A seaweed processing plant

Abstract

A seaweed processing plant, specifically a portable seaweed processing plant, comprises a substantially rectangular cuboid shipping container 101 transportable on an articulated chassis. The container

Claims

(1) A portable seaweed processing plant comprising a shipping container having a substantially rectangular cuboid shaped body with at least one releasably5 securable door to provide access to and from the interior of the container, thecontainer being configured for transport on an articulated chassis; the shipping container having housed therein a seaweed processing line including: a seaweed washing station; a seaweed pre-processing station; a seaweed separation station to separate the seaweed into liquid seaweed and solid seaweed; and a seaweed10 packing station to pack the liquid seaweed and the solid seaweed for onwardtransport, and in which the seaweed pre-processing station comprises one or more of: (i) a sonication device; (ii) a bead beater; (iii) a cavitation unit; and (iv) an autoclave..15(2)(3)A portable seaweed processing plant as claimed in claim 1 in which there is provided a water tank housed in the container for use by the seaweed washing station.A portable seaweed processing plant as claimed in claim 2 in which there is provided a filtration system intermediate the water tank and the seaweed washing station for filtration of the water used in the seaweed washing station.(4) A portable seaweed processing plant as claimed in any preceding claim in which the seaweed washing station comprises one or more of: (i) an immersion bath; (ii)25 at least one spray nozzle; (iii) a sprinkler; (iv) a hand-operated hose; (v) aconveyor; and (vi) a centrifuge.(5) A portable seaweed processing plant as claimed in any preceding claim in which the seaweed separation station comprises a vat having one or more of: (i) a30 mixer; (ii) a heat source; and (iii) a chopper.(6) A portable seaweed processing plant as claimed in any preceding claim in which the processing plant comprises a drying station for drying the solid seaweed.(7) A portable seaweed processing plant as claimed in claim 6 in which the drying station is located downstream of the seaweed separation station and upstream of the seaweed packing station.5 (8) A portable seaweed processing plant as claimed in any preceding claim in whichthe container is provided with a conveyor intermediate each of the stations.(9) A portable seaweed processing plant as claimed in any preceding claim in whichthe container is provided with a dedicated power supply.10(10) A portable seaweed processing plant as claimed in claim 9 in which thededicated power supply is powered by a renewable energy source.(11) A portable seaweed processing plant as claimed in claim 9 or 10 in which the15dedicated power supply comprises a generator.(12) A portable seaweed processing plant as claimed in any preceding claim in whichthe container is provided with a temperature control unit.(13) A portable seaweed processing plant as claimed in claim 12 in which the temperature control unit comprises a thermostat and the temperature control unit is operable to maintain the temperature inside the container at or below 36°C.(14) A portable seaweed processing plant as claimed in any preceding claim in which 25 the container is provided with a releasably securable door at either end of thebody.(15) A portable seaweed processing plant as claimed in any preceding claim in which the container is provided with a plurality of tracks and in which one or more of the 30 stations is slidably mounted on the tracks for reciprocal movement along thetrack.(16) A portable seaweed processing plant as claimed in claim 15 in which at least one of the tracks is extensible and may be extended outwardly from the container through an open releasably securable door.(17) A portable seaweed processing plant as claimed in any preceding claim in which the seaweed separation station comprises a press.5 (18) A portable seaweed processing plant as claimed in any preceding claim in whichthere is provided two or more of: (i) one or more sensors measuring one or more of seaweed conditions, process parameters and / or environmental conditions in the shipping container; (ii) a communication module for relaying sensor data to a remote monitoring station; and (iii) a memory for storage of sensor data.0(19) A method of processing seaweed comprising processing the seaweed in the apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 18.2 03 2515

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