Methods and systems for production of organically derived ammonia/ammonium
AssigneeClemson University
InventorBrian Keith Ward
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Abstract
Disclosed are methods for forming ammonia and ammonium that can be utilized in certifiably organic farming productions according to most if not all known certification standards. Also disclosed are bioreactors that can be utilized in carrying out disclosed methods. Methods and systems utilize obligate anaerobic bacteria to breakdown organic protein substrates, i.e., compounds containing bound nitrogen, to provide nitrogen in an unbound plant available form, and particularly, ammonia and/or ammonium. Obligate anaerobic bacteria include high ammonia producing bacteria such as Peptostreptococcus anaerobius, Clostridium sticklandii, and Clostridium aminophilum.
Claims12
A method for producing ammonia and/or ammonium, comprising:
- contacting a substrate with a hyper-ammonia producing obligate anaerobic bacteria, wherein the contacting is in a reduced salt solution formed with an anaerobic gas in an electrochemical cell and under anaerobic conditions,
- wherein the substrate comprises nitrogen;
- collecting off-gases produced by the bacteria as the bacteria metabolizes the substrate;
- and
- separating the ammonia and/or ammonium from the off-gasses, wherein the substrate comprises soy protein isolate, blood meal, feather meal, fish meal, yeast extract, or combinations thereof, and wherein the hyper-ammonia producing obligate anaerobic bacteria is selected from the group consisting of Peptostreptococcus anaerobius, Clostridium sticklandii, Clostridium aminophilum, and combinations thereof.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.