Patent US4438591A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4438591A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Algal cell growth, modification and harvesting
Assignee: University of Arizona Foundation
•
Filing: 1982-02-10
•
Granted: 1984-03-27
•
Expires: 2002-02-10
Abstract
Abstract The present invention relates to algal cell growth, modification and harvesting, and more particularly to systems apparatus and methods for growing, enhancing the growth of and harvesting of motile swimming microorganisms, especially unicellular algae, such as Dunaliella, which multiply by cell division.
Inventors
- 👤 John O. Kessler
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 16:19
CPC Classifications
C; C12; C12N; C12N1/00; C12N1/12; C12M; C12M21/00; C12M21/02; C12M23/00; C12M23/02; C12M23/18; C12M23/58; C12M33/00; C12M33/18; C12N1/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
135 words
A system for growing, enhancing the growth of and harvesting algal cells which multiply by cell division, comprising at least one relatively large area cell growth liquid containing reservoir in which said cells are initially disposed for multiplication by cell division, said reservoir being exposed to prevailing outdoor environmental conditions and being provided with a concentrated cell harvest zone adjacent the top surface of the liquid contained therein, cell migration means for effecting self-locomoted migration of the cells in said reservoir to said harvest zone, a relatively small area cell growth liquid containing reservoir, transfer means for transferring concentrated cells from said harvest zone to said small area cell growth liquid containing reservoir, and environmental control means for controlling the environmental conditions to which the cells in said small area liquid containing reservoir are exposed.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
135 words
A system for growing, enhancing the growth of and harvesting algal cells which multiply by cell division, comprising at least one relatively large area cell growth liquid containing reservoir in which said cells are initially disposed for multiplication by cell division, said reservoir being exposed to prevailing outdoor environmental conditions and being provided with a concentrated cell harvest zone adjacent the top surface of the liquid contained therein, cell migration means for effecting self-locomoted migration of the cells in said reservoir to said harvest zone, a relatively small area cell growth liquid containing reservoir, transfer means for transferring concentrated cells from said harvest zone to said small area cell growth liquid containing reservoir, and environmental control means for controlling the environmental conditions to which the cells in said small area liquid containing reservoir are exposed.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
54 words
A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the surface area of the liquid in said large area reservoir exceeds the surface area of the liquid in said small area reservoir by a factor of the order of 1000 to 1 when the large area reservoir is 100,000 meters 2 in size or larger.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
A system as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the thickness of said harvest zone is less than 1/10 (one tenth) the average depth of the liquid in said small area reservoir.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
45 words
A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said harvest zone comprises at least one elongated carrier which supports said cell migration means, and means are provided for moving said carrier back and forth across the surface of the liquid in said large area reservoir.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
45 words
A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said environmental control means includes apparatus for controlling one or more of the factors of light intensity and spectrum, liquid turbulence, nutriment supply and the temperature to which said cells are exposed in said small area reservoir.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
A system as claimed in claim 1 or claim 5, wherein said small area reservoir comprises a closed chamber which is not exposed to surrounding environmental conditions.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
82 words
A system for growing algal cells which multiply by cell division, comprising a liquid containing reservoir in which said cells are disposed for multiplication by cell division, a cell harvest zone located adjacent the top surface of the liquid in said reservoir and cell migration means for effecting self-locomoted cell migration of the cells in said reservoir to said harvest zone, the thickness of said harvest zone being less than 1/10 I(one tenth) the average depth of the liquid in said reservoir.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
82 words
A system for growing algal cells which multiply by cell division, comprising a liquid containing reservoir in which said cells are disposed for multiplication by cell division, a cell harvest zone located adjacent the top surface of the liquid in said reservoir and cell migration means for effecting self-locomoted cell migration of the cells in said reservoir to said harvest zone, the thickness of said harvest zone being less than 1/10 I(one tenth) the average depth of the liquid in said reservoir.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
91 words
A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said harvest zone comprises at least one elongated carrier, one part of said carrier comprising a material mass which provides a migration path for self-locomoted migration of said cells and which retains the cells which have migrated from said reservoir through said mass in the vicinity of the top of said carrier, and wherein a cell harvest station is provided adjacent the top surface of said carrier, and moving means are provided for producing relative movement between said carrier and said harvest station.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
A system as claimed in claim 8, wherein said harvest station is stationary and said moving means is operative to move said carrier back and forth across the top surface of the liquid in said large area reservoir.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
130 words
Apparatus for harvesting algal cells from a liquid containing reservoir in which said cells are disposed for multiplication by cell division, comprising an elongated carrier disposed adjacent the surface of the liquid in said reservoir, a material mass supported by said carrier and at least partially disposed in the liquid in said reservoir to provide a migration path which enables cells in said liquid to migrate by self-locomotion from the liquid in said reservoir through said mass to a harvest zone located adjacent the top of said carrier, a cell harvest station disposed adjacent the top of said carrier and including means for removing cells from said carrier during relative movement between said carrier and said station, and drive means for producing relative movement between said station and said carrier.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
130 words
Apparatus for harvesting algal cells from a liquid containing reservoir in which said cells are disposed for multiplication by cell division, comprising an elongated carrier disposed adjacent the surface of the liquid in said reservoir, a material mass supported by said carrier and at least partially disposed in the liquid in said reservoir to provide a migration path which enables cells in said liquid to migrate by self-locomotion from the liquid in said reservoir through said mass to a harvest zone located adjacent the top of said carrier, a cell harvest station disposed adjacent the top of said carrier and including means for removing cells from said carrier during relative movement between said carrier and said station, and drive means for producing relative movement between said station and said carrier.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein said harvest station is stationary and said drive means is operative to move said carrier back and forth across the top surface of the liquid to reservoir.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein control means for monitoring the degree of cell concentration on the top of said carrier are provided for controlling the operation of said drive means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein said harvest station comprises means for effecting spray removal of said cells from said carrier.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein said harvest station comprises means for spraying liquid onto said carrier, thereby to effect spray removal of said cells from said carrier.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
43 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein said harvest station comprises means for spraying cell containing slurry at least partially derived from the output side of said harvest station onto said carrier, thereby to effect spray removal of said cells from said carrier.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
38 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein said harvest station comprises means for spraying cell containing liquid at least partially derived from said reservoir onto said carrier, thereby to effect spray removal of said cells from said carrier.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
47 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein said harvest station comprises means for spraying cell containing liquid partially derived from said reservoir and partially derived from the output side of said harvest station onto said carrier, thereby to effect spray removal of said cells from said carrier.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
39 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein said harvest station comprises spray means for effecting spray removal of said cells from said carrier, and collecting means disposed beneath said spray means for collecting the cells removed from said carrier.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
55 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein said harvest station comprises spray means for spraying cell containing liquid at least partially derived from said reservoir onto said carrier thereby to effect spray removal of said cells from said carrier, and collecting means disposed beneath said spray means for collecting the cells removed from said carrier.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein said harvest station includes suction means for effecting suction removal of cells from said carrier.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
37 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein said drive means comprises at least one motor, and means are provided for controlling the operation of said motor in accordance with the degree of cell concentration on said carrier.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
139 words
Apparatus for harvesting algal cells from a liquid containing reservoir in which said cells are disposed for multiplication by cell division, comprising a pair of elongated carriers disposed in side-by-side relationship adjacent the surface of the liquid in said reservoir, a material mass supported by each of said carriers and at least partially disposed in the liquid in said reservoir to provide migration paths which enable cells in said liquid to migrate by self-locomotion from the liquid in said reservoir through said masses to the tops of said carriers, a cell harvest station disposed adjacent and spanning the tops of said carriers and including means for removing cells from said carriers during relative movement between said carriers and said station, and drive means for simultaneously moving said carriers in opposite directions back and forth relative to said harvest station.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
139 words
Apparatus for harvesting algal cells from a liquid containing reservoir in which said cells are disposed for multiplication by cell division, comprising a pair of elongated carriers disposed in side-by-side relationship adjacent the surface of the liquid in said reservoir, a material mass supported by each of said carriers and at least partially disposed in the liquid in said reservoir to provide migration paths which enable cells in said liquid to migrate by self-locomotion from the liquid in said reservoir through said masses to the tops of said carriers, a cell harvest station disposed adjacent and spanning the tops of said carriers and including means for removing cells from said carriers during relative movement between said carriers and said station, and drive means for simultaneously moving said carriers in opposite directions back and forth relative to said harvest station.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
39 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 22, wherein control means are provided for controlling said drive means to start and stop movement of said carriers and to control the speed of relative movement between said harvest station and said carriers.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 23, wherein said control means includes means for sensing the degree of cell concentration on said carriers.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
159 words
The method of growing, enhancing the growth of and harvesting algal cells which multiply by cell division, comprising initially growing said cells in a relatively large area cell growth liquid containing reservoir in which said cells are initially disposed for multiplication by cell division, said reservoir being exposed to prevailing outdoor environmental conditions, contacting a surface of the liquid in said reservoir with a cell carrier for a time sufficient to permit a portion of the cells to migrate into said cell carrier, removing a portion of the cells from said cell carrier, transferring cells removed from said cell carrier to a relatively small area cell growth liquid containing reservoir, supplying cell metabolism modifying substances to the cells transferred to said small area reservoir, artificially controlling the environmental conditions to which the cells in said small area liquid containing reservoir are exposed, and harvesting at least a portion of the cells grown in said small area liquid containing reservoir.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
159 words
The method of growing, enhancing the growth of and harvesting algal cells which multiply by cell division, comprising initially growing said cells in a relatively large area cell growth liquid containing reservoir in which said cells are initially disposed for multiplication by cell division, said reservoir being exposed to prevailing outdoor environmental conditions, contacting a surface of the liquid in said reservoir with a cell carrier for a time sufficient to permit a portion of the cells to migrate into said cell carrier, removing a portion of the cells from said cell carrier, transferring cells removed from said cell carrier to a relatively small area cell growth liquid containing reservoir, supplying cell metabolism modifying substances to the cells transferred to said small area reservoir, artificially controlling the environmental conditions to which the cells in said small area liquid containing reservoir are exposed, and harvesting at least a portion of the cells grown in said small area liquid containing reservoir.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method as claimed in claim 25, wherein the surface area of the liquid in said large area reservoir exceeds the surface area of the liquid in said small area reservoir by a factor of the order of 1000 to 1 when the large area reservoir is at least 100,000 meters 2 in size.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method as claimed in either claim 25 or claim 26, wherein said algal cells are of the Dunaliella genus.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method as claimed in either claim 25 or claim 26, wherein the liquid contained in each of said reservoirs is saline water.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3521400A
Cited
US3645040A
Cited
US4055491A
Cited
US4087936A
Cited
US4320594A
Cited
US4341038A
Cited
US4324067A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1987-03-27 | 1987-09-26 | 1988-03-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-03-27 | 1991-09-26 | 1992-03-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-03-27 | 1995-09-26 | 1996-03-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |