dissociation, and magnetic dissociation. The hydrogen extraction further includes operation in conjunction with energy addition from renewable resources, for example, solar, wind, moving water, geothermal, or biomass resources.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A process for producing carbon or hydrogen from a water-based solution comprising:
collecting solar energy at least part of which is received by a reaction zone, the reaction zone including a carbon source and a microorganism to promote production of said carbon or said hydrogen from said water-based solution, wherein said reaction zone includes an electrode surface capable of enhancing growth of said microorganism;
anaerobically digesting said carbon source in said reaction zone; and
dissociating at least a portion of said water-based solution into at least hydrogen and another substance by electrolysis.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A process as in claim 1, further comprising separating said other substance and said hydrogen by a selective membrane.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

A process as in claim 1 wherein said process is for producing methane.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

A process as in claim 1 wherein hydrogen is produced, and wherein said hydrogen exerts higher pressure than an initial pressure of said water-based solution.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

A process as in claim 1 wherein hydrogen is produced, and wherein said process further comprises pressurizing said hydrogen by pumping said water-based solution.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

A process as in claim 1 wherein anaerobically digesting the carbon source includes generating an electrolyte that releases hydrogen at a lower voltage than the voltage required to dissociate water.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

A process as in claim 1 wherein anaerobically digesting the carbon source in the reaction zone includes catalyzing an acid to hydrogen and carbon dioxide.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

A process as in claim 1, further comprising delivering organic substances to said microorganism by pumping said water-based solution, wherein pumping occurs from low-density gasses escaping from said water-based solution.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

A process as in claim 1 wherein said microorganism is a purple non-sulfur bacteria.

### Claim 10

A sustainable economic development process comprising:
extracting carbon or hydrogen from a water-based resource;
digesting organic matter in a reaction zone with anaerobic microorganisms to generate an electrolyte liquor, the reaction zone including an electrode surface capable of enhancing growth of said microorganisms;
wherein extracting carbon or hydrogen includes dissociating hydrogen and another substance from said water-based resource or from said electrolyte liquor by electrolysis; and
wherein extracting carbon or hydrogen includes applying energy to a reaction zone, the energy derived from a renewable resource.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

A process as in claim 10 wherein said hydrogen is pressurized hydrogen and a portion of said pressurized hydrogen is combusted with air to produce water and nitrogen and wherein said nitrogen is reacted with another portion of said pressurized hydrogen to produce substances selected from a group consisting of ammonia and substances derived from ammonia.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

A process as in claim 10 wherein said water-based solution is at a first pressure and said carbon or said hydrogen is extracted at a second pressure greater than the first pressure.

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

A process as in claim 10 wherein said hydrogen is pressurized hydrogen, and wherein the process further comprises:
combusting a portion of said pressurized hydrogen with air in an engine to produce water; and
reacting nitrogen with another portion of said pressurized hydrogen.

### Claim 14 (depends on 10)

A process as in claim 10 wherein hydrogen is extracted, and wherein the process further comprises reacting said hydrogen with a carbon donor to produce a substance containing carbon and hydrogen.

### Claim 15 (depends on 10)

A process as in claim 10 wherein hydrogen is extracted, and wherein the process further comprises reacting said hydrogen with an oxide of carbon to produce a compound containing at least hydrogen and carbon.

### Claim 16 (depends on 10)

A process as in claim 10 wherein the water-based resource is selected from a group consisting of sea water, industrial waste water, agricultural waste water, sewage, and landfill waste water.

### Claim 17 (depends on 10)

A process as in claim 10 wherein said renewable resource is selected from a group consisting of solar, wind, moving water, geothermal, and biomass resources.

### Claim 18

An electrolytic process for producing hydrogen comprising:
supplying a water-based solution having a carbon source to an electrolyzer;
anaerobically digesting the carbon source with a microorganism present in said electrolyzer;
providing hydrogenase to said electrolyzer;
dissociating at least a portion of said water-based solution into at least hydrogen ions and oxygen ions by electrolysis; and
catalyzing hydrogen production according to equation
2H++2e−→H2,
wherein said equation is catalyzed by said hydrogenase.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

A process as in claim 18, further comprising culturing microorganisms in said electrolyzer.

### Claim 20 (depends on 18)

A process as in claim 18 wherein said electrolyzer includes an electrode surface capable of enhancing growth of said microorganism.