US4236349A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Algae biopolymer production
Assignee: Mobil Oil AS
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Filing: 1978-07-24
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Granted: 1980-12-02
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Expires: 1998-07-24
Abstract
Abstract Process and apparatus for the production of algae biopolymer employing a first stage for the growth of algae and a second stage for biopolymer production. In the first stage, growth of algae biomass in a culture medium is accomplished by operating the first stage in a continuous mode in which fresh nitrogen-containing nutrient medium is supplied to the culture. Concomitantly with the supply of fresh nutrient medium to the culture in the first stage, a portion of the culture medium is transferred from the first stage to the second stage in which the supply of nitrogen is limited. A nitrogen deficiency is created in the second stage to shift the culture to a senescent phase to enhance biopolymer production. The growth phase is carried out in a first stage reaction chamber which is connected to a plurality of second stage reaction chambers in parallel with one another. Culture withdrawn from the first stage is transferred sequentially to each of the second stage reaction chambers such that biopolymer production occurs in several second stage chambers simultaneously with cells produced in the first stage reaction chamber.
Inventors
- 👤 Joseph S. Ramus
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 06:11
CPC Classifications
C; C12; C12N; C12N1/00; C12N1/12; C12M; C12M21/00; C12M21/02; C12M31/00; C12M31/02; C12M41/00; C12M41/06; C12M41/30; C12M41/36; C12N1/125; C12P; C12P1/00; C12R; C12R2001/00; C12R2001/89
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
167 words
In a process for the production of biopolymer by cultivation of algae in an aqueous culture in the presence of assimilable carbon and incident light energy wherein biopolymer production is enhanced by creating a nitrogen deficiency in said culture to shift from a growth phase favoring cell division to a senescent phase favoring biopolymer production, the improvement comprising: (a) carrying out said growth phase in a first stage operated in a continuous mode in which fresh nitrogen-containing nutrient medium is supplied to said culture to sustain exponential cell growth, and (b) concomitantly with the supply of fresh nutrient medium to said first stage, transferring a portion of said culture to a second stage which is separate from said first stage and in which assimilable carbon is supplied to said culture while the supply of nitrogen is limited to create a nitrogen deficiency in said second stage to enhance biopolymer production while continuing to supply fresh nitrogen-containing nutrient medium to said first stage to continue said growth phase.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
167 words
In a process for the production of biopolymer by cultivation of algae in an aqueous culture in the presence of assimilable carbon and incident light energy wherein biopolymer production is enhanced by creating a nitrogen deficiency in said culture to shift from a growth phase favoring cell division to a senescent phase favoring biopolymer production, the improvement comprising: (a) carrying out said growth phase in a first stage operated in a continuous mode in which fresh nitrogen-containing nutrient medium is supplied to said culture to sustain exponential cell growth, and (b) concomitantly with the supply of fresh nutrient medium to said first stage, transferring a portion of said culture to a second stage which is separate from said first stage and in which assimilable carbon is supplied to said culture while the supply of nitrogen is limited to create a nitrogen deficiency in said second stage to enhance biopolymer production while continuing to supply fresh nitrogen-containing nutrient medium to said first stage to continue said growth phase.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the illumination rate of incident light energy is lower in said first stage than in said second stage.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the ratio of the illumination rate during said second stage to the illumination rate during said first stage is at least 1.5.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said culture during said first stage has a thickness of 2 centimeters or less.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said culture during said first stage has a thickness of 1 centimeter or less.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
64 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of monitoring the cell density in said first stage and adding fresh nutrient medium to said first stage and transferring culture from said first stage to said second stage in response to an increase in cell density in said first stage above a designated level to maintain said cell density substantially at said designated level.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of claim 1 wherein step (b) is implemented by successively transferring culture from said first stage to a plurality of reaction zones in said second stage whereby biopolymer production occurs in each of said second stage reaction zones simultaneously with cell growth in said first stage.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 wherein biopolymer is produced by cultivation of Porphyridium aerugineum.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the illumination rate of incident light energy is within the range of 2.0 to 2.5 Einsteins per day per liter during said first stage and within the range of 3.0 to 4.5 Einsteins per day per liter during said second stage.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 9 wherein the incident light energy during said second stage has an energy content predominantly in the region of 600 to 700 nanometers.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
126 words
In a system for the production of alga biopolymer, the combination comprising: a first stage reaction chamber adapted to contain a culture of algae cells and having an inlet for the introduction of a nutrient medium to said chamber and an outlet for the withdrawal of culture therefrom, means for sensing the cell density in said chamber and generating a control function representative thereof, means responsive to said control function for regulating the introduction of nutrient medium to said inlet and the withdrawal of culture from said outlet, a plurality of second stage reaction chambers adapted to receive culture from said first stage reaction chamber, and means for sequentially transferring culture from the outlet of said first stage reaction chamber to said second stage reaction chambers.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
126 words
In a system for the production of alga biopolymer, the combination comprising: a first stage reaction chamber adapted to contain a culture of algae cells and having an inlet for the introduction of a nutrient medium to said chamber and an outlet for the withdrawal of culture therefrom, means for sensing the cell density in said chamber and generating a control function representative thereof, means responsive to said control function for regulating the introduction of nutrient medium to said inlet and the withdrawal of culture from said outlet, a plurality of second stage reaction chambers adapted to receive culture from said first stage reaction chamber, and means for sequentially transferring culture from the outlet of said first stage reaction chamber to said second stage reaction chambers.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
34 words
The system of claim 11 wherein said first stage chamber is a thin layer reaction chamber having an interior spacing of 2 centimeters or less between opposed walls which are transparent to light energy.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1983-12-02 | 1984-06-02 | 1984-12-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-12-02 | 1988-06-02 | 1988-12-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-12-02 | 1992-06-02 | 1992-12-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |