Populations of particles, methods for preparing and uses thereof - Patents.com

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a population of particles, methods for their preparation, and their use, for example, for carbon dioxide sequestration, wherein each particle is a construct comprising at least one solid core, optionally at least one barrier coating layer on the at least one solid core, and a scaffold attached to at least an outer surface of the at least one solid core, or to the barrier coating if a barrier coating is present in the construct, wherein the scaffold is suitable for supporting the growth of photosynthetic aquatic organisms and a gas trapped within the at least one solid core, the gas having a first specific gravity less than the specific gravity of water and present in an amount sufficient to cause the particle to float when the particle contacts water; The construct comprises a construct having a second specific gravity greater than the specific gravity of water, and at least one solid core, or a barrier coating, if present in the construct, having a permeability configured to allow controlled exchange between the trapped gas and water outside the construct.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure is in the field of chemistry and carbon dioxide sequestration.

[0002] References considered relevant as background to the presently disclosed subject matter are listed below. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] International Patent Application Publication No. 2021126315 [Patent Document 2] U.S. Patent No. 8,033,879 [Patent Document 3] U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 20080236033 [Patent Document 4] U.S. Patent No. 5,965,117 [Patent Document 5] UK Patent Application Publication No. 2337749 [Patent Document 6] U.S. Patent No. 1,0752,528 [Patent Document 7] European Patent No. 1207743 [Patent Document 8] Chinese Patent Application Publication No. 115428726 [Patent Document 9] U.S. Patent No. 8,753,863

[0004] Acknowledgment of the above references herein should not be inferred as meaning that they are in any way relevant to the patentability of the presently disclosed subject matter. [Background technology]

[0005] International Publication No. 2021126315 discloses a nanobiocomposite nutrient carrier containing a water-soluble polymer with iron nutrients for nutrition of aquatic organisms. The water-soluble polymer contains a hydrogen-bonded interpenetrating polymer network that traps the iron nutrients. The nutrient carrier is buoyant with a density of less than 1.0 grams per cubic centimeter.

[0006] U.S. Patent No. 8,033,879 discloses compositions, methods, and apparatus for biological and physical geoengineering. It introduces inorganic particles or floats designed to disperse over a body of water. These compositions offer benefits such as improving yields in marine aquaculture, increasing carbon sequestration, and combating global warming by increasing surface albedo and promoting cloud formation.

[0007] US Patent Application Publication No. 20080236033 discloses a floating, slow-release fertilizer that enables the growth of phytoplankton in the ocean, thereby removing CO2 from the atmosphere.

[0008] U.S. Patent No. 5,965,117 discloses a water-buoyant composition containing a source of micronutrients for photosynthetic phytoplankton growth that, when placed on the ocean surface as floating particles, is useful for stimulating photosynthetic phytoplankton growth in areas of the ocean lacking photosynthetic phytoplankton growth.

[0009] GB 2337749 discloses a method for removing algal blooms which involves sinking algal cells, organic pollutants and over-enriched nutrients to the seabed using iron oxide-enriched particles modified with a cationic reagent.

[0010] US Patent No. 10,752,528 discloses a microorganism-containing biocatalyst having a large population of microorganisms irreversibly retained therein.

[0011] EP 1207743 discloses a method for increasing seafood production in the ocean, which method comprises testing water at the ocean's surface to determine nutrients being lost and applying a fertilizer containing an iron chelate to the ocean's surface.

[0012] Chinese Patent Application Publication No. 115428726 discloses a method for sequestering carbon dioxide in the ocean using phosphorus supplementation. The method involves transporting a phosphorus source loader to a nutrient-poor area and releasing it onto the mainland shelf, dispersing the phosphorus into the ocean. The nutrient mixture promotes the growth of phytoplankton in the euhydric layer, which converts atmospheric carbon dioxide into organic matter, thereby reducing atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations.

[0013] U.S. Patent No. 8,753,863 describes a method for removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, which method involves delivering urea from a floating vessel to a region of the ocean's euphotic zone, whereby phytoplankton populations are increased in that region upon addition of urea. Summary of the Invention

[0014] The present disclosure provides, according to a first aspect thereof, a population of particles, each particle comprising: at least one solid core; optionally, at least one barrier coating layer on the at least one solid core; a scaffolding attached to at least an outer surface of said at least one solid core or said barrier coating, if present in the construct, said scaffolding being suitable for supporting the growth of photosynthetic aquatic organisms; and a gas entrapped within the at least one solid core, the gas having a first specific gravity less than the specific gravity of water and present in an amount sufficient to provide suspension of the particles when the particles contact water; The present invention also includes a construct comprising: the construct has a second specific gravity greater than the specific gravity of water; The at least one solid core, or the barrier coating (if present in the construct), has a permeability configured to allow controlled exchange between trapped gas and water outside the construct.

[0015] The present disclosure, according to a second aspect thereof, provides a method of producing particles, the method comprising mixing a solid core material, optionally having at least one layer of a barrier coating on the solid core, with a scaffold-forming material suitable for supporting the growth of photosynthetic aquatic organisms under conditions suitable to allow bonding of the scaffold to at least an outer surface of the solid core; the solid core material includes a gas entrapped therein, the gas having a first specific gravity less than a specific gravity of water and in an amount sufficient to cause suspension of the particles upon contact with water; the combination of the at least one solid core, the at least one layer of barrier coating, if present, and the scaffolding has a second specific gravity greater than the specific gravity of water; The combination of the solid core, at least one layer of barrier coating, and if present, scaffolding, and gas provides a method selected to provide, in the resulting particle, controlled exchange between the trapped gas and water external to the construct when the particle comes into contact with water.

[0016] The present disclosure, according to a second aspect thereof, provides a method for carbon dioxide sequestration, the method comprising distributing particles over a selected area of ​​a body of water open to a source of carbon dioxide to be sequestered, the particles comprising at least one photosynthetic aquatic organism.

[0017] Each of the particles comprises a construct, the construct comprising: at least one solid core; optionally, at least one barrier coating layer on the at least one solid core; a scaffolding attached to at least an outer surface of the at least one solid core or the barrier coating when the barrier coating is present in a construct, the scaffolding being suitable for supporting the growth of photosynthetic aquatic organisms; a gas entrapped within the at least one solid core, the gas having a first specific gravity less than the specific gravity of water and present in an amount sufficient to provide suspension of the particles when the particles are contacted with water; Including, the construct has a second specific gravity greater than the specific gravity of water; The at least one solid core or, if present in the construct, the barrier coating has a permeability configured to allow controlled exchange between trapped gas and water outside the construct.

[0018] In order to better understand the subject matter disclosed herein, and to illustrate how it may be carried out in practice, embodiments will now be described, by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0019] [Figure 1A] 1A-1D are schematic diagrams of constructs according to some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter. [Figure 1B] 1 is a schematic diagram of a construct according to some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter. [Figure 1C] 1A-1D are schematic diagrams of constructs according to some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter. [Figure 1D] 1 is a schematic diagram of a construct according to some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter. [Figure 1E] 1A-1D are schematic diagrams of constructs according to some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter. [Figure 1F] 1A-1D are schematic diagrams of constructs according to some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter. [Figure 1G] 1 is a schematic diagram of a construct according to some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter. [Figure 1H] 1A-1D are schematic diagrams of constructs according to some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter. [Figure 1I] 1A-1D are schematic diagrams of constructs according to some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter. [Figure 2A]2A-2B include a top-view image (FIG. 2A) and a corresponding binary black-and-white image (FIG. 2B) of alginate-coated vermiculite particles observed in sink-float experiments according to some examples of the present disclosure. [Figure 2B] Same as above [Figure 3] 1 is a plot showing the results of a flotation-settling experiment (expressed as the change in percentage of suspended particles over time) for vermiculite particles coated with various concentrations of calcium alginate, according to some examples of the present disclosure. Error bars represent standard deviation. [Figure 4] 1 is a plot showing the results of a sink-float experiment (expressed as the change in percentage of suspended particles over time) for vermiculite particles coated with different numbers of layers of calcium alginate, according to some examples of the present disclosure. Error bars represent standard deviation. [Figure 5A] 5A-5C are photomicrographs showing cross-sections (FIGS. 5A and 5B) and full particle representations (FIG. 5C) of floating 2% alginate-coated vermiculite particles stained with fluorescein, according to some examples of the present disclosure. [Figure 5B] Same as above [Figure 5C] Same as above [Figure 6] 1 is a photomicrograph showing submerged 4% alginate coated vermiculite particles according to some examples of the present disclosure. [Figure 7] 1 is a bar graph showing microalgal dry biomass as a function of growth conditions on a gypsum scaffold ("gypsum") without Fe+Mn supplementation and with high and low concentrations of macronutrients in the medium ("gypsum C HN" or "gypsum C LN", respectively), or with Fe+Mn supplementation and with high and low concentrations of macronutrients in the medium ("gypsum Fe Mn HN" or "gypsum Fe Mn LN", respectively), plotted using a fluorescence-activated cell sorter (FACS) or hemocytometer. [Figure 8A]8A-8B are photomicrographs showing fluorescent microalgae attached to tuff particles according to some examples of the present disclosure. Figure 8A shows control tuff particles in a high-nutrient medium, and Figure 8B shows Fe+Mn-supplemented tuff particles in a high-nutrient medium. [Figure 8B] Same as above [Figure 9] 1 is a photomicrograph showing microalgae attached and captured on Fe+Mn-supplemented cotton fibers in a nutrient-rich medium according to some examples of the present disclosure. [Figure 10A] 10A-10D are micrographs showing vermiculite particles coated with alginic acid and hemp fiber (FIG. 10A), vermiculite particles coated with alginic acid and cotton fiber (FIG. 10B), vermiculite particles coated with alginic acid and tallow dust (FIG. 10C), and vermiculite particles coated with alginic acid and cotton fiber suspended in water (FIG. 10D), according to some examples of the present disclosure. [Figure 10B] Same as above [Figure 10C] Same as above [Figure 10D] Same as above [Figure 11] 1 is a plot showing the results of a fiber-2-particle mathematical model simulation according to a non-limiting example of the present disclosure. The simulated biomass growth (solid line) is shown as fitted to the experimental growth data (dots). DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0020] In general, the present disclosure is based, inter alia, on the development of particles with controlled flotation or buoyancy properties that cause the particles to float on the surface of water, and pre-designed, controllable settling or sedimentation properties that cause the particles to sink in water.

[0021] Furthermore, the developed particles are designed to support the growth of photosynthetic aquatic organisms that can contribute to the sequestration of carbon dioxide on the one hand and to the settling of the particles in the water on the other hand.

[0022] Thus, when in proximity to photosynthetic aquatic organisms, such as those with a sun-kissed zone (euphotic zone) of a body of water, the suspended particles of the present disclosure can serve as a support scaffold for these algae until the activation of a pre-designed settling trigger, which then leads to the process of settling of the particles within the body of water, along with the carrying algae.

[0023] Thus, in accordance with a first aspect of the presently disclosed subject matter, there is provided a population of particles, each particle comprising: at least one solid core; optionally, at least one barrier coating layer on the at least one solid core; a scaffold attached to at least an outer surface of at least one solid core, or of a barrier coating if present in said construct, the scaffold being suitable for supporting the growth of photosynthetic aquatic organisms; and A construct comprising: a gas entrapped within at least one solid core, the gas having a first specific gravity less than the specific gravity of water and present in an amount sufficient to provide suspension of the particles when the particles contact water; the construct has a second specific gravity greater than the specific gravity of water; At least one solid core, or barrier coating if present in the construct, has a permeability configured to allow controlled exchange between the trapped gas and water outside the construct.

[0024] In the context of the subject matter of the present disclosure, the term "population of particles" refers to two or more particles, preferably a large number of particles, all of which have the same architecture as defined above, but which may not necessarily be the same in the population. In other words, all have a solid core, at least a gas trapped within the core, and a scaffold as defined herein, but some may or may not have a barrier layer, some may have different solid cores, some may have different types of trapped gas, some may have different types of scaffolds, some may have different numbers of barrier layers, some may have different dimensions, etc.

[0025] A particle is a construct of components. Thus, the term "construct" as used herein is understood to refer to a structured solid object formed by the organized assembly of the indicated components, including at least a solid core, a gas, and a scaffold.

[0026] Each particle in the particle population comprises at least one solid core. In the context of the subject matter of the present disclosure, the term "solid core" should be understood to encompass any non-flowable material, including rock, mineral, glass, and gel-like materials, as discussed further below. The solid core is a separate, solid entity within the construct and is distinguishable (e.g., visually or using imaging techniques) from at least the growth-supporting scaffold. In some instances, when the construct also comprises at least one layer of barrier coating, the solid core is also distinguishable from the barrier layer.

[0027] In some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, the solid core is a water-insoluble particulate material, meaning that the solid core itself does not dissolve immediately upon contact with water.

[0028] In some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, the solid core is an expanded particle and / or a porous particle.

[0029] In the context of the subject matter of the present disclosure, the terms "expanded" or "porous," with respect to a solid core, can be understood to refer to having voids, preferably retaining trapped gas. Thus, reference to expanded and / or porous particles should be understood to encompass any particle containing voids / open gas-containing spaces. These voids can be distributed throughout the material, and the size, shape, distribution, and interconnectivity of the voids can vary between particles. The voids can have the form of cavities within the material, can represent the spaces between layers in a layered material, or any other form of voids within a particle.

[0030] In some instances of the presently disclosed subject matter, the term "expanded" refers to a material, e.g., a mineral, that has undergone a thermal process that results in its expansion. Thus, as an example, expanded vermiculite is raw vermiculite that has undergone a process involving exposure to high temperatures (also known by the term exfoliation), causing expansion of its inner layers and changing it into the form of a lightweight, porous material with a layered structure.

[0031] Thus, in some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, the solid core is an expanded particle (eg, where the raw material undergoes an exfoliation process, resulting in a porous layered structure capable of retaining said gas).

[0032] In the context of the subject matter of this disclosure, when referring to particles, it should be understood to refer to expanded particulate material as a result of treatment, for example, heat treatment. In some instances, the particulate material expands due to an exfoliation process.

[0033] In some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, the solid core is an expanded particulate mineral.

[0034] In the context of the presently disclosed subject matter, the term "mineral" should be understood to have its ordinary meaning as known in the art. For example, the term "mineral" can be understood to relate to inorganic crystalline materials, including single crystalline entities and aggregates thereof. In some instances of the presently disclosed subject matter, the term "mineral" includes compounds that make up earth formations and matrices. It is recognized that "minerals" can also result from the alteration or fusion of their constituent components, resulting in the formation of new chemical compounds within the context of rock.

[0035] A non-limiting list of expanded / porous particle minerals includes vermiculite (including especially expanded vermiculite), montmorillonite, bentonite, hectorite, saponite, kaolinite, halloysite, illite, palygorskite, sepiolite, and nontronite.

[0036] In some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, the solid core is an expanded vermiculite mineral.

[0037] In some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, the solid core is an expanded particulate volcanic glass.

[0038] A non-limiting list of expandable particulate volcanic glasses includes perlite and pumice.

[0039] In some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, the solid core is expanded particle perlite.

[0040] In some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, the solid core is expanded particle pumice.

[0041] In some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, the solid core is a porous organic particle.

[0042] The organic core may be synthetic or non-synthetic.

[0043] In some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, the organic solid core is a carbon-based sponge.

[0044] In some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, the organic core is a natural / non-synthetic carbon-based sponge.

[0045] A non-limiting list of organic (non-synthetic) sponges that can be utilized in the context of the presently disclosed subject matter includes sea sponges, cellulosic sponges, loofah sponges, and combinations thereof.

[0046] In some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, the organic solid core is a carbon-based foam.

[0047] A non-limiting list of carbon-based foams that can be utilized in the context of the presently disclosed subject matter includes foamed polyurethane or latex (more preferably polyurethane).

[0048] In some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, the organic solid core comprises a carbon-based fibrous (porous) material.

[0049] A non-limiting list of carbon-based fibrous materials that can be used as the solid core in the context of the presently disclosed subject matter includes coir fiber, rise husk, wood fiber, hemp fiber, palm fiber, bamboo fiber, jute, and cotton fiber.

[0050] In some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, the solid core comprises cotton fibers.

[0051] In some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, the solid core comprises jute fibers.

[0052] In some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, the solid core comprises bamboo fibers.

[0053] In some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, the solid core comprises wood fibers.

[0054] In some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, the solid core comprises a particulate hydrocolloid.

[0055] In the context of the subject matter of the present disclosure, the term "hydrocolloid" should be understood to encompass any substance that can form a viscous but non-flowing dispersion or a non-flowing gel when mixed with water or other aqueous solutions.

[0056] In some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, the hydrocolloid is a hydrogel or forms a hydrogel (eg, upon contact with water).

[0057] In some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, the particulate hydrocolloid comprises a polysaccharide.

[0058] In some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, the particulate hydrocolloid comprises a polysaccharide selected from the group consisting of alginic acid, agar, agarose, carrageenan, pectin, methylcellulose, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC), ethylcellulose, carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), microcrystalline cellulose, hydroxyethylcellulose (HEC), hydroxypropylcellulose (HPC), carboxymethylhydroxyethylcellulose (CMHEC), carboxymethylhydroxypropylcellulose (CMHPC), chitosan, carboxymethylchitosan, xanthan gum, guar gum, locust bean gum, galactomannan, konjac gum, glucomannan, tara gum, gellan gum, acacia gum (gum arabic), curdlan, fucoidan, pullulan, hyaluronic acid, and any combination thereof.

[0059] It should be understood that hydrocolloids according to the present invention may be self-bonded (sometimes known as "self-crosslinked") or crosslinked.

[0060] In some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, the particulate hydrocolloid comprises a self-binding polysaccharide.

[0061] A non-limiting list of self-binding polysaccharides includes self-binding alginate, self-binding agarose, and self-binding chitosan.

[0062] In some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, the particulate hydrocolloid comprises a cross-linked polysaccharide.

[0063] A non-limiting list of cross-linked polysaccharides includes cross-linked alginate, cross-linked starch, cross-linked cellulose, cross-linked chitosan, cross-linked xanthan gum, cross-linked pectin, and cross-linked guar gum.

[0064] In some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, the particulate hydrocolloid comprises or is cross-linked alginate. The cross-linked alginate can be obtained using any one of a divalent or trivalent metal cation, including, but not limited to, Ca. 2+ , Mg 2+ , Fe 2+ , Fe 3+ may include any one or combination of:

[0065] In some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, the particulate hydrocolloid is calcium alginate, also known as Ca alginate. 2+ The composition may comprise or be alginate cross-linked with

[0066] In some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, the particulate hydrocolloid includes or is gelatin.

[0067] In some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, the population of particles can include combinations of the above solid core materials.

[0068] It should be understood that the particles in the population of particles may comprise a single solid core, or two or more solid cores held together by, for example, a barrier coating (if present) and / or a binder layer, or entrapped within a scaffold.

[0069] In some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, at least some of the particles in the population of particles each include a single solid core.

[0070] In some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, at least some of the particles in the population of particles each include two or more solid cores.

[0071] In some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, the populations of particles each include a single solid core.

[0072] In some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, the population of particles includes at least one layer of barrier coating that encapsulates or embeds at least one, and sometimes preferably one, solid core.

[0073] As discussed further herein, the barrier coating layer can also function as a binder layer, for example, to bond the scaffolding material to the solid core.

[0074] The at least one barrier coating forms a barrier for immediate exchange between the trapped gas and the external water, and thus, when present, the barrier coating can facilitate or contribute to the control of gas / water exchange and, therefore, flotation / sinking times.

[0075] The barrier coating is typically formed from a water-insoluble material.

[0076] In some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, the barrier coating comprises a biodegradable polymer.

[0077] In some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, the barrier coating comprises a polysaccharide or polysaccharide derivative.

[0078] In some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, the barrier coating comprises a polysaccharide or a biodegradable polysaccharide.

[0079] In some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, the barrier coating comprises a hydrocolloid, i.e., the barrier coating is a hydrocolloid-containing coating.

[0080] A non-limiting list of hydrocolloids that can form a film or layer of barrier (or binder) coating on the solid core includes any one or combination of alginate, agar, agarose, carrageenan, pectin, methylcellulose, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC), ethylcellulose, carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), microcrystalline cellulose, hydroxyethylcellulose (HEC), hydroxypropylcellulose (HPC), carboxymethylhydroxyethylcellulose (CMHEC), carboxymethylhydroxypropylcellulose (CMHPC), chitosan, carboxymethylchitosan, xanthan gum, guar gum, locust bean gum, galactomannan, konjac gum, glucomannan, tara gum, gellan gum, acacia gum (gum arabic), curdlan, fucoidan, pullulan, and hyaluronic acid.

[0081] Similar to hydrocolloids that can form solid cores, hydrocolloid-based coating layers on solid cores can be self-bonding or crosslinking.

[0082] In some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, the coating on the solid core comprises a polysaccharide, which has the same meaning as defined herein with respect to the solid core. Preferably, the polysaccharide is a cross-linked polysaccharide when it also acts as a binder.

[0083] In some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, the barrier coating comprises one or more layers of cross-linked alginate, which has the same meaning as defined herein with respect to the solid core. In some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, at least one layer of cross-linked alginate also forms a binder for the scaffold.

[0084] In some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, the hydrocolloid barrier coating comprises calcium alginate, which has the same meaning as defined herein with respect to cross-linked alginate forming a solid core. In some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, at least one of the Ca-alginate layers also forms a binder for the scaffold.

[0085] In some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, the hydrocolloid barrier coating comprises gelatin.

[0086] In some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, the barrier coating can include a hydrophobic long-chain organic compound.

[0087] In some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, the hydrophobic long-chain organic compound is or includes a wax or wax-like substance.

[0088] In some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, the barrier coating can include a wax.

[0089] A non-limiting list of waxes or wax-like substances that can form a barrier coating over the solid core is paraffin wax, rosin wax, beeswax, carnauba wax, soybean wax, candelilla wax, microcrystalline wax, montan wax, rice bran wax, ozokerite wax, lanolin wax, jojoba wax, castor wax, palm wax, tallow wax, Fischer-Tropsch wax, polyethylene wax, shellac wax, polyolefin wax, and combinations thereof.

[0090] The particles can include one or more layers of a barrier coating, and when containing more than one layer of a barrier coating, the layers can be the same or different in composition, thickness, etc., as discussed below. Multiple layers can be achieved, for example, by staged coating of the particles.

[0091] In some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, at least one layer of barrier coating is a continuous coating on at least one solid core or on its preceding coating layer.

[0092] As used herein, the term "continuous coating" refers to a uniform layer of coating material on the core with no visible gaps.

[0093] In some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, at least one layer of barrier coating is a fragmented or discontinuous coating on at least one solid core or on its preceding coating layer.

[0094] As used herein, the term "segmented or discontinuous coating" refers to a non-uniform coating characterized by the presence of gaps, interruptions, or variations in the coating that result in a non-uniform or fragmented appearance.

[0095] The barrier coating layer is preferably an essentially continuous coating, essentially free of visible gaps.

[0096] In some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, the solid core or at least one layer of barrier coating (if a barrier coating is present) has an irregular contour, in other words, the contour is not spherical.

[0097] In some other examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, the solid core or at least one layer of barrier coating, if present, has a rounded contour. An example of a rounded contour can be a spherical contour.

[0098] The population of particles disclosed herein comprises a scaffold configured and / or constructed to support the growth of photosynthetic aquatic organisms.

[0099] In some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, the scaffold is bonded at least to the outer surface of the solid core or to the outer surface of the outermost barrier layer and / or binder layer (if such barrier / binder layer is present).

[0100] In the context of the subject matter of the present disclosure, the term "bound" or "binding" refers to fixation. Fixation can be chemical or physical, depending on the entities / components that are bound / connected or in contact. For this purpose, it should be understood that binding can be by any one of, but is not limited to, binding, adhering, entanglement, entrapment, and attachment.

[0101] In some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, the scaffold comprises water-insoluble fibers.

[0102] Reference to "fibers" should be understood to include any fibrous material, as known in the art. In this regard, the term "fibers" is also understood to encompass lint fibers.

[0103] As used herein, the term "lint" or "lint fibers" refers to loose or fine fibers, threads, or bits of material that have separated or detached from a textile or fabric due to abrasion, friction, or mechanical action. In some instances, lint appears as a lightweight, entangled, accumulating structure that includes individual fibers or particles that are loosely attached to one another.

[0104] In some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, the water-insoluble fibers are organic, non-synthetic fibers.

[0105] A non-limiting list of organic, non-synthetic fibers that may form part of the scaffold includes abaca fiber, banana fiber, bamboo fiber, broom fiber, coir fiber, cotton fiber, hemp fiber, elephant fiber, flax fiber, hemp fiber, jute fiber, kenaf fiber, linseed fiber, oil palm fiber, ramie fiber, rice husk fiber, roselle fiber, sisal fiber, sunflower fiber, wheat fiber, wood fiber, and any combination thereof.

[0106] In some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, the scaffold comprises cotton fibers.

[0107] In some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, the scaffold comprises hemp fibers.

[0108] In some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, the water-insoluble fibers are synthetic fibers. Examples of synthetic fibers include polyester fibers.

[0109] In some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, the water-insoluble fibers are recycled fibers as are available and known in the art.

[0110] In some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, the scaffold comprises a water-insoluble porous particulate material entrapped within, bonded to, and / or entangled with fibers.

[0111] In some instances, the water-insoluble porous particulate material is fixedly attached to at least the fibers.

[0112] In some instances, the water-insoluble porous particulate material, when present on a solid core, is fixedly attached to a binder and / or barrier coating layer.

[0113] In some instances, the water-insoluble porous particulate material is fixedly attached to the binder and / or barrier coating layer and / or to the fibers on / outside the binder and / or barrier coating layer.

[0114] In the above and below description, references to immobilization of water-insoluble porous particulate material as part of a scaffold should be understood to encompass any form of entrapment of water-insoluble porous particulate material as part of a scaffold.

[0115] The immobilization of the water-insoluble porous particulate material can be with the aid of a binder, as described herein.

[0116] The water-insoluble particulate material forming part of the scaffold, according to one example of the presently disclosed subject matter, may include particulate minerals and / or particulate rock.

[0117] In some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, the water-insoluble porous particulate material includes or is a clay mineral.

[0118] In some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, the water-insoluble porous particulate material comprises or is an aluminosilicate mineral.

[0119] In some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, the water-insoluble porous particulate material includes or is a carbonate mineral.

[0120] In some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, the water-insoluble porous particulate material comprises or is a mineral selected from the group consisting of montmorillonite, bentonite halloysite, sepiolite, attapulgite, and dolomite.

[0121] In some other examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, the water-insoluble porous particulate material forming part of the scaffold comprises bentonite.

[0122] In some other examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, the water-insoluble porous particulate material forming part of the scaffold comprises montmorillonite.

[0123] According to some other examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, the water-insoluble porous particulate material forming part of the scaffolding can include particulate porous rock.

[0124] In some other examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, the water-insoluble porous particulate material forming part of the scaffold is selected from the group consisting of granite, sandstone, diatomaceous earth, shale, marl, and vesicular basalt.

[0125] In some other examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, the water-insoluble porous particulate material forming part of the scaffold includes or is patina.

[0126] According to yet another example of the presently disclosed subject matter, the water-insoluble particulate material forming part of the scaffolding can include any combination of such minerals and rocks.

[0127] In some instances, the scaffold provides physical support for the growth of said photosynthetic aquatic organism.

[0128] In some instances, the scaffold provides nutritional support for the growth of said photosynthetic aquatic organism.

[0129] In some instances, the scaffold is constructed to allow for the growth of organisms on and / or within the scaffold.

[0130] In its broadest context, the term "photosynthetic aquatic organism" refers to any aquatic primary producer.

[0131] In some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, the organism comprises at least one photosynthetic microorganism.

[0132] In some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, the organism comprises algae.

[0133] In some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, the organism comprises microalgae.

[0134] In some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, the organisms include at least phytoplankton.

[0135] In some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, the organisms include at least phytoplankton and the scaffolding supports growth of the phytoplankton thereon and / or by means of the scaffolding.

[0136] Thus, more particularly, the term "scaffold for supporting the growth of photosynthetic aquatic organisms" or "growth scaffold" or "scaffold" refers to a framework, physical structure / substrate that provides at least physical support and a conductive environment for at least the growth / proliferation and preferably the attachment of photosynthetic aquatic organisms.

[0137] In some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, the scaffold comprises at least one nutrient, preferably a nutrient composition, suitable or selected to support the growth of photosynthetic aquatic organisms.

[0138] It should be understood that in the context of the subject matter of the present disclosure, reference to nutrients should be understood to encompass both micronutrients and macronutrients.

[0139] In the context of the subject matter of this disclosure, reference to nutrients should be understood to encompass any state of the nutrient, whether ionic or elemental, even if not explicitly mentioned above or below. Thus, reference to nutrients herein should be understood to be not limited to a particular state.

[0140] In the context of the presently disclosed subject matter, a non-limiting list of nutrients that can be utilized to support the growth of photosynthetic aquatic organisms includes iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), molybdenum (Mo), selenium (Se), chromium (Cr), cobalt (Co), iodine (I), fluorine (F), magnesium (Mg), silicon (Si), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), sulfur (S), strontium (Sr), nickel (Ni), vanadium (V), and any combination thereof.

[0141] In some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, the scaffold is supplemented with at least one nutrient.

[0142] In some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, the scaffold comprises at least iron, e.g., Fe 3+ will be replenished.

[0143] In some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, the scaffold comprises at least manganese, e.g., Mn 2+ will be replenished.

[0144] In some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, the scaffold is supplemented with a composition comprising at least iron and manganese.

[0145] In some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, the scaffold comprises at least one nitrogen-containing compound, such as NO3 - The composition is supplemented with a composition comprising:

[0146] In some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, the scaffold comprises at least one phosphorus-containing compound, such as PO4 3- The composition is supplemented with a composition comprising:

[0147] In some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, the scaffold is supplemented with a composition comprising at least iron, manganese, a nitrogen-containing compound, and a phosphorus-containing compound.

[0148] Without being bound thereto, it is envisioned that the nutrients are adsorbed onto the fibers and / or onto the water-insoluble particles that form part of the scaffold.

[0149] The particles can also include a binder in addition to or instead of a barrier coating layer. Thus, in some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, at least one layer on the solid core is a hydrocolloid that can function interchangeably or dually as a barrier coating and a binder.

[0150] In some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, the binder is or includes a hydrocolloid.

[0151] In some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, the binder is or includes a type of hydrocolloid capable of forming a barrier coating.

[0152] Binders can be used for a variety of functionalities.

[0153] In some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, a binder is used to bond between the scaffold fibers and the outer surface of the solid core or barrier coating, if the latter is present in the particle.

[0154] In some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, a binder is used to bond between fibers that form part of the scaffold.

[0155] In some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, a binder is used to form a bond between the fibers of the scaffold and the water-insoluble particulate material, if it also forms part of the scaffold.

[0156] In some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, binders are used to connect / bond between fibers and the outer surface of a solid core or barrier coating, and between insoluble particles that form part of a scaffold and fibers that form part of the same scaffold.

[0157] In some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, the particles include two or more different binders, each used to bind a different component of the particle.

[0158] In some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, the binder is a bio-based binder. Examples of bio-based binders include starch-based binders, plant-based adhesives, protein-based binders such as gelatin, polysaccharide-based binders, e.g., alginic acid, and cellulosic binders such as lignin.

[0159] In some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, the binder comprises alginate.

[0160] In some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, the binder is a synthetic binder.

[0161] In some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, the binder is a biodegradable binder.

[0162] In some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, the scaffolding is bonded directly or indirectly to at least the solid core or the outer surface of at least one layer of barrier coating.

[0163] A direct bond or bond between the scaffold and the solid core or barrier coating means that the scaffold material is in physical contact with the solid core or barrier coating layer.

[0164] An indirect bond or bond between the scaffold and the solid core or barrier coating means that there is a component that forms an interface between the scaffold and the solid core or barrier coating layer. Such an interface component is typically a binder as disclosed herein.

[0165] Direct or indirect binding may also involve chemical bonding.

[0166] In some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, a binder as disclosed herein is present on and / or in the at least one layer of the barrier coating, and the binder bonds the scaffold to the at least one layer of the barrier coating.

[0167] In some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, the scaffold is at least partially embedded within the outer surface of an existing layer of barrier coating.

[0168] In some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, the water-insoluble particles forming part of the scaffold retain at least one nutrient. In this context, "retaining" can include adsorption (e.g., into porous particles) or embedding (e.g., into a binder material).

[0169] The adsorption or embedding of at least one nutrient into the particles can be determined by any one of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (ED-XRF), electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis (ESCA), ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS).

[0170] It is noted that although it is preferred that at least one nutrient is retained by the scaffold, the particles may also retain at least one nutrient as part of a barrier coating layer (e.g., mixed into the material that forms the barrier coating) and / or adsorbed by the solid core.

[0171] The particles of the population of particles of the present disclosure retain entrapped gas within at least one solid core, the gas having a specific gravity less than that of water, and present in an amount sufficient to provide suspension of the particles upon contact with water.

[0172] Gases include, but are not limited to, air, carbon dioxide CO2 ,nitrogen N2It may be either of the following.

[0173] In one particular example, the gas includes or is air.

[0174] In one particular example, the gas includes or is CO2.

[0175] The amount of gas required to suspend particles in water can be determined by mathematical and / or experimental methods.

[0176] By way of example only and not limitation, the volume of gas required to provide the desired positive buoyancy effect can be calculated according to Archimedes' principle.

[0177] In this context, "positive buoyancy" may be understood to refer to a state in which the disclosed particles exhibit a density lower than the density of the water in which they are dispersed, resulting in an upward buoyancy force that exceeds the force of gravity on the particles, thereby inducing a floating or rising behavior in water.

[0178] According to the presently disclosed subject matter, the particles undergo a transition to negative buoyancy after a predetermined period of time after being distributed in a body of water.

[0179] In this context, "negative buoyancy" refers to a state in which a particle changes to have a density greater than that of the surrounding water, in which the upward buoyant force exerted on the particle by the water is less than the gravitational force of the particle, thereby inducing a settling or sinking or descending behavior in the water.

[0180] In some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, the transition to negative buoyancy is facilitated by the expulsion or removal of gas from the particle, typically by diffusion / permeation of the surrounding water into the particle.

[0181] Thus, in the context of the presently disclosed subject matter, the controlled exchange between trapped gas and water external to the construct can be the result of water infiltration.

[0182] In some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, the exchange between the trapped gas and the external water is controlled by any parameter selected from the group consisting of the type of core material, the dimensions of the core, the surface area of ​​the core, the porosity of the core, the specific gravity of the core, the surface energy of the core, the wettability of the core, the number of layers of the barrier coating, the gas permeability of the at least one layer of the barrier coating, the water permeability of the at least one layer of the barrier coating, the solubility of the at least one layer of the barrier coating, the thickness of the at least one layer of the barrier coating, the overall thickness of the barrier layer, the composition of the at least one layer of the barrier coating, the wettability of the at least one layer of the barrier coating, the overall wettability of the barrier coating, the type of trapped gas, the amount of trapped gas, the water permeability of the barrier coating, the water resistance of the barrier coating, the gas permeability of the barrier coating, the gas resistance of the barrier coating, the outer surface charge, the outer surface polarity, and the outer surface free energy.

[0183] In some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, the exchange between the trapped gas and the external water is controlled by a combination of two or more of the above parameters.

[0184] In some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, the controlled exchange between the trapped gas and water external to the construct can be determined by a sedimentation test, also known by the terms "sedimentation test" or "sedimentation analysis," designed to evaluate the behavior of suspended solid particles in a liquid medium when subjected to gravity. It involves observing and measuring the rate at which particles settle, the % particle settling under defined test conditions. In the context of the presently disclosed subject matter, a "sedimentation test" involves the evaluation of a population of particles when suspended in water (as defined herein), including microorganisms capable of growing on the scaffold, preferably photosynthetic microorganisms / primary producers, typically comprising the photic zone of the water body.

[0185] Without being bound by theory, it is believed that particle settling is influenced by any one or a combination of gas / water exchange, growth of photosynthetic aquatic organisms on the scaffolding, and possibly other parameters. Thus, it is understood that over time, and as a result of any one or a combination of gas / water exchange, growth of photosynthetic aquatic organisms on the scaffolding, and possibly other parameters, while distributed and suspended throughout the body of water, the particles will eventually settle to deeper zones of the body of water. This is one unique feature of the subject matter of the present disclosure, as it allows for carbon dioxide capture in the euphotic zone of the body of water and "removal" of the particles from the euphotic zone after the particles have achieved their carbon dioxide capture goal, leaving the upper water level uncontaminated by the particles.

[0186] The amount of photosynthetic aquatic organisms grown on and / or resulting from the scaffold, i.e., biomass, can be determined using, for example, a hemocytometer or a fluorescence activated cell sorter (FACS).

[0187] In some instances, the amount of biomass can be determined by the change in total organic carbon (TOC) content of the particles.

[0188] Without being limited by theory, the amount of biomass can indicate the amount of carbon dioxide sequestration.

[0189] The particles of the presently disclosed subject matter can have any size ranging from micrometers to millimeters.

[0190] In some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, the particles have a size along their longest dimension ranging from about 1 μm to about 10 millimeters, in some cases from about 1 μm to about 9 mm, in some cases from about 1 μm to about 8 mm, in some cases from about 1 μm to about 7 mm, in some cases from about 1 μm to about 6 mm, and in some cases from about 1 μm to about 5 mm.

[0191] The size of the particle may be determined by any one of the size of the solid core, the thickness of the at least one layer of barrier coating, and the thickness of the scaffold.

[0192] The dimensions of different particle components can be analytically determined using, for example, any one of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), sample cross-sectioning, differential weighing, ellipsometry, reflectance spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) relaxometry, white light interferometry, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) depth profiling, and quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) with dissipation monitoring (QCM-D).

[0193] In some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, the solid core dimensions are in the range of about 1 μm to about 10 millimeters, sometimes about 1 μm to about 9 mm, sometimes about 1 μm to about 8 mm, sometimes about 1 μm to about 7 mm, sometimes about 1 μm to about 6 mm, and sometimes about 1 μm to about 5 mm.

[0194] In some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, the thickness of the barrier layer coating is in the range of about 1 μm to about 1 millimeter.

[0195] The population of particles can be utilized for distribution in any type of body of water, and in this context the term "water" encompasses fresh water (lakes, rivers), salt water (oceans, seas), brackish water, saline lakes, glacial lakes, lagoons, and fjords.

[0196] As mentioned above, one unique feature of the subject matter of the present disclosure is that the construction and properties of the particles, on the one hand, enable the capture of carbon dioxide in the euphotic zone of a body of water, and, on the other hand, enable the "removal" of the particles from the euphotic zone after they have achieved their purpose of carbon dioxide capture, leaving the upper water level uncontaminated by the particles.

[0197] In some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, the water is salt water.

[0198] In some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, the water is fresh water.

[0199] Reference is made to Figures 1A-1I, which provide schematic illustrations of different constructs according to some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter. For simplicity, Figures 1A-1I share the same reference numerals to identify like components of the constructs. For example, unless specifically indicated, the solid core is identified by reference numeral 102.

[0200] 1A provides an illustration of a particle 100 having a single, irregularly shaped solid core 102 coated with a single layer of a barrier coating 104. Distributed on top of the barrier coating 104 are a plurality of fibers 106 that form a scaffold. The fibers may be intertwined. The fibers hold growth nutrients (not shown).

[0201] 1B provides another illustration of a particle 100 having a single, irregularly shaped solid core 102 coated with a single layer of a barrier coating 104. Distributed on top of the barrier coating 104 are a plurality of fibers 106, which form, attach to, and together form a scaffold of water-insoluble porous particles 108. The fibers 106 may be entangled. The fibers 106, along with the porous particles 108, retain growth nutrients (not shown).

[0202] 1C provides another illustration of particle 100 having multiple solid cores 102a, 102b, 102c, 102d, and 102e, each having an irregular shape. Multiple solid cores 102a, 102b, and 102c are embedded together within a layer of barrier coating 104. Note that the multiple solid cores do not need to be spaced apart; two solid cores may be in contact within the barrier coating, as shown for solid cores 102a and 102d, and solid cores 102c and 102e. Distributed on barrier coating 104 are multiple fibers 106, which may intertwine to form a growth scaffold. Multiple fibers 106 hold growth nutrients (not shown).

[0203] FIG. 1D provides another illustration of particle 100 having multiple solid cores 102a, 102b, 102c, 102d, and 102e, each having an irregular shape. The multiple solid cores 102a, 102b, 102c, 102d, and 102e are embedded together within a layer of barrier coating 104. Also, in this illustration, at least some of the multiple solid cores are touching, as shown for solid cores 102b and 102c. Distributed on top of barrier coating 104 are multiple fibers 106, which may be entangled, and water-insoluble porous particles 108 attached to the multiple fibers. Together, the fibers 106 and particles 108 form a growth scaffold. The multiple fibers 106, along with the porous particles 108, retain growth nutrients (not shown).

[0204] FIG. 1E provides another illustration of a particle 100 having a single, irregularly shaped solid core 102. The solid core 102 is embedded in several layers of barrier coating, including a proximal layer 104a of the barrier coating, a sandwiched layer 104b of the barrier coating, and a distal layer 104c of the barrier coating. Also in this illustration, at least some of the multiple solid cores are in contact, as shown for solid core 102b and solid core 102c. Distributed on the barrier coating 104 are multiple fibers 106, which may be intertwined, and to which are attached water-insoluble porous particles 108. The fibers 106 and particles 108 together form a growth scaffold. The multiple fibers 106, along with the porous particles 108, retain growth nutrients (not shown).

[0205] 1F provides another view of a particle 100 having a hydrocolloid solid core 102 with an essentially round shape. The hydrocolloid core 102 is embedded in a layer 104 of a barrier coating or binder for a plurality of fibers 106 that may be entangled. The plurality of fibers 106 retain growth nutrients (not shown).

[0206] 1G provides another illustration of a particle 100 having a hydrocolloid solid core 102 with an essentially round shape coated with a single layer of a barrier coating 104. Distributed on the barrier coating 104 are a plurality of fibers 106, which form and attach to a water-insoluble porous particle 108, together forming a growth scaffold. The plurality of fibers 106 may be entangled. The plurality of fibers 106, together with the porous particle 108, retain growth nutrients (not shown).

[0207] 1H provides yet another view of a particle 100 having a hydrocolloid solid core 102 with an essentially round shape. The core 102 is embedded in several layers of barrier coating, including a proximal-most layer 104a of barrier coating, a sandwiched layer 104b of barrier coating, and a distal barrier coating layer 104c that is different from the proximal barrier coating 104a and the sandwiched barrier coating 104b. Distributed on the barrier coating 104 are a plurality of fibers 106, which may be intertwined. The plurality of fibers 106 retains growth nutrients (not shown).

[0208] 11 provides yet another illustration of a particle 100 having a hydrocolloid solid core 102 with an essentially round shape. The core 102 is embedded in several layers of a barrier coating, including a proximal-most layer 104a of the barrier coating and a distal layer 104b of the barrier coating that is different from the proximal barrier coating 104a. Distributed on the barrier coating 104 are a plurality of fibers 106, which may be intertwined and carry water-insoluble porous particles 108. The plurality of fibers 106, along with the porous particles 108, retain growth nutrients (not shown).

[0209] Note that in all exemplary figures, the entity designated 104 can act interchangeably as a binder, as a barrier coating, and as both.

[0210] Some combinations of components that may be utilized in the exemplary constructs of Figures 1A-1I are listed in Table 1, without being limited thereto, and each possible combination in Table 1 constitutes an embodiment of the subject matter of the present disclosure, even if not explicitly and literally set forth as a combination.

[0211] [Table 1]

[0212] In the context of the presently disclosed subject matter, it should be understood that a population of particles can include particles of different constructions, including, for example, different solid core materials (e.g., some vermiculite, some calcium alginate), different numbers of barrier coating layers (e.g., some with a single layer, some with multiple layers), different scaffold compositions (e.g., some with insoluble porous particles, some with no porous particles), different nutrient compositions, different dimensions, different types of water-insoluble fibers, etc. The selection of particles to form the population can be determined by particular needs.

[0213] The particle populations of the present disclosure can have different uses.

[0214] In some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, the population of particles is suitable for use in or is used in a method for carbon dioxide sequestration, the method being as disclosed herein. Accordingly, the presently disclosed subject matter also discloses the use of the population of particles of the present disclosure for carbon dioxide sequestration.

[0215] The presently disclosed subject matter also provides a method of generating a population of particles, the method comprising: mixing a solid core material, optionally having at least one layer of a barrier coating on the solid core, with a growth scaffold-forming material under conditions suitable to allow bonding of the scaffold to at least an outer surface of the solid core; the solid core material includes a gas entrapped therein, the gas having a first specific gravity less than the specific gravity of water and in an amount sufficient to cause suspension of the particles when the particles contact the water; the combination of the at least one solid core, the at least one layer of barrier coating, if present, and the scaffolding has a second specific gravity greater than the specific gravity of water; The method provides that the combination of the solid core, at least one layer of barrier coating, if present, scaffold, and gas is selected to provide, in the resulting particle, controlled exchange between the trapped gas and water external to the construct when the particle contacts water.

[0216] The methods of the present disclosure provide, among other things, the population of particles of the present disclosure, and therefore, for simplicity, all terms and definitions provided in connection with the population of particles also apply mutatis mutandis to the methods of the present disclosure for producing the population of particles.

[0217] Thus, in the context of the subject matter of the present disclosure, a solid core material has the same meaning as a solid core that forms part of a particle of the present disclosure, and in the context of the method of the present disclosure, a solid core material should be understood to encompass materials that allow for the formation of multiple solid cores that form part of a population of particles as disclosed herein.

[0218] Furthermore, the term "in-growth scaffold-forming material" therefore has the same meaning as the term "in-growth scaffold-forming portion of a particle" as used herein. For this purpose, the term "scaffold-forming material" should be understood to include water-insoluble fibers as defined herein, and optionally water-insoluble porous particulate material fixedly attached to the fibers. The fixation of the water-insoluble porous particles can be achieved using a binder, as described herein.

[0219] Further, entrapped gas therefore has the same meaning as gas that forms part of the particles of the present disclosure.

[0220] Further, algae therefore has the same meaning as algae that form part of the particles of the present disclosure.

[0221] The disclosed method includes mixing a solid core material (optionally having at least one layer of a barrier coating on the solid core) with a scaffold-forming material under conditions suitable to allow bonding of the scaffold to at least the outer surface of the solid core.

[0222] In some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, mixing of the solid core material with the scaffolding material is performed in the presence of a binder to promote adhesion of the scaffolding material onto the solid core.

[0223] In the context of the methods of the present disclosure, binder has the same meaning as provided with respect to the population of particles of the present disclosure.

[0224] In some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, the solid core material comprises a solid core coated with at least one layer of a barrier coating.

[0225] In some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, at least one layer of the barrier coating constitutes a binder for the scaffolding material.

[0226] The scaffolding material is added to the barrier coating coated solid core under conditions that cause bonding of the scaffolding material to the barrier coating or binder layer (with or without the barrier coating layer).

[0227] In some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, the solid core is treated with a cross-linking agent to cause bonding of the scaffold to the solid core. The cross-linking agent can bond to the solid core itself or to at least one barrier coating thereon. The scaffold-forming material is mixed with a cross-linkable hydrocolloid, and bonding of the hydrocolloid-containing scaffold is achieved by actual cross-linking of the hydrocolloid by the cross-linking agent.

[0228] In some other instances, the attachment of the scaffolding material can be by mixing the scaffolding material with a solid core (with or without at least one barrier coating layer), for example, by rolling the solid core (with or without at least one barrier coating / binder layer thereon) onto the scaffolding material.

[0229] In some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, the scaffolding material is bonded to the solid core by causing in situ expansion of the scaffolding material over the solid core.

[0230] In some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, the solid core is embedded in at least one layer of barrier coating and / or coated with a binder, typically, but not exclusively, prior to bonding of the scaffold to the solid core.

[0231] In some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, the method involved applying a barrier-forming material onto the solid core using any coating technique known in the art, including, but not limited to, dipping in a coating and / or binder composition, spraying a coating and / or binder composition, fluidized bed coating, pan coating, hot melt coating, extrusion coating, electrostatic coating, spin coating, fluid coating, and combinations thereof, and heating the barrier / binder material prior to application to the solid core.

[0232] When the barrier coating layer includes a hydrocolloid, the coating can be by any of the techniques described in the review article by Wei Yang et al. [Junjie Liu, Shaoxing Qu, Zhigang Suo, Wei Yang, “Functional hydrogel coatings”, National Science Review, Volume 8, Issue 2, February 2021, nwaa254, https: / / doi.org / 10.1093 / nwaa254].

[0233] In the context of the methods of the present disclosure, barrier-forming material should be understood to encompass any material that allows for the formation of a barrier coating, which has the meaning as provided with respect to the population of particles of the present disclosure.

[0234] In some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, embedding a solid core within a barrier coating and / or coating the solid core or barrier coating layer with a binder involves self- or cross-linking of the barrier coating material and / or binder material. Self- or cross-linking is well known in the art, and based on the materials selected, one skilled in the art will know to select conditions to provide the desired bonding.

[0235] In some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, the barrier coating comprises a crosslinkable hydrocolloid, such as calcium alginate, and the method of the present disclosure comprises mixing a solid core material, such as vermiculite, with a crosslinkable hydrocolloid, such as sodium alginate, followed by slowly adding a crosslinking agent, such as calcium chloride (the combination of sodium alginate and calcium chloride that constitutes the barrier-forming material), to effect crosslinking of the hydrocolloid, such as calcium alginate, while entrapping the solid core in the crosslinked alginate.

[0236] Alternatively, the solid cores can be saturated or otherwise treated with a cross-linking agent prior to mixing with the cross-linkable hydrocolloid, and when the treated solid cores are contacted with the cross-linkable hydrocolloid, the hydrocolloid is cross-linked while entrapping / enveloping the solid core.

[0237] In some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, the scaffold comprises at least one nutrient suitable for the growth of photosynthetic aquatic organisms (also called aquatic primary producers). To this end, the methods of the present disclosure include mixing the scaffold-forming material with a nutrient composition to allow adsorption of the nutrient composition onto the scaffold-forming material.

[0238] It should be understood that at least one nutrient and / or nutritional composition has the same meaning as defined with respect to the population of particles of the present disclosure.

[0239] In some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, the nutritional composition is mixed with a scaffold-forming material, e.g., a water-insoluble fiber that forms the scaffold. The mixing of the fiber and nutritional composition can occur before or after bonding the scaffold-forming material, e.g., the fiber, to the solid core or, if present, to the barrier coating / binder layer.

[0240] In some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, the nutritional composition is mixed with the water-insoluble porous particles either before or after the water-insoluble porous particles are bound to the fibers that form the scaffold.

[0241] It should be understood that water-insoluble fiber and water-insoluble porous material have the same meaning as provided with respect to the population of particles.

[0242] In some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, mixing of the nutritional composition occurs with the barrier-forming material prior to applying the barrier-forming material onto the solid core.

[0243] In some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, the method includes bonding (preferably, fixedly attaching) the water-insoluble porous particulate material to the water-insoluble fiber. The bonding can be before or after attaching the water-insoluble fiber to the solid core or at least one barrier coating (if present). The bonding between the water-insoluble fiber and the water-insoluble porous particle can be achieved using a binder as defined herein.

[0244] In some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, the method includes applying a binder onto the solid core.

[0245] In some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, the method includes applying a bonding agent over the at least one barrier coating.

[0246] In some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, the method includes applying a binder onto the water-insoluble fibers that form part of the scaffold prior to contacting said fibers with the water-insoluble porous particles.

[0247] In some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, the method includes spraying a binder.

[0248] In some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, the method includes immersing components that need to retain the binder, such as solid cores, solid cores with at least one barrier coating layer, scaffold-forming fibers, water-insoluble porous particles, etc., in a binder solution.

[0249] In some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, the bonding is the result of crosslinking. For example, the solid core or a barrier coating layer can be saturated with a crosslinking agent, and contacting the solid core with a solution of a crosslinkable hydrocolloid (crosslinkable with the crosslinking agent) premixed with the scaffold material results in the distribution and fixed bonding of the scaffold-forming material onto the solid core. The crosslinkable hydrocolloid can act as a barrier coating to which the scaffold is bonded, or it can act as a bonding agent on the solid core or on an existing barrier coating layer, according to the steps of this method.

[0250] In some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, the method includes actively introducing a gas into the solid core. In the context of the presently disclosed subject matter, the term "active introduction" should be understood to mean applying an action that traps within the core an amount of gas that would not be present within the core under passive conditions.

[0251] In some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, the active introduction includes bubbling of a gas.

[0252] In some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, the active introduction comprises gas permeation.

[0253] In some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, the active introduction comprises gas injection.

[0254] In some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, the active introduction involves a gas-releasing chemical reaction. A non-limiting example of a gas released by a chemical reaction includes the release of CO gas by the chemical decomposition of carbonate salts.

[0255] In some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, the method includes controlling a size of particles within a population of particles.

[0256] In some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, control of particle size may be by sieving to select a size threshold.

[0257] In some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, particle size can be controlled by reducing the particle size, for example by grinding a solid core material to the desired size, before applying the barrier coating (if present), scaffolding material, etc.

[0258] In some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, the control of particle size is to a size of less than about 1 cm.

[0259] The presently disclosed subject matter also provides, according to a third aspect thereof, a method for carbon dioxide sequestration, the method comprising distributing a population of particles comprising at least one photosynthetic aquatic organism having the meaning provided herein over a selected area of ​​a body of water open to a source of carbon dioxide to be sequestered, wherein the population of particles is as defined herein with respect to the first aspect of the presently disclosed subject matter.

[0260] The sequestration methods of the present disclosure make use, inter alia, of the populations of particles of the present disclosure, and therefore, for simplicity, all terms and definitions provided in connection with the populations of particles also apply mutatis mutandis to the presently disclosed methods of carbon dioxide sequestration.

[0261] In some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, a method of isolation includes receiving data regarding a selected region of a body of water prior to particle distribution and determining a rate of isolation success based on the data.

[0262] According to some examples of particle populations of the present disclosure, methods of producing and using particle populations include any one of the following specific combinations, each of which constitutes a separate and independent embodiment: - A scaffold comprising a vermiculite-containing solid core, a calcium alginate barrier layer, cotton and / or hemp fibers. A scaffold comprising a vermiculite-containing solid core, a calcium-alginate barrier layer, cotton and / or hemp fibers and ash and / or bentonite and / or montmorillonite particles. - A scaffold comprising a calcium alginate solid core, cotton and / or hemp fibers. a scaffold comprising a calcium alginate solid core, cotton and / or canabus fibers and ash and / or bentonite and / or montmorillonite particles.

[0263] All definitions defined and used herein are understood to control dictionary definitions, definitions in documents incorporated by reference, and / or ordinary meanings of the defined terms.

[0264] As used herein, the term "about" refers to values ​​that may deviate up to 1%, more specifically 5%, more specifically 10%, more specifically 15%, and in some cases up to 20% higher or lower than the stated value, and the range of deviation includes integer values, and where applicable, non-integer values ​​also constitute a continuous range. As used herein, the term "about" refers to ±10%.

[0265] As used in this specification and the claims, the indefinite articles "a" and "an" should be understood to mean "at least one," unless clearly indicated otherwise. It should be noted that as used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

[0266] The phrase "and / or," as used in the specification and claims, should be understood to mean "either or both" of the elements so conjoined, i.e., elements present conjunctively in some cases and disjunctively in other cases. Multiple elements listed with "and / or" should be construed in the same manner, i.e., "one or more" of the elements so conjoined. Other elements, whether related or unrelated to those elements specifically identified by the "and / or" clause, may optionally be present. Thus, as a non-limiting example, a reference to "A and / or B," when used in conjunction with open-ended language such as "comprising," can refer in one embodiment to A only (optionally including elements other than B); in another embodiment, to B only (optionally including elements other than A); in yet another embodiment, to both A and B (optionally including other elements), etc.

[0267] As used herein and in the claims, "or" should be understood to have the same meaning as "and / or" as defined above. For example, when separating items in a list, "or" or "and / or" shall be interpreted as being inclusive, i.e., including at least one, but also including more than one, of a plurality of elements or list of elements, and optionally including additional unlisted items. Only terms clearly indicated to the contrary, such as "only one of" or "exactly one of," or, when used in the claims, "consisting of," shall refer to the inclusion of exactly one element of a plurality of elements or list of elements. Generally, as used herein, the term "or," "either," "one of," "only one of," "exactly one of," or "consisting essentially of," when preceded by terms of exclusivity, shall only be construed as indicating exclusive alternatives (i.e., "one or the other, but not both") and, when used in the claims, shall have its ordinary meaning as used in the field of patent law.

[0268] As used in this specification and claims, the phrase "at least one," in reference to a list of one or more elements, should be understood to mean at least one element selected from any one or more of the elements in the list of elements, but not necessarily including at least one of each and every element specifically listed in the list of elements, or excluding any combination of elements in the list of elements. This definition also allows for elements other than those specifically identified in the list of elements to which the phrase "at least one" refers, whether related or unrelated to those specifically identified elements, may optionally be present. Thus, as a non-limiting example, "at least one of A and B" (or, equivalently, "at least one of A or B," or, equivalently, "at least one of A and / or B") can refer in one embodiment to at least one, optionally two or more, A, and no B (optionally including elements other than B); in another embodiment to at least one, optionally two or more, B, and no A (optionally including elements other than A); in yet another embodiment to at least one, optionally two or more, A, and at least one, optionally two or more, B (and optionally including other elements);

[0269] Also, unless expressly stated to the contrary, it is to be understood that in any method claimed herein that includes two or more steps or actions, the order of the method steps or actions is not necessarily limited to the order in which the method steps or actions are recited.

[0270] Throughout this specification (including the examples) and the following appended claims, all transitional phrases such as "comprising," "including," "carrying," "having," "containing," "involving," "holding," "composed of," and the like, are to be understood to be open-ended, i.e., to mean including, but not limited to. Specifically, they are to be understood to mean the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps, but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps. As set forth in the United States Patent Office Manual of Patent Examining Procedures, only the transitional phrases "consisting of" and "consisting essentially of" shall be closed or semi-closed transitional phrases, respectively. More specifically, the terms "comprises," "comprising," "includes," "including," "having," and their conjugations mean "including but not limited to." The term "consisting of" means "including and limited to." The term "consisting essentially of" means that a composition, method, or structure may include additional components, steps, and / or moieties, but only if the additional components, steps, and / or moieties do not materially alter the basic and novel characteristics of the claimed composition, method, or structure.

[0271] It should be noted that various embodiments of the presently disclosed subject matter may be presented in a range format. It should be understood that the description in range format is merely for convenience and brevity and should not be construed as an inflexible limitation on the scope of the presently disclosed subject matter. Thus, the description of a range should be considered to have all possible subranges specifically disclosed as well as individual numerical values ​​within that range. For example, the description of a range such as 1 to 6 should be considered to have specifically disclosed subranges such as 1 to 3, 1 to 4, 1 to 5, 2 to 4, 2 to 6, 3 to 6, etc., as well as individual numbers within that range, e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. This applies regardless of the breadth of the range. Whenever a numerical range is presented herein, it is meant to include any recited numbers (fractional or integer) within the stated range. The phrases "ranging / ranges between" a first indicated number and a second indicated number and "ranging / ranges from" a first indicated number to a second indicated number are used interchangeably herein and are meant to include the first and second indicated numbers and all fractional and integer numbers therebetween.

[0272] As used herein, the term "method" refers to manners, means, techniques and procedures for accomplishing a given task, including, but not limited to, manners, means, techniques and procedures that are either known to practitioners in the chemical, pharmacological, biological, biochemical and medical arts or that can be readily developed from known manners, means, techniques and procedures.

[0273] It should be understood that certain features of the presently disclosed subject matter that are, for clarity, described in the context of separate embodiments, may also be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features of the presently disclosed subject matter that are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any suitable subcombination, or as suitable in any other described embodiment of the presently disclosed subject matter. Particular features described in the context of various embodiments should not be considered essential features of those embodiments, unless the embodiment is inoperable without those elements.

[0274] Various embodiments and aspects of the presently disclosed subject matter as delineated hereinabove and as claimed in the claims section below find experimental support in the following examples.

[0275] As disclosed and described, the subject matter of the present disclosure is not limited to the specific examples, method steps, and compositions disclosed herein, and such method steps and compositions may vary somewhat. It is also understood that the terminology used herein is used for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to be limiting, since the scope of the subject matter of the present disclosure is limited only by the appended claims and equivalents thereof.

[0276] List of Embodiments Some non-limiting embodiments encompassed by the present invention are defined in the following numbered paragraphs.

[0277] 1. A group of particles, each of which is: A construct, at least one solid core; optionally, at least one barrier coating layer on the at least one solid core; a scaffolding attached to at least an outer surface of said at least one solid core, or of said barrier coating if present in the construct, said scaffolding being suitable for supporting the growth of photosynthetic aquatic organisms; and A construct comprising: a gas entrapped within the at least one solid core, the gas having a first specific gravity less than the specific gravity of water and present in an amount sufficient to provide suspension of the particles when the particles contact water; the construct has a second specific gravity greater than the specific gravity of water; A population of particles wherein the at least one solid core, or the barrier coating if present in the construct, has a permeability configured to allow controlled exchange between trapped gas and water outside the construct.

[0278] 2. The population of particles described in paragraph 1, wherein the solid core comprises or is an expanded or porous particle.

[0279] 3. The population of particles of claim 1 or 2, wherein the core comprises an expanded particulate mineral.

[0280] 4. The population of particles according to item 2 or 3, wherein the particulate mineral is selected from the group consisting of vermiculite (including expanded vermiculite), montmorillonite, bentonite, hectorite, saponite, kaolinite, halloysite, illite, palygorskite, sepiolite, nontronite, and any combination thereof.

[0281] 5. The population of particles of paragraph 4, wherein the particulate mineral is expanded vermiculite.

[0282] 6. The population of particles of paragraph 2, wherein the solid core is or comprises an expanded particulate volcanic glass.

[0283] 7. The population of particles of paragraph 6, wherein the expanded particulate volcanic glass is or comprises expanded perlite.

[0284] 8. The population of particles of paragraph 7, wherein the particulate volcanic glass is or comprises expanded pumice.

[0285] 9. The population of particles according to paragraph 1 or 2, wherein the solid core is a particulate organic core.

[0286] 10. The population of particles of paragraph 9, wherein the particulate organic core is selected from the group consisting of a carbon-based sponge, a carbon-based foam, and a carbon-based fibrous material.

[0287] 11. A population of particles according to any one of paragraphs 1 to 10, comprising a single solid core embedded within at least one layer of barrier coating.

[0288] 12. The population of particles of any one of paragraphs 1 to 10, wherein each particle comprises two or more solid cores embedded within a barrier coating.

[0289] 13. The population of particles of claim 1 or 2, wherein the solid core comprises a particulate hydrocolloid.

[0290] 14. The population of particles of paragraph 13, wherein the particulate hydrocolloid comprises a polysaccharide.

[0291] 15. The population of particles according to item 14, wherein the particulate hydrocolloid comprises a polysaccharide selected from the group consisting of alginic acid, agar, agarose, carrageenan, pectin, methylcellulose, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC), ethylcellulose, carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), microcrystalline cellulose, hydroxyethylcellulose (HEC), hydroxypropylcellulose (HPC), carboxymethylhydroxyethylcellulose (CMHEC), carboxymethylhydroxypropylcellulose (CMHPC), chitosan, carboxymethylchitosan, xanthan gum, guar gum, locust bean gum, galactomannan, konjac gum, glucomannan, tara gum, gellan gum, acacia gum (gum arabic), curdlan, fucoidan, pullulan, hyaluronic acid, and any combination thereof.

[0292] 16. The population of particles of paragraph 14 or paragraph 15, wherein the particulate hydrocolloid comprises a self-associated or cross-linked polysaccharide.

[0293] 17. The population of particles of paragraph 16, wherein the particulate hydrocolloid comprises a cross-linked polysaccharide.

[0294] 18. The population of particles of paragraph 17, wherein the particulate hydrocolloid comprises calcium alginate.

[0295] 19. The population of particles according to paragraph 13, wherein the particulate hydrocolloid comprises or is gelatin.

[0296] 20. A population of particles according to any one of paragraphs 1 to 19, comprising at least one layer of said barrier coating on at least one solid core.

[0297] 21. The population of particles of paragraph 20, wherein at least one layer of the barrier coating comprises or is a hydrocolloid coating.

[0298] 22. The population of particles according to paragraph 20 or 21, wherein the barrier coating comprises a hydrocolloid selected from the group consisting of alginate, agar, agarose, carrageenan, pectin, methylcellulose, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC), ethylcellulose, carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), microcrystalline cellulose, hydroxyethylcellulose (HEC), hydroxypropylcellulose (HPC), carboxymethylhydroxyethylcellulose (CMHEC), carboxymethylhydroxypropylcellulose (CMHPC), chitosan, carboxymethylchitosan, xanthan gum, guar gum, locust bean gum, galactomannan, konjac gum, glucomannan, tara gum, gellan gum, acacia gum (gum arabic), curdlan, fucoidan, pullulan, hyaluronic acid, and any combination thereof.

[0299] 23. The population of particles of paragraph 21 or paragraph 22, wherein the hydrocolloid coating comprises a self-bound or cross-linked polysaccharide.

[0300] 24. The population of particles of paragraph 23, wherein the hydrocolloid coating comprises a cross-linked polysaccharide.

[0301] 25. The population of particles of paragraph 24, wherein the hydrocolloid coating comprises calcium alginate.

[0302] 26. The population of particles of paragraph 20, wherein the hydrocolloid coating comprises or is gelatin.

[0303] 27. A population of particles according to any one of paragraphs 1 to 20, wherein at least one layer of barrier coating, when present, comprises a long-chain organic material.

[0304] 28. The population of particles of any one of paragraphs 1 to 20 or 27, wherein the at least one layer of barrier coating, if present, comprises or is a wax coating.

[0305] 29. The population of particles of paragraph 28, wherein the wax coating is selected from the group consisting of paraffin wax, rosin wax, beeswax, carnauba wax, soybean wax, candelilla wax, microcrystalline wax, montan wax, rice bran wax, ozokerite wax, lanolin wax, jojoba wax, castor wax, palm wax, tallow wax, Fischer-Tropsch wax, polyethylene wax, shellac wax, polyolefin wax, and combinations thereof.

[0306] 30. A population of particles according to any one of paragraphs 1 to 29, comprising two or more layers of said barrier coating, which may be the same or different.

[0307] 31. The population of particles of any one of paragraphs 1 to 30, wherein the at least one layer of barrier coating, if present, is a continuous layer coating on the at least one solid core.

[0308] 32. A population of particles according to any one of paragraphs 1 to 31, having an irregular contour when a barrier coating is present.

[0309] 33. The population of particles of any one of paragraphs 1 to 31, wherein the barrier coating (if present) or the solid core has an essentially rounded outline.

[0310] 34. The population of particles of any one of paragraphs 1 to 33, wherein the scaffold comprises a nutrient composition suitable for supporting the growth of photosynthetic aquatic organisms.

[0311] 35. The population of particles of item 34, wherein the nutritional composition comprises at least one nutrient selected from the group consisting of iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), molybdenum (Mo), selenium (Se), chromium (Cr), cobalt (Co), iodine (I), fluorine (F), magnesium (Mg), silicon (Si), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), sulfur (S), strontium (Sr), nickel (Ni), vanadium (V), and any combination thereof.

[0312] 36. The population of particles described in paragraph 34 or paragraph 35, wherein the at least one nutrient includes at least iron.

[0313] 37. The population of particles described in any one of items 34 to 35, wherein the at least one nutrient includes at least manganese (Mn).

[0314] 38. A population of particles according to any one of paragraphs 1 to 37, wherein the scaffold comprises any one or combination of fibers and water-insoluble porous particulate materials.

[0315] 39. The population of particles according to paragraph 38, wherein the fibers are organic fibers.

[0316] 40. The population of particles according to paragraph 39, wherein the organic fibers are non-synthetic organic fibers.

[0317] 41. The population of particles according to paragraph 39 or 40, wherein the organic fibers are selected from the group consisting of abaca fiber, banana fiber, bamboo fiber, broom fiber, coir fiber, cotton fiber, hemp fiber, elephant fiber, flax fiber, hemp fiber, jute fiber, kenaf fiber, linseed fiber, oil palm fiber, ramie fiber, rice husk fiber, roselle fiber, sisal fiber, San hemp fiber, wheat fiber, wood fiber, and any combination thereof.

[0318] 42. The population of particles according to paragraph 39 or 40, wherein the organic fibers comprise cotton fibers.

[0319] 43. The population of particles of paragraph 39, wherein the fibers comprise synthetic fibers.

[0320] 44. The population of particles of paragraph 39, wherein the synthetic fibers comprise polyester fibers.

[0321] 45. The population of particles of paragraph 39, wherein the fibers comprise recycled fibers.

[0322] 46. ​​A population of particles according to any one of paragraphs 38 to 45, wherein the scaffold comprises the particulate porous insoluble material fixedly attached to the fibers.

[0323] 47. A population of particles according to any one of paragraphs 1 to 46, comprising a binder.

[0324] 48. The population of particles of paragraph 47, wherein the binder is a bio-based binder and / or a biodegradable binder.

[0325] 49. The population of particles of paragraph 47, wherein the binder is a synthetic binder.

[0326] 50. A population of particles described in any one of items 47 to 49, when the population of particles is subject to item 38, wherein the binder bonds between any one or combination of: (i) the fibers of the scaffold and the outer surfaces of the particles; (ii) the fibers of the scaffold; and (iii) the fibers of the scaffold and, if present in the scaffold, of the water-insoluble porous particulate material.

[0327] 51. A population of particles according to any one of items 38 to 50, wherein when the population of particles is subject to item 38, the water-insoluble porous particulate material comprises minerals and / or particulate rock.

[0328] 52. The population of particles of claim 51, wherein the water-insoluble porous particulate material comprises a clay mineral, an aluminosilicate mineral, and / or a carbonate mineral.

[0329] 53. The population of particles of paragraph 52, wherein the water-insoluble porous particulate material is a mineral selected from the group consisting of zeolite, bentonite, montmorillonite halloysite, sepiolite, attapulgite, and dolomite.

[0330] 54. The population of particles according to paragraph 52 or 53, wherein the water-insoluble porous particulate material comprises bentonite and / or montmorillonite.

[0331] 55. The population of particles of claim 51, wherein the insoluble material comprises particulate rock.

[0332] 56. The population of particles of clause 55, wherein the water-insoluble porous particulate material is a particulate rock selected from the group consisting of granite, sandstone, diatomaceous earth, shale, marl, and vesicular basalt.

[0333] 57. The population of particles of paragraph 52 or paragraph 56, wherein the non-water-insoluble porous particulate material is tallow rock.

[0334] 58. A population of particles according to any one of claims 1 to 57 when dependent on claims 34 and 38, wherein the water-insoluble porous particulate material retains the nutritional composition.

[0335] 59. A population of particles described in any one of paragraphs 1 to 58, comprising the at least one layer of barrier coating, and the scaffolding is directly or indirectly bonded to at least the outer surface of the at least one layer of barrier coating.

[0336] 60. The population of particles described in claim 59, wherein the barrier layer is a binder layer or the particles include a binder on and / or in the at least one layer of barrier coating, and the binder bonds the scaffold to the solid core.

[0337] 61. A population of particles described in any one of paragraphs 1 to 60, comprising at least one layer of a barrier coating, wherein the scaffold is at least partially embedded within the outer surface of the barrier coating.

[0338] 62. The population of particles of any one of paragraphs 1 to 61, wherein the scaffold is chemically bonded, directly or indirectly, to the outer surface of the solid core, or to the outer surface of at least one layer of barrier coating, if a layer of barrier coating is present in the particle.

[0339] 63. A population of particles according to any one of paragraphs 1 to 62, wherein the gas is selected from the group consisting of air and CO2.

[0340] 64. The population of particles according to any one of paragraphs 1 to 63, wherein the exchange between the trapped gas and water outside the construct is controlled by at least one combination selected from the group consisting of: core material, core dimensions, core surface area, core porosity, core specific gravity, core surface energy, core wettability, number of layers of the barrier coating, gas permeability of the at least one layer of barrier coating, water permeability of the at least one layer of barrier coating, solubility of the at least one layer of barrier coating, thickness of the at least one layer of barrier coating, overall thickness of the barrier layer, composition of the at least one layer of barrier coating, wettability of the at least one layer of barrier coating, overall wettability of the barrier coating, type of trapped gas, amount of trapped gas, water permeability of the barrier coating, water resistance of the barrier coating, gas permeability of the barrier coating, gas resistance of the barrier coating, outer surface charge, outer surface polarity, and outer surface free energy.

[0341] 65. A population of particles described in any one of paragraphs 1 to 64, wherein the controlled exchange between the trapped gas and water external to the construct is determinable by a sedimentation test, whereby at least one of particle sedimentation velocity, particle sedimentation percentage, and particle sedimentation amount under defined conditions is determined.

[0342] 66. The population of particles according to any one of paragraphs 1 to 65, wherein the water is salt water.

[0343] 67. A population of particles described in any one of paragraphs 1 to 65, wherein the photosynthetic aquatic organisms include microalgae.

[0344] 68. A population of particles according to any one of paragraphs 1 to 67, wherein the particles have an average size in the micrometer range to the millimeter range.

[0345] 69. A method for generating a population of particles, comprising: mixing a solid core material, optionally having at least one layer of a barrier coating thereon, with a scaffolding material under conditions suitable to allow bonding of the scaffolding material to at least an outer surface of the solid core; the solid core material includes a gas entrapped therein, the gas having a first specific gravity less than a specific gravity of water and in an amount sufficient to cause suspension of the particles when the particles are contacted with the water; the combination of the at least one solid core, the at least one layer of barrier coating, if present, and the scaffolding has a second specific gravity greater than the specific gravity of water; The method provides that the combination of the solid core, at least one layer of barrier coating, if present, scaffold, and gas is selected to provide, in the resulting particle, controlled exchange between the trapped gas and water external to the construct when the particle is contacted with water.

[0346] 70. The method of claim 69, comprising mixing the solid core with a barrier material under conditions that result in coating one or more solid cords with at least one layer of barrier coating in a single particle.

[0347] 71. The method of paragraph 70, wherein the conditions include the formation of a hydrocolloid that embeds one or more solid cores.

[0348] 72. The method of any one of paragraphs 69 to 71, wherein the solid core comprises or is an expanded particle or a porous particle.

[0349] 73. The method of claim 72, wherein the core is or comprises an expanded particulate mineral.

[0350] 74. The method of claim 73, wherein the expanded particles are expanded vermiculite.

[0351] 75. The method of claim 73, wherein the core is or comprises expanded particulate volcanic glass.

[0352] 76. The method of claim 75, wherein the expanded particulate volcanic glass is or comprises expanded perlite or pumice.

[0353] 77. The method of claim 72, wherein the solid core comprises or is a particulate organic core.

[0354] 78. The method of any one of paragraphs 69 to 71, wherein the solid core comprises a particulate hydrocolloid.

[0355] 79. The method of claim 78, wherein the particulate hydrocolloid comprises a polysaccharide or gelatin.

[0356] 80. The method of claim 79, wherein the polysaccharide is a self-linked or cross-linked polysaccharide.

[0357] 81. The method of any one of paragraphs 69 to 80, wherein the scaffold-forming material comprises any one or combination of fibers and water-insoluble porous particulate materials.

[0358] 82. The method of claim 81, wherein the fibers are organic fibers.

[0359] 83. The method according to paragraph 82, wherein the organic fiber is selected from the group consisting of abaca fiber, banana fiber, bamboo fiber, broom fiber, coir fiber, cotton fiber, hemp fiber, elephant fiber, flax fiber, hemp fiber, jute fiber, kenaf fiber, linseed fiber, oil palm fiber, ramie fiber, rice husk fiber, roselle fiber, sisal fiber, sun hemp fiber, wheat fiber, wood fiber, and any combination thereof.

[0360] 84. The method of paragraph 82 or 83, wherein the organic fibers include cotton fibers.

[0361] 85. The method of claim 81, wherein the fibers comprise synthetic fibers.

[0362] 86. The method of clause 85, wherein the fibers are synthetic polyester fibers.

[0363] 87. A method according to any one of paragraphs 69 to 86, comprising supplementing at least the scaffold with a nutrient composition.

[0364] 88. The method of paragraph 87, wherein the supplementation comprises contacting the scaffold material with a solution of the nutrient composition suitable for supporting algae growth, the contacting being before or after mixing the scaffold material with the solid core.

[0365] 89. The method of paragraph 87 or 88, wherein the nutritional composition comprises at least one nutrient selected from the group consisting of iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), molybdenum (Mo), selenium (Se), chromium (Cr), cobalt (Co), iodine (I), fluorine (F), magnesium (Mg), silicon (Si), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), sulfur (S), strontium (Sr), nickel (Ni), vanadium (V), and any combination thereof.

[0366] 90. The method of any one of paragraphs 87 to 89, wherein the nutritional composition contains at least Fe and / or Mn.

[0367] 91. The method of any one of paragraphs 69 to 90 when dependent on paragraph 81, comprising fixing and attaching the water-insoluble porous material to the fiber and / or the barrier coating.

[0368] 92. The method of claim 88, wherein the water-insoluble porous material is selected from the group consisting of minerals and / or particulate rocks.

[0369] 93. The method of paragraph 92, wherein the non-water-insoluble porous particulate material comprises a clay mineral, an aluminosilicate mineral, and / or a carbonate mineral.

[0370] 94. The method of paragraph 93, wherein the water-insoluble porous particulate material is a mineral selected from the group consisting of zeolite, bentonite, halloysite, sepiolite, attapulgite, and dolomite.

[0371] 95. The method of paragraph 92, wherein the insoluble material comprises particulate rock.

[0372] 96. The method of paragraph 95, wherein the non-water-insoluble porous particulate material is a particulate rock selected from the group consisting of granite, sandstone, diatomaceous earth, shale, marl, and vesicular basalt.

[0373] 97. The method of claim 96, wherein the non-water-insoluble porous material comprises ash.

[0374] 98. A method according to any one of paragraphs 81 to 97, comprising adsorbing the nutritional composition onto the water-insoluble porous material.

[0375] 99. The method of any one of paragraphs 69 to 98, comprising contacting the solid core material with a barrier composition suitable for forming the at least one layer of barrier coating on the solid core.

[0376] 100. The method of claim 99, wherein the barrier composition comprises a hydrocolloid composition.

[0377] 101. The method of paragraph 100, wherein the hydrocolloid composition comprises a hydrocolloid selected from the group consisting of alginic acid, agar, agarose, carrageenan, pectin, methylcellulose, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC), ethylcellulose, carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), microcrystalline cellulose, hydroxyethylcellulose (HEC), hydroxypropylcellulose (HPC), carboxymethylhydroxyethylcellulose (CMHEC), carboxymethylhydroxypropylcellulose (CMHPC), chitosan, carboxymethylchitosan, xanthan gum, guar gum, locust bean gum, galactomannan, konjac gum, glucomannan, tara gum, gellan gum, acacia gum (gum arabic), curdlan, fucoidan, pullulan, hyaluronic acid, and any combination thereof.

[0378] 102. The method of paragraph 100 or 101, wherein the hydrocolloid composition comprises a crosslinkable hydrocolloid, and the method comprises mixing the hydrocolloid composition and the solid core with a hydrocolloid crosslinker.

[0379] 103. The method of paragraph 102, wherein the hydrocolloid composition comprises alginic acid and the cross-linking agent is calcium.

[0380] 104. The method of paragraph 103, wherein the barrier composition comprises a wax.

[0381] 105. The method of claim 99, wherein the barrier composition comprises a biodegradable organic material.

[0382] 106. The method of any one of paragraphs 99 to 105, comprising forming two or more layers of a barrier coating on the solid core.

[0383] 107. The method of any one of paragraphs 69 to 106, comprising applying a binder within and / or onto the at least one layer of barrier coating, if present, or onto the solid core, prior to or simultaneously with bonding of the scaffold.

[0384] 108. The method of claim 107, comprising mixing the binder with the nutritional composition before applying the binder.

[0385] 109. The method of paragraph 107 or 108, wherein the application of the binder is by spraying and / or dipping.

[0386] 110. The method according to any one of items 107 to 109, wherein the binder is any one or a combination of a bio-based binder and a biodegradable binder.

[0387] 111. The method of any one of clauses 107 to 110, wherein the binder is a synthetic binder.

[0388] 112. The method of any one of paragraphs 107 to 111, comprising applying the binder to effect bonding between any of (i) the fibers and the outer surface of the scaffold, (ii) fibers within the scaffold, or (iii) fibers of the scaffold and water-insoluble porous particulate material, if present in the scaffold, or a combination thereof.

[0389] 113. The method of any one of paragraphs 69 to 112, comprising actively introducing the gas into the solid core.

[0390] 114. The method of claim 113, wherein the active introduction includes any one of gas bubbling, gas permeation, and gas-releasing chemical reaction.

[0391] 115. The method of any one of paragraphs 69 to 114, wherein the gas is selected from the group consisting of air and CO2.

[0392] 116. The method of any one of paragraphs 69 to 115, whenever dependent on paragraph 81, including attaching the water-insoluble porous material to the fibers.

[0393] 117. The method of claim 116, wherein the attaching includes combining the fibers with a binder and mixing the fibers with the water-insoluble porous material.

[0394] 118. The method of any one of paragraphs 69 to 117, comprising controlling the size of the particles in the population.

[0395] 119. The method of paragraph 118, wherein controlling the particle size is by selecting particles of a particular size or within a size range.

[0396] 120. The method of claim 119, comprising selecting particles having a size of less than 1 cm.

[0397] 121. A method for carbon dioxide sequestration, comprising distributing a population of particles over a selected area of ​​a body of water open to a source of carbon dioxide to be sequestered, the population of particles comprising at least one photosynthetic aquatic organism, wherein the population of particles at least one solid core; optionally, at least one barrier coating layer on the at least one solid core; a scaffolding attached to at least an outer surface of the at least one solid core or the barrier coating when the barrier coating is present in a construct, the scaffolding being suitable for supporting the growth of photosynthetic aquatic organisms; a gas entrapped within said at least one solid core, the gas having a first specific gravity less than the specific gravity of water and present in an amount sufficient to provide suspension of said particles upon contact with water; the construct has a second specific gravity greater than the specific gravity of water; The at least one solid core, or the barrier coating if present in the construct, has a permeability configured to allow controlled exchange between trapped gas and water outside the construct.

[0398] 122. The method of paragraph 121, including receiving data regarding the selected area of ​​the body of water prior to the distribution, and determining a quarantine success rate based on the data.

[0399] 123. The method of claim 121 or 122, comprising actuating the distribution based on the received data.

[0400] 124. The method of any one of paragraphs 121 to 123, wherein the population of particles is as defined in any one of paragraphs 1 to 68 or is obtained by the method of any one of paragraphs 69 to 120. [Example]

[0401] Description of Non-Limiting Examples Example 1 - Alginate-coated vermiculite Effect of alginate concentration on the duration of particle suspension material: Vermiculite SA - Dry expanded vermiculite was obtained from Sigma Aldrich (catalog number Z765422). Alginic acid-sodium alginate was obtained from Sigma Aldrich (catalog number W201502). CaCl2×7H2O was obtained from Romical (catalog number 433381).

[0402] method Dry expanded vermiculite (sieving size >500 μm) was coated with sodium alginate using 0.5%, 2%, and 4% solutions, as well as 0.5M CaCl2 solutions adjusted to pH = 3 with 1M HCl solution. Each test group (containing 5 gr of vermiculite particles) was placed in a 100 mL beaker, and the beaker was filled with CaCl2 solution. The sample was then filtered to remove excess CaCl2, thereby obtaining Ca-washed vermiculite.

[0403] For cross-linking, the Na-alginate solution (approximately 150 mL) was vigorously stirred (0.5% and 2% were stirred at 1000 rpm, and 4% was stirred at 1030 rpm). The Ca-washed vermiculite was then slowly added and mixed into the Na-alginate solution and allowed to stand in the alginate for 1 minute, thereby forming a Ca-alginate coating on the vermiculite particles.

[0404] The Ca-alginate coated vermiculite was then washed with double distilled water (DDW) to remove excess alginate solution. The weight of each sample was then recorded, as detailed in Table 2.

[0405] [Table 2]

[0406] The duration of floating / sinking particles was evaluated in filtered and unfiltered seawater. Filtered seawater was obtained by filtration through a 0.22 μm filter. Three replicates were measured for each particle type. The floating / sinking of vermiculite (without alginate coating) in filtered and unfiltered seawater served as a control.

[0407] Specifically, the test sample was placed in a container (100 mL) containing seawater (50 mL, filtered or unfiltered), and a top view of the container surface was photographed.

[0408] The proportion of suspended particles was estimated by analyzing the surface area they covered at different sampling times compared to the initial coverage (t0).

[0409] Percent surface coverage was determined using Python version 3.11 for image processing. Top-view photographs were taken for each sample (Figure 2A). Images underwent successive processing steps, including grayscale conversion, sharpening, gradient magnitude calculation (smoothing scale 1), and Gaussian blurring (sigma radius 10).

[0410] Subsequently, a binary image was created using thresholds of 100 and 255 (Figure 2B). The percentage coverage inside the circle was calculated by distinguishing between black (seawater) and white (particle coverage) pixels.

[0411] result Figure 3 shows that increasing the thickness of the Ca-alginate coating on vermiculite results in longer flotation times, indicating that it is possible to control the flotation time of particles (and, in other words, the exchange rate between the external water and the trapped gas) by controlling the thickness of the barrier coating layer. There was a significant difference between uncoated vermiculite (0% alginate) and vermiculite coated with 2% and 4% alginate, confirming that the barrier coating is important for controlling flotation when using solid cores that are mineral, rock, or volcanic glass-based (not hydrocolloid-based).

[0412] Within 24 hours, the suspended particles in the uncoated vermiculite (control sample) covered less than 50% of the water surface in the container, and they all sank (settled) after 8 days. In contrast, for the 2% and 4% alginate-coated vermiculite, over 70% of the water surface was covered by suspended particles between 24 hours and 8 days of incubation (see Figure 3). This further confirms the need for a barrier coating to control water / gas exchange and flotation / settling rates.

[0413] When coated with 0.5% alginate solution, vermiculite showed significantly shorter flotation times (compared to those coated with 2% and 4% alginate), which were similar to those of uncoated vermiculite (control samples).

[0414] The type of seawater used (raw seawater or filtered seawater) did not affect the flotation time, suggesting that the particles are applicable to a variety of water types.

[0415] Effect of the number of coating layers method The multi-layer coating process on vermiculite followed the same protocol as described above for the single-layer coating, using a 0.5% alginate solution. First, the first layer was applied, followed by particle washing, then the second layer, and this pattern continued for subsequent layers. The final layer of alginate was washed with CaCl2 solution to strengthen the outer coating layer.

[0416] The Ca-alginate coated vermiculate particles were then washed with double distilled water (DDW) to remove excess alginate solution.

[0417] The duration of particle floating / sinking was evaluated in unfiltered seawater according to the protocol described above.

[0418] result Figure 4 shows that vermiculite coated with multiple layers of alginate exhibited a greater percentage of suspended particles as the number of coating layers (and concomitantly, layer thickness) increased, a trend that persisted over a week of incubation in seawater.

[0419] Vermiculite particles coated with one, two, and three layers of calcium alginate remained stable (i.e., the coating and washing process was repeated three times), with more than 50% of the particles remaining suspended throughout the entire 6-day incubation period.

[0420] Furthermore, as the number of coating layers decreased, the alginate-coated particles showed a decrease in the percentage of floating particles. This suggests that there is a correlation between the thickness and / or number of layers of the barrier coating and the percent floating. This is further supported by the fact that the majority of uncoated vermiculite particles settled within 24 hours (rapid settling).

[0421] Effect of wetting mechanism The fluorescent tracer fluorescein was used to monitor the wetting process of the particle-suspended core, which may be a tool for determining the mechanism of exchange between the trapped gas and the external water.

[0422] method Uncoated and Ca-alginate-coated vermiculite particles were prepared as described in Example 1 (0.5%, 2%, and 4% Ca-alginate monolayer coating) and soaked in 50 mL Falcon tubes filled with 0.01 nM fluorescein sodium salt solution (catalog number F-6377, Sigma Aldrich) for 7 days.

[0423] Sampling involved the collection of both floating and sinking particles from the tubes, followed by their examination under a fluorescent microscope.

[0424] result: The presence of fluorescent dye in various regions of the particle indicated wetting as the fluorescein solution penetrated the outer surface of the particle.

[0425] For samples collected with suspended particles, the fluorescent dye was observed exclusively on the outer alginate layer (Figures 5A-5B) or within the coating layer itself, located between vermiculite particles and within the vermiculite layer (Figure 5C).

[0426] Specifically, Figure 5A presents a cross-section of a coated particle, highlighting only the fluorescent dye within the alginate coating layer (the fluorescent dye region is indicated by the solid arrow). In Figure 5B, the cross-section of the particle reveals a dry, unstained interior portion (appearing as a dark interior, indicated by the dashed arrow) juxtaposed with a stained outer layer (visible on the left side of the image, indicated by the solid arrow). Furthermore, Figure 5C shows a stained particle with a trapped air bubble located within the coating (a representative air bubble is marked by the dotted arrow).

[0427] Remarkably, these particles remained floating / buoyant as long as the gas bubbles remained trapped within the coating or expanded mineral.

[0428] The settled particles showed the fluorescent dye both in the outer coating and in the spaces between the vermiculite and the layers. Figure 6 shows vermiculite particles after removal of the Ca-alginate barrier layer from settled particles. The vermiculite particles in Figure 6 clearly show that they retained the fluorescent dye: the light areas of the vermiculite are the interlayer spaces of the particles that would have been dark in the absence of the dye.

[0429] No discernible difference in this pattern was observed between particles that settled within 1-2 days and those that settled within 5-7 days, which experimentally supports the assumption that particle settling is due to water penetration and subsequent gas / water exchange, and further implies that this can be controlled, among other things, by the barrier coating properties.

[0430] Example 2 - Growth of microalgae on solid carriers Growth of microalgae on cotton or gypsum. material: Cotton Fiber - Cosmetic grade transparent fiber (average fiber diameter 9.95 microns) was obtained from a pharmacy. The 500-1000 micron granite fraction was obtained from the Israel quarry in Hermonit, Israel. Microalgae - Laboratory experiments were performed using the Bacillariophyceae Phaeodactylum tricornutum strain UTEX640 from the UTEX Culture Collection of Algae at UT-Austin. NaNO3-Purchased from Romical (catalog no. 481757). NaH2PO4 - Purchased from Romical (catalog number 480141). MnCl2·4H2O - Obtained from Sigma Aldrich (catalog number M3634). FeCl3 anhydrous - obtained from Sigma Aldrich (catalog number 908908).

[0431] method The growth of microalgae on cotton fibers or schist particles in seawater medium was evaluated. For this purpose, cotton fibers or schist particles, adsorbed with As or Fe+Mn, were used as microalgae growth support scaffolds.

[0432] The adsorption of Fe and Mn on the tuff particles is thought to be due to the fact that the tuff particles are Fe 3+ (2mM) and Mn 2+ This was achieved by stirring overnight in a solution of 0.2 mM sodium chloride and then washing three times in seawater before use in growth experiment 4.

[0433] The adsorption of iron onto cotton fibers was evident by a change in the color of the fibers from white to a rust-colored orange-brown.

[0434] The salinity of the seawater was 35 ppt and the conductivity was 46 μS.

[0435] To support the growth of microalgae, the seawater medium was supplemented with nutrients including 25 μM NaNO3 and 2.5 μM NaH2PO4 in the low nutrient treatment (SW LN) or 200 μM NaNO3 and 20 μM KH2PO4 in the high nutrient treatment (SW HN).

[0436] Microalgae were then inoculated into seawater containing low-nutrient (SW LN) and high-nutrient (SW HN) media and cultured for 10–14 days until the microalgae reached stationary phase. The stationary-phase inoculum was counted using a hemocytometer and inoculated into both SW LN and SW HN media at the start of the experiment. The initial cell concentration was 2.5 × 10 5 cells / mL.

[0437] Untreated gypsum or cotton without micronutrients (Fe+Mn) was used as control. Samples were cultured in different seawater media with different solid to liquid ratios, rotating at 75 rpm. Table 4 provides the different test groups (n=3) and their respective conditions.

[0438] [Table 3]

[0439] Sampling was carried out three times a week, with two-day intervals.

[0440] The microalgae dry biomass evaluation involved several steps. First, the microalgae concentration in the three inocula was determined by hemocytometer counting. Next, three microglass fiber filters were weighed, and then 5 mL of inoculum was filtered. The microalgae remaining on the filter surface area were dried in an oven at 105 °C for 1 hour. Subsequently, the dried filters and microalgae biomass were reweighed after the drying process. The weight difference before and after filtration was divided by the total microalgae cells filtered.

[0441] Based on the results, the dry weight of a single microalgae cell was determined to be 55.15 ± 3.40 pg based on three replicates (n = 3), which serves as the basis for the dry biomass calculation in this experiment.

[0442] Alternatively, microalgal dry biomass was determined by fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) analysis. Liquid samples, each containing 0.85 mL, were placed in cryovials and supplemented with 3 μL of 50% w / w glutaraldehyde. After brief vortexing, the vials were quickly frozen in liquid nitrogen and stored at -80°C. Prior to analysis, samples were thawed at room temperature for 1 h. The total sample volume in each vial was adjusted to 0.8 mL, and analysis involved evaluating 50 μL from each vial. FACS analysis was based on chlorophyll-a autofluorescence measured with an intensity reading at 660 nm (green emission) using an excitation wavelength of 488 nm, along with forward scatter data.

[0443] result: Attachment and growth of microalgae on glaciers. Days 0 to 15 of the experiment th By day 1, Fe + Mn-supplemented tuffite particles in high-nutrient (HN) medium exhibited significantly higher microalgal dry biomass than Fe + Mn-supplemented tuffite particles in low-nutrient (LN) medium. The highest microalgal dry biomass content was measured on Fe + Mn-supplemented tuffite particles in HN medium on day 11, at 3.1 × 10 -4 gr biomass / gr particle dry weight.

[0444] The highest dry algal biomass differences between Fe + Mn-supplemented ash in high-nutrient (HN) medium and Fe + Mn-supplemented ash in low-nutrient (LN) medium, the control in HN medium, and the control in LN medium were observed on days 4, 11, and 13, and were 7.31-, 6.13-, and 10.49-fold higher, respectively.

[0445] From days 6 to 11, the Fe+Mn-supplemented tuff particles in the LN medium treatment significantly accumulated microalgal dry biomass, peaking at 1.56 × 10-4 gr biomass / gr particle dry weight on day 11. The largest differences between the Fe+Mn-supplemented tuff particles in LN medium and the control HN and LN medium were observed on days 11 and 13, which were 3.08- and 4.16-fold higher, respectively.

[0446] The maximum microalgal dry biomass for Fe+Mn-supplemented tuff particles in HN medium and Fe+Mn-supplemented tuff particles in LN medium was observed on day 11. However, Fe+Mn-supplemented tuff particles in HN medium exhibited 1.98-fold higher gram biomass / gram particle dry weight than in LN. On day 13, the measured microalgal dry biomass was lower than on day 11, except for the control HN medium.

[0447] To validate the measurements, samples from day 6 were subjected to FACS analysis. Figure 7 shows microalgal dry biomass as a function of nutrient amount on the gypsum-containing scaffold (gypsum particles as above) plotted using a FACS (gray) or hemocytometer (black) device. The results show the same significant differences between treatments (p<0.05) and no significant differences between measurement devices (p=0.8998) (except for Fe+Mn-enriched gypsum particles in low-nutrient medium). The results show that there is a significant increase in total dry biomass when supplemented with Fe and Mn, providing further validation for the algal measurement method.

[0448] Furthermore, visual differences were observed throughout the experiment; more algae attached to Fe+Mn-supplemented tuff particles in HN medium. Figures 8A-8B show images of attached fluorescent microalgae on tuff particles (bright white spots, some marked by white arrows) taken on day 11. In particular, Figure 8A shows control tuff particles in high-nutrient medium, while Figure 8B shows Fe+Mn-supplemented tuff particles in high-nutrient medium.

[0449] Microalgae showed a preference to attach and grow on Fe+Mn supplemented schist particles over control schist particles due to the presence of micronutrients on the schist.

[0450] Microalgae attachment and growth on textile surfaces Cotton fibers were either used without further treatment (control) or pretreated by adsorption of Fe and Mn (Fe+Mn supplemented cotton). 3+ (2mM) and Mn 2+ This was achieved by stirring the fibers overnight in a solution of 0.2 mM sodium chloride and then rinsing them three times in seawater before use in growth experiments. After rinsing, the cotton fibers were incubated in low-nutrient (LN) or high-nutrient (HN) medium.

[0451] From day 0 to day 15 of the experiment, progressive growth was observed in all treatment groups, and the microalgae dry biomass grew higher on the Fe+Mn-supplemented cotton fiber than their respective controls. On day 15 of the experiment, the microalgae grown on the Fe+Mn-supplemented cotton fiber in HN medium reached 8.26 × 10 -3 The dry biomass of the gr biomass / gr particles reached 1000 kJ / g, which was significantly higher than that of both the control and Fe+Mn-supplemented LN treatment groups. 3+ and Mn 2+ Cotton supplemented with Fe+Mn ("Fe+Mn supplemented") showed significantly higher biomass compared to the control and compared to the low nutrient medium.

[0452] On day 15 of the experiment, microalgal dry biomass showed the most substantial difference between treatment groups, with values ​​2.03- and 2.11-fold higher for Fe+Mn-supplemented cotton fiber in HN medium compared to control cotton fiber in HN and LN medium, respectively. Furthermore, the biomass on Fe+Mn-supplemented cotton fiber in HN medium was 28.97-fold higher than the biomass on control cotton fiber in LN medium.

[0453] Figure 9 shows attached and trapped microalgae (bright white spots) within Fe+Mn-supplemented cotton fibers in HN medium (day 11), providing further evidence of the high potential of cotton fibers for the attachment, trapping, and growth of microalgae on and between the fibers.

[0454] Example 3 - Construction of multicomponent particles method Dry expanded vermiculite, sieved to obtain a particle size greater than 500 μm, was treated as follows: The vermiculite was placed in a 100 mL beaker and a 0.5 M CaCl solution in double deionized water (pH=3) was added. The mixture was filtered through a 500 μm sieve and excess solution was removed by absorbing the water using a dry wipe.

[0455] Approximately 150 mL of 2% Na-alginate solution was placed in a 250 mL beaker equipped with a magnetic stirrer and stirred at 1000 rpm. The Ca-washed vermiculite was gradually added to the alginate solution for 1 minute to obtain cross-linked alginate-coated vermiculite. The alginate-coated vermiculite was then transferred to a Buchner funnel and thoroughly washed with double deionized water to remove excess alginate solution.

[0456] In the second step, scaffolds were added. To this end, either hemp or cotton fibers ("fibers" hereafter for brevity) were cut into short strands (lengths ranging from a few hundred microns to a few mm) and mixed with a 0.5% Na-alginate solution in a beaker using a magnetic stirrer. Alternatively, particles were obtained without cotton fibers (i.e., fiber-free gypsum) by mixing <500 μm fraction gypsum dust with a 0.5% Na-alginate solution.

[0457] The coated vermiculite was briefly placed in a stirred 0.5 M solution of CaCl2 (pH 3), then filtered and gently dried to avoid damaging the coating and to remove excess CaCl2 solution.

[0458] Subsequently, to bond the alginate-coated vermiculite cores to the fibers (either cotton or hemp), the coated vermiculite particles were transferred to a beaker containing fibers or tallow in a sodium alginate solution (the tallow dust in this example adhered to the coated vermiculite and not to the fibers). Finally, the fiber- or tallow-coated vermiculite particles were washed twice with deionized water to remove excess alginate and expose the fiber or tallow surface.

[0459] result: Fusion of the fiber material with alginate-coated vermiculite resulted in the formation of stable particles with only fiber or tallow containing outer layers, as shown in Figures 10A-10C. It was therefore concluded that fiber-coated particles as well as tallow-coated particles can function as viable growth supports in the presence of algae, even when attached to an alginate barrier-coated vermiculite core.

[0460] Note that in the above examples, alginate was also used as a binder for the scaffold on top of an already existing alginate barrier layer.

[0461] These cotton fiber / Ca-alginate / vermiculite particles were subsequently evaluated for flotation / buoyancy. Figure 10D demonstrates their ability to remain suspended for a minimum of 5 days, with the coating showing considerable stability throughout this period.

[0462] Example 4 - Iron adsorption onto ash particles The capacity of the ash rock for adsorption and retention of iron was evaluated.

[0463] method To evaluate the iron adsorption capacity on the tuff surface, the tuff was treated with Fe as described below. 3+ The unadsorbed Fe remaining in the solution after adsorption was then incubated in the solution. 3+ The amount of was measured.

[0464] Adsorption procedure The granite particles (500–1000 μm fraction) were rigorously washed in double deionized water until a clear supernatant was obtained. Then, 200 mL of freshly prepared Fe 3+ Solution (100gL -1 ) was added to the calcite and incubated overnight, after which the solution was decanted and the particles were washed three times with DDW.

[0465] The rock was then incubated in seawater for at least 30 min, followed by two additional seawater changes with a minimum incubation period of 30 min each. Dissolved iron measurements were performed in three stages: an initial 1 mM Fe solution before rock introduction; 3+ solution, the solution after adsorption incubation, and seawater after each round of washing (designated 1 for the first wash after adsorption, 2 and 3 for subsequent rounds). Dissolved iron was measured using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) (Arcos FHM22 Spectro).

[0466] As a control, the galvanized rock was treated with Fe in solution before incubation. 3+ The sample was treated in the same manner as the sample without the addition of .

[0467] result: Although the tuff contains iron oxide in its structure, the control tuff did not release dissolved iron into solution because the oxide is insoluble.

[0468] Measurement of iron concentrations in the test samples revealed that the tallow rock effectively adsorbed iron, leaving no detectable amounts of dissolved iron in solution after incubation with the tallow rock.

[0469] Furthermore, upon seawater rinsing, the control sample showed no release of iron into solution, while the Fe-adsorbed tuffite released minimal amounts of iron into solution, indicating an almost complete retention capacity of the tuffite for iron under the experimental concentrations used.

[0470] Example 5 - Modeling microalgae growth on fibers Phytoplankton growth on fiber surfaces was described by a fiber-two-particle model (as detailed below). The model is well suited for comparison with various engineered surfaces.

[0471] The model consisted of a set of differential equations describing biomass growth on the substrate, the availability of free macronutrients in the surrounding environment, and the uptake of micronutrients by the algae from the surface. Growth was constrained by the maximum achievable thickness and density of the biofilm that could be cultivated on the substrate surface.

[0472] To assess the sensitivity of the model to uncertain parameters, calibration was performed using data obtained from laboratory experiments, focusing on the most sensitive parameters.

[0473] method Dataset: The data set utilized in the model was obtained from an experiment involving the growth and attachment of microalgae (Phaeodactylum tricornutum) on vermiculite particles. Stationary-phase inocula were quantified with a hemocytometer and introduced into HN medium (200 μM NaNO, 20 μM KHPO) at the start of the experiment. Experiments were conducted in duplicate over a 15-day period.

[0474] Procedure: The experimental procedure involved replicate experiments, each containing a liquid phase (consisting of a diluted inoculum) and a solid phase (consisting of vermiculite particles). The vermiculite particles were utilized in their untreated state and after undergoing pretreatment by Fe adsorption (100 grams wet weight / liter). The initial algal cell concentration in the liquid phase was 2.5 x 10 5 cells mL -1 maintained at

[0475] These setups were placed in flasks on an orbital shaker rotating at 75 RPM. Sampling was performed four times per week. The microalgae present in the liquid phase were quantified using a hemocytometer. The solid-phase particles were rinsed with clean artificial seawater to remove unattached microalgae and then transferred to vials containing clean seawater. Following the washing procedure, the microalgae attached to the particles were extracted by vortexing for 10 seconds followed by sonication for 12 seconds and quantified using a hemocytometer.

[0476] Model description: Phytoplankton growth on vermiculite particles was modeled using a fiber-particle model. Within this model, variables were incorporated to account for dissolved inorganic and organic carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) in the particle environment. Additionally, solid concentrations of micronutrients such as iron (Fe) and manganese (Mn) on the particles were considered, representing the ecosystem with phytoplankton. All parameter values ​​were set to match the growth conditions applied in the experiment, featuring P. tricornutum as the algae of choice.

[0477] The model is especially 106 N 16 P) 1000 Fe8Mn 14 The model accommodated variable stoichiometry in phytoplankton, commonly known as the Redfield ratio, denoted as . This 0D (zero-dimensional) offline model was set up and run for 25 days, assuming a particle density of N = 100 particles per liter of seawater. The model was implemented using Python (version 3.10).

[0478] Monod's (1949) phytoplankton growth rate function was used to describe the growth of phytoplankton on particles, as shown in Eq.

[0479]

number

[0480] Basic biomass growth is described by Equation 2.

[0481]

number

[0482] Growth around the fiber was limited by the maximum thickness observed in nature for biofilms: R = 100 μm, and since biofilms essentially consist of approximately 10% dry mass, the integration of the differential equation was terminated when 10% was reached.

[0483] Sensitivity analysis and calibration: Several parameters had large uncertainties relative to their literature values ​​and were therefore first detected using linear sensitivity analysis (LSA). To systematically test the extent to which these particular parameters affected the model output, each parameter was given a set of 10 random values ​​from the literature range.

[0484] The model was run for each value and the parameters that showed the greatest variation in the model output were selected for calibration.

[0485] Calibration was performed using Latin Hypercube Sampling (LHS), a statistical method for generating a nearly random sample of parameter values ​​from a multidimensional distribution. A set of 1000 combinations of selected parameters was established. We used the same parameter ranges as used in LSA. Each set was evaluated with a simple sum of squares (SS), which served as a cost function, and the set that yielded the smallest SS value was selected as the set for calibration.

[0486] To better assess the best fit, the model efficiency (MEF) was calculated.

[0487]

number

number

[0488] result: The model results for the parameter set that yielded the lowest SS value after n = 1000 samples of the Latin Hypercube Sampling (LHS) set are presented in Figure 11. Specifically, Figure 11 shows model results illustrating algal biomass growth on filamentous particles. The solid line corresponds to the model results, and the dots represent data obtained from laboratory experiments. The best fit showed a model efficiency value of MEF = 0.705 relative to the cell number measured in the laboratory experiment.

[0489] The strong alignment with laboratory results demonstrates the usefulness of the model for predicting growth in a variety of settings and conditions.

Claims

1. A population of particles, each particle comprising: A construct, at least one solid core; Optionally, at least one barrier coating layer on said at least one solid core; and a scaffolding attached to at least an outer surface of said at least one solid core, or of said barrier coating if a layer of said barrier coating is present in said construct, said scaffolding being suitable for supporting the growth of photosynthetic aquatic organisms; and A construct comprising: a gas entrapped within the at least one solid core, the gas having a first specific gravity less than the specific gravity of water and present in an amount sufficient to provide suspension of the particles when the particles contact the water; the construct has a second specific gravity greater than the specific gravity of water; A population of particles wherein the at least one solid core, or the barrier coating if present in the construct, has a permeability configured to allow controlled exchange between trapped gas and water outside the construct.

2. 10. The population of particles of claim 1, wherein the solid core comprises or is an expanded or porous particle.

3. 3. The population of particles of claim 1 or 2, wherein the core comprises an expanded particulate mineral.

4. 4. The population of particles of claim 2 or 3, wherein the particulate mineral is selected from the group consisting of vermiculite, montmorillonite, bentonite, hectorite, saponite, kaolinite, halloysite, illite, palygorskite, sepiolite, nontronite, and any combination thereof.

5. 5. The population of particles of claim 4, wherein the expanded particulate mineral is expanded vermiculite.

6. 3. The population of particles of claim 2, wherein the solid core is or comprises expanded particulate volcanic glass.

7. 7. The population of particles of claim 6, wherein the expanded particulate volcanic glass is or comprises expanded perlite.

8. 8. The population of particles of claim 7, wherein the particulate volcanic glass is or comprises expanded pumice.

9. 3. The population of particles of claim 1 or 2, wherein the solid core is a particulate organic core.

10. 10. The population of particles of claim 9, wherein the particulate organic core is selected from the group consisting of a carbon-based sponge, a carbon-based foam, and a carbon-based fibrous material.

11. 11. The population of particles of any one of claims 1 to 10, comprising a single solid core embedded within said at least one layer of barrier coating.

12. 11. The population of particles of any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein each particle comprises two or more solid cores embedded within the barrier coating.

13. 3. The population of particles of claim 1 or 2, wherein the solid core comprises a particulate hydrocolloid.

14. 14. The population of particles of claim 13, wherein the particulate hydrocolloid comprises a polysaccharide.

15. 15. The population of particles of claim 14, wherein the particulate hydrocolloid comprises a polysaccharide selected from the group consisting of alginic acid, agar, agarose, carrageenan, pectin, methylcellulose, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC), ethylcellulose, carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), microcrystalline cellulose, hydroxyethylcellulose (HEC), hydroxypropylcellulose (HPC), carboxymethylhydroxyethylcellulose (CMHEC), carboxymethylhydroxypropylcellulose (CMHPC), chitosan, carboxymethylchitosan, xanthan gum, guar gum, locust bean gum, galactomannan, konjac gum, glucomannan, tara gum, gellan gum, acacia gum (gum arabic), curdlan, fucoidan, pullulan, hyaluronic acid, and any combination thereof.

16. 16. The population of particles of claim 14 or 15, wherein the particulate hydrocolloid comprises a self-bound or cross-linked polysaccharide.

17. 17. The population of particles of claim 16, wherein the particulate hydrocolloid comprises a cross-linked polysaccharide.

18. 18. The population of particles of claim 17, wherein the particulate hydrocolloid comprises calcium alginate.

19. 14. The population of particles of claim 13, wherein the particulate hydrocolloid comprises or is gelatin.

20. 20. The population of particles of any one of claims 1 to 19, comprising said at least one layer of barrier coating on said at least one solid core.

21. 21. The population of particles of claim 20, wherein the at least one layer of barrier coating comprises or is a hydrocolloid coating.

22. 22. The population of particles of claim 20 or 21, wherein the barrier coating comprises a hydrocolloid selected from the group consisting of alginate, agar, agarose, carrageenan, pectin, methylcellulose, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC), ethylcellulose, carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), microcrystalline cellulose, hydroxyethylcellulose (HEC), hydroxypropylcellulose (HPC), carboxymethylhydroxyethylcellulose (CMHEC), carboxymethylhydroxypropylcellulose (CMHPC), chitosan, carboxymethylchitosan, xanthan gum, guar gum, locust bean gum, galactomannan, konjac gum, glucomannan, tara gum, gellan gum, acacia gum (gum arabic), curdlan, fucoidan, pullulan, hyaluronic acid, and any combination thereof.

23. 23. The population of particles of claim 21 or 22, wherein the hydrocolloid coating comprises a self-bonded or cross-linked polysaccharide.

24. 24. The population of particles of claim 23, wherein the hydrocolloid coating comprises a cross-linked polysaccharide.

25. 25. The population of particles of claim 24, wherein the hydrocolloid coating comprises calcium alginate.

26. 21. The population of particles of claim 20, wherein the hydrocolloid coating comprises or is gelatin.

27. 21. The population of particles of any one of claims 1 to 20, wherein the at least one layer of barrier coating, if present, comprises a long chain organic material.

28. 28. The population of particles of any one of claims 1 to 20 or 27, wherein the at least one layer of barrier coating, if present, comprises or is a wax coating.

29. 29. The population of particles of claim 28, wherein the wax coating is selected from the group consisting of paraffin wax, rosin wax, beeswax, carnauba wax, soybean wax, candelilla wax, microcrystalline wax, montan wax, rice bran wax, ozokerite wax, lanolin wax, jojoba wax, castor wax, palm wax, tallow wax, Fischer-Tropsch wax, polyethylene wax, shellac wax, polyolefin wax, and combinations thereof.

30. 30. A population of particles according to any one of claims 1 to 29, comprising two or more layers of said barrier coating, which may be the same or different.

31. 31. The population of particles of any one of claims 1 to 30, wherein the at least one layer of barrier coating, if present, is a continuous layer coating on the at least one solid core.

32. 32. A population of particles according to any one of claims 1 to 31, wherein the barrier coating, if present, has an irregular contour.

33. 32. The population of particles of any one of claims 1 to 31, wherein the barrier coating (if present) or the solid core has an essentially rounded outline.

34. 34. The population of particles of any one of claims 1 to 33, wherein the scaffold comprises a nutrient composition suitable for supporting the growth of photosynthetic aquatic organisms.

35. 35. The population of particles of claim 34, wherein the nutrient composition comprises at least one nutrient selected from the group consisting of iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), molybdenum (Mo), selenium (Se), chromium (Cr), cobalt (Co), iodine (I), fluorine (F), magnesium (Mg), silicon (Si), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), sulfur (S), strontium (Sr), nickel (Ni), vanadium (V), and any combination thereof.

36. 36. The population of particles of claim 34 or 35, wherein the at least one nutrient includes at least iron.

37. 36. The population of particles of any one of claims 34 to 35, wherein the at least one nutrient comprises at least manganese.

38. 38. The population of particles of any one of claims 1 to 37, wherein the scaffold comprises any one or combination of fibers and water-insoluble porous particulate materials.

39. 39. The population of particles of claim 38, wherein the fibers are organic fibers.

40. 40. The population of particles of claim 39, wherein the organic fibers are non-synthetic organic fibers.

41. 41. The population of particles of claim 39 or 40, wherein the organic fibers are selected from the group consisting of abaca fiber, banana fiber, bamboo fiber, broom fiber, coir fiber, cotton fiber, hemp fiber, elephant fiber, flax fiber, hemp fiber, jute fiber, kenaf fiber, linseed fiber, oil palm fiber, ramie fiber, rice husk fiber, roselle fiber, sisal fiber, sun hemp fiber, wheat fiber, wood fiber, and any combination thereof.

42. 41. The population of particles of claim 39 or 40, wherein the organic fibers comprise cotton fibers.

43. 40. The population of particles of claim 39, wherein the fibers comprise synthetic fibers.

44. 40. The population of particles of claim 39, wherein the synthetic fibers comprise polyester fibers.

45. 40. The population of particles of claim 39, wherein the fibers comprise recycled fibers.

46. 46. ​​A population of particles according to any one of claims 38 to 45, wherein the scaffold comprises the particulate porous insoluble material fixedly attached to the fibres.

47. A population of particles according to any one of claims 1 to 46, comprising a binder.

48. 48. The population of particles of claim 47, wherein the binder is a bio-based binder and / or a biodegradable binder.

49. 48. The population of particles of claim 47, wherein the binder is a synthetic binder.

50. A population of particles described in any one of claims 47 to 49, when the population of particles is dependent on claim 38, wherein the binder bonds between any one or combination of: (i) the fibers of the scaffold and the outer surfaces of the particles; (ii) the fibers of the scaffold; and (iii) the fibers of the scaffold and, if present in the scaffold, of a water-insoluble porous particulate material.

51. 51. The population of particles of any one of claims 38 to 50, when the population of particles is dependent on claim 38, wherein the water-insoluble porous particulate material comprises a mineral and / or particulate rock.

52. 52. The population of particles of claim 51 , wherein the water-insoluble porous particulate material comprises a clay mineral, an aluminosilicate mineral, and / or a carbonate mineral.

53. 53. The population of particles of claim 52, wherein the water-insoluble porous particulate material is a mineral selected from the group consisting of zeolite, bentonite, montmorillonite, halloysite, sepiolite, attapulgite, and dolomite.

54. 54. The population of particles of claim 52 or 53, wherein the water-insoluble porous particulate material comprises bentonite and / or montmorillonite.

55. 52. The population of particles of claim 51 , wherein the insoluble material comprises particulate rock.

56. 56. The population of particles of claim 55, wherein the non-water-insoluble porous particulate material is a particulate rock selected from the group consisting of granite, sandstone, diatomaceous earth, shale, marl, and vesicular basalt.

57. 57. The population of particles of claim 52 or 56, wherein the non-water-insoluble porous particulate material is argillaceous rock.

58. 58. A population of particles according to any one of claims 1 to 57 when dependent on claims 34 and 38, wherein the water-insoluble porous particulate material retains the nutritional composition.

59. 59. The population of particles of any one of claims 1 to 58, comprising the at least one layer of barrier coating, wherein the scaffold is directly or indirectly bonded to at least an outer surface of the at least one layer of barrier coating.

60. 60. The population of particles of claim 59, wherein the barrier layer is a binder layer or the particles comprise a binder on and / or in the at least one layer of barrier coating, and the binder bonds the scaffold to the solid core.

61. 61. The population of particles of any one of claims 1 to 60, comprising the at least one layer of barrier coating, the scaffold being at least partially embedded within the outer surface of the barrier coating.

62. 62. The population of particles of any one of claims 1 to 61, wherein the scaffold is chemically bonded, directly or indirectly, to the outer surface of the solid core or, if a layer of barrier coating is present in the particle, to the outer surface of the at least one layer of barrier coating.

63. The gas is air and CO ２ 63. The population of particles of any one of claims 1 to 62, selected from the group consisting of:

64. 64. The population of particles of any one of claims 1 to 63, wherein the exchange between trapped gas and water external to the construct is controlled by at least one parameter selected from the group consisting of core material, core dimensions, core surface area, core porosity, core specific gravity, core surface energy, core wettability, number of layers of the barrier coating, gas permeability of the at least one layer of barrier coating, water permeability of the at least one layer of barrier coating, solubility of the at least one layer of barrier coating, thickness of the at least one layer of barrier coating, overall thickness of the barrier layer, composition of the at least one layer of barrier coating, wettability of the at least one layer of barrier coating, overall wettability of the barrier coating, type of trapped gas, amount of trapped gas, water permeability of the barrier coating, water resistance of the barrier coating, gas permeability of the barrier coating, gas resistivity of the barrier coating, outer surface charge, outer surface polarity and outer surface free energy, and any combination thereof.

65. 65. The population of particles of any one of claims 1 to 64, wherein the controlled exchange between the trapped gas and water external to the construct is determinable by a sedimentation test, whereby at least one of particle sedimentation velocity, particle sedimentation percentage, particle sedimentation amount under defined conditions is determined.

66. 66. The population of particles of any one of claims 1 to 65, wherein the water is salt water or fresh water.

67. 66. The population of particles of any one of claims 1 to 65, wherein the photosynthetic aquatic organism comprises microalgae.

68. 68. The population of particles of any one of claims 1 to 67, wherein the particles have an average size in the micrometer range to the millimeter range.

69. 1. A method for generating a population of particles, comprising: mixing a solid core material, optionally having at least one layer of a barrier coating thereon, with a scaffolding material under conditions suitable to allow bonding of the scaffolding material to at least an outer surface of the solid core; the solid core material includes a gas entrapped therein, the gas having a first specific gravity less than the specific gravity of water and in an amount sufficient to cause suspension of the particles when the particles contact the water; the combination of the at least one solid core, the at least one layer of barrier coating, if present, and the scaffolding has a second specific gravity greater than the specific gravity of water; A method wherein the combination of the solid core, the at least one layer of barrier coating, if present, the scaffold, and the gas is selected to provide, in the resulting particle, controlled exchange between the trapped gas and water external to the construct when the particle is contacted with water.

70. 70. The method of claim 69, comprising mixing one or more solid cores with a barrier material under conditions that result in coating the solid cores with at least one layer of barrier coating in a single particle.

71. 71. The method of claim 70, wherein the conditions include the formation of a hydrocolloid that embeds one or more solid cores.

72. 72. The method of any one of claims 69 to 71, wherein the solid core comprises or is an expanded particle or a porous particle.

73. 73. The method of claim 72, wherein the core is or comprises an expanded particulate mineral.

74. 74. The method of claim 73, wherein the expanded particles are expanded vermiculite.

75. 74. The method of claim 73, wherein the core is or comprises expanded particulate volcanic glass.

76. 76. The method of claim 75, wherein the expanded particulate volcanic glass is or comprises expanded perlite or pumice.

77. 73. The method of claim 72, wherein the solid core comprises or is a particulate organic core.

78. 72. The method of any one of claims 69 to 71, wherein the solid core comprises a particulate hydrocolloid.

79. 79. The method of claim 78, wherein the particulate hydrocolloid comprises a polysaccharide or gelatin.

80. 80. The method of claim 79, wherein the polysaccharide is a self-linked or cross-linked polysaccharide.

81. 81. The method of any one of claims 69 to 80, wherein the scaffold-forming material comprises any one or combination of fibers and water-insoluble porous particulate materials.

82. 82. The method of claim 81, wherein the fibers are organic fibers.

83. 83. The method of claim 82, wherein the organic fiber is selected from the group consisting of abaca fiber, banana fiber, bamboo fiber, broom fiber, coir fiber, cotton fiber, hemp fiber, elephant fiber, flax fiber, hemp fiber, jute fiber, kenaf fiber, linseed fiber, oil palm fiber, ramie fiber, rice husk fiber, roselle fiber, sisal fiber, sun hemp fiber, wheat fiber, wood fiber, and any combination thereof.

84. 84. The method of claim 82 or 83, wherein the organic fibers comprise cotton fibers.

85. 82. The method of claim 81, wherein the fibers comprise synthetic fibers.

86. 86. The method of claim 85, wherein the fibers are polyester fibers.

87. 87. The method of any one of claims 69 to 86, comprising supplementing at least the scaffold with a nutrient composition.

88. 88. The method of claim 87, wherein said supplementing comprises contacting said scaffolding material with a solution of said nutrient composition suitable for supporting algae growth, said contacting being before or after mixing said scaffolding material with said solid core.

89. 89. The method of claim 87 or 88, wherein the nutritional composition comprises at least one nutrient selected from the group consisting of iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), molybdenum (Mo), selenium (Se), chromium (Cr), cobalt (Co), iodine (I), fluorine (F), magnesium (Mg), silicon (Si), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), sulfur (S), strontium (Sr), nickel (Ni), vanadium (V), and any combination thereof.

90. 90. The method of any one of claims 87 to 89, wherein the nutritional composition comprises at least Fe and / or Mn.

91. A method according to any one of claims 69 to 90 when dependent on claim 81, comprising fixedly attaching the water insoluble porous material to the fibre and / or the barrier coating.

92. 89. The method of claim 88, wherein the water-insoluble porous material is selected from the group consisting of minerals and / or particulate rock.

93. 93. The method of claim 92, wherein the water-insoluble porous particulate material comprises a clay mineral, an aluminosilicate mineral, and / or a carbonate mineral.

94. 94. The method of claim 93, wherein the water-insoluble porous particulate material is a mineral selected from the group consisting of zeolite, bentonite, halloysite, sepiolite, attapulgite, and dolomite.

95. 93. The method of claim 92, wherein the insoluble material comprises particulate rock.

96. 96. The method of claim 95, wherein the water-insoluble porous particulate material is a particulate rock selected from the group consisting of granite, sandstone, diatomaceous earth, shale, marl, and vesicular basalt.

97. 97. The method of claim 96, wherein the water-insoluble porous material comprises galvanite.

98. 98. A method according to any one of claims 81 to 97, comprising adsorbing said nutritional composition onto said water-insoluble porous material.

99. 99. The method of any one of claims 69 to 98, comprising contacting the solid core material with a barrier composition suitable for forming the at least one layer of barrier coating on the solid core.

100. 100. The method of claim 99, wherein the barrier composition comprises a hydrocolloid composition.

101. 101. The method of claim 100, wherein the hydrocolloid composition comprises a hydrocolloid selected from the group consisting of alginic acid, agar, agarose, carrageenan, pectin, methylcellulose, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC), ethylcellulose, carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), microcrystalline cellulose, hydroxyethylcellulose (HEC), hydroxypropylcellulose (HPC), carboxymethylhydroxyethylcellulose (CMHEC), carboxymethylhydroxypropylcellulose (CMHPC), chitosan, carboxymethylchitosan, xanthan gum, guar gum, locust bean gum, galactomannan, konjac gum, glucomannan, tara gum, gellan gum, acacia gum (gum arabic), curdlan, fucoidan, pullulan, hyaluronic acid, and any combination thereof.

102. 102. The method of claim 100 or 101, wherein the hydrocolloid composition comprises a crosslinkable hydrocolloid, and the method comprises mixing the hydrocolloid composition and the solid core with a hydrocolloid crosslinker.

103. 103. The method of claim 102, wherein the hydrocolloid composition comprises alginic acid and the cross-linking agent is calcium.

104. 104. The method of claim 103, wherein the barrier composition comprises a wax.

105. 100. The method of claim 99, wherein the barrier composition comprises a biodegradable organic material.

106. 106. The method of any one of claims 99 to 105, comprising creating two or more layers of a barrier coating on the solid core.

107. 107. A method according to any one of claims 69 to 106, comprising applying a binder within and / or on the at least one layer of barrier coating, if present, or on the solid core prior to or simultaneously with bonding of the scaffold.

108. 108. The method of claim 107, comprising mixing the binder with the nutritional composition prior to applying the binder.

109. 109. The method of claim 107 or 108, wherein the application of the binder is by spraying and / or dipping.

110. 110. The method of any one of claims 107 to 109, wherein the binder is any one or a combination of a bio-based binder and a biodegradable binder.

111. 111. The method of any one of claims 107 to 110, wherein the binder is a synthetic binder.

112. 112. A method according to any one of claims 107 to 111, comprising applying the binder to provide a bond between any or combination of: (i) the fibres and the outer surface of the scaffold; (ii) fibres within the fibres of the scaffold; or (iii) fibres of the scaffold and water-insoluble porous particulate material, if present in the scaffold.

113. 113. The method of any one of claims 69 to 112, comprising actively introducing the gas into the solid core.

114. 114. The method of claim 113, wherein the active introduction comprises one of bubbling, gas permeation, or gas-releasing chemical reaction of the gas.

115. The gas is air and CO ２ The method of any one of claims 69 to 114, selected from the group consisting of:

116. 116. The method of any one of claims 69 to 115 whenever dependent on claim 81, comprising attaching the water-insoluble porous material to the fibres.

117. 117. The method of claim 116, wherein said adhering comprises combining said fibers with a binder and mixing said fibers with said water-insoluble porous material.

118. 118. A method according to any one of claims 69 to 117, comprising controlling the size of the particles in the population.

119. 119. The method of claim 118, wherein controlling the size of the particles is by selecting particles of a particular size or within a size range.

120. 120. The method of claim 119, comprising selecting particles having a size of less than 1 cm.

121. 1. A method for carbon dioxide sequestration comprising distributing a population of particles over a selected area of ​​a body of water open to a source of carbon dioxide to be sequestered, the source containing at least one photosynthetic aquatic organism, the population of particles comprising: at least one solid core; Optionally, at least one barrier coating layer on said at least one solid core; and a scaffolding attached to at least the outer surface of the at least one solid core or the barrier coating when the barrier coating is present in the construct, the scaffolding being suitable for supporting the growth of the photosynthetic aquatic organism; a gas trapped within the at least one solid core, the gas having a first specific gravity less than the specific gravity of water and present in an amount sufficient to provide suspension of the particles when the particles are contacted with the water; and a construct comprising: the construct has a second specific gravity greater than the specific gravity of water; the at least one solid core, or the barrier coating if present in the construct, has a permeability configured to allow controlled exchange between trapped gas and water outside the construct; Methods for carbon dioxide sequestration.

122. 122. The method of claim 121, comprising receiving data regarding the selected region of the body of water prior to the distribution, and determining a success rate of isolation based on the data.

123. 123. A method according to claim 121 or 122, comprising actuating the distribution based on the received data.

124. 124. A method according to any one of claims 121 to 123, wherein the population of particles is according to any one of claims 1 to 68.

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