Exhaust gas decomposition system, exhaust gas decomposition method, and organic compound production method

Abstract

Provided are: an exhaust gas decomposition system for removing an exhaust gas that is harmful to the environment or organisms, particularly a low-concentration component that is costly to be removed with a solid catalyst; a method for decomposing an exhaust gas; and a method for producing an oil or fat.　CO2 is decomposed by culturing a microorganism capable of synthesizing an organic compound, e.g., an oil or fat, utilizing, as a raw material, CO2 discharged from a manufacturing plant as the result of combustion of fuels, and a sterilization gas, e.g., ethylene oxide, discharged from a medical device manufacturing plant or the like is decomposed by an additional exhaust gas decomposition method, thereby reducing the emissions of exhaust gases to substantially zero. In addition, a promising oil or fat is separated and recovered and is then stored or utilized to reduce the amount of fossil fuel used. In this manner, it becomes possible to reduce the emissions of CO2 and the amount of CO2 that has been released to the atmosphere already.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an exhaust gas decomposition system for exhaust gas discharged from a medical device manufacturing factory or the like, an exhaust gas decomposition method, and a method for producing an organic compound using exhaust gas as a raw material. [Background technology]

[0002] Various exhaust gases emitted from factories, such as carbon dioxide (CO2) produced when heavy oil is burned in a boiler to generate heat, are considered to be a cause of global warming. In addition, ethylene oxide (EO) emitted after sterilizing medical devices produced in medical device manufacturing plants is carcinogenic, so EO is removed by direct combustion, catalytic contact, adsorption, decomposition with sulfuric acid, etc., or diluted to below emission standards and released into the atmosphere. Nitrogen oxides and sulfur oxides are also produced when fossil fuels are burned at high temperatures, and are considered to be a cause of air pollution. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Special table 2013-509876 [Patent Document 2] Patent Publication No. 2019-76679 [Patent Document 3] Patent Publication No. 2004-154680 [Non-Patent Document 1] <URL:https: / / www.epa.gov / sites / production / files / 2016-09 / documents / ethylene-oxide.pdf> Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Patent Document 1 discloses a method for reducing CO2 emissions using microorganisms, but it cannot reduce emissions of high concentrations of EO or nitrogen oxides that kill microorganisms, nor can it reduce CO2 that has already been emitted into the atmosphere.

[0005] The EO removal device in Patent Document 2 uses sulfuric acid to decompose EO to produce ethylene glycol (EG), but removing a large amount of EO requires replacement of the sulfuric acid and treatment of the EG, and the decomposition rate is also low.

[0006] In the catalytic EO removal device of Patent Document 3, when exhaust gas containing extremely low concentrations of EO is decomposed, if the EO molecules that are aerated through the solid catalyst pass through without coming into contact with the solid catalyst, the EO is not decomposed. Therefore, if the EO is aerated multiple times or the catalyst is made porous in order to further reduce the amount of EO emissions, the catalyst is likely to deteriorate, and replacement of the catalyst is costly.

[0007] In any case, the exhaust gas after EO removal may still contain EO, and as shown in Non-Patent Document 1, it is said that long-term exposure to extremely low concentrations of EO may pose a risk of cancer to residents living near medical device manufacturing plants. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The above object is achieved by the present invention described below. (1) An exhaust gas decomposition system according to the present invention includes a microorganism preparation device that prepares microorganisms for culturing the microorganisms, a raw material preparation device that prepares raw materials including at least water, potassium, phosphorus, nitrogen, inorganic salts, and gases to be used for culturing the microorganisms, a microorganism culture device that supplies raw materials to the microorganisms to culture the microorganisms, an exhaust gas decomposition device that decomposes exhaust gas with the microorganisms or microbial fragments obtained by crushing the microorganisms, a separation device that separates the exhaust gas, the microorganisms, the microbial fragments, the organic compounds synthesized by the microorganisms, and at least a portion of the raw materials, and The present invention is characterized in that the apparatus has a recovery device that recovers at least a portion of the exhaust gas, the microorganisms, the microbial fragments, the organic compounds, and the raw materials separated by the separation device, the microbial culture apparatus has a microbial culture container, the microbial culture container has a first sheet and a second sheet, has a column portion between the first sheet and the second sheet, a column portion set in which the column portions are arranged at equal intervals in a row and an adjacent column portion set are arranged with the centers of the column portions shifted alternately, and has a microbial culture liquid supply port that communicates with the first sheet and the second sheet. (2) The microbial culture vessel may be an exhaust gas decomposition system as described in (1) above, in which a third sheet having a plane portion, a bottom portion, and a plurality of protrusions protruding from the plane portion is disposed between the first sheet and the second sheet, the column portion being formed by the tops of the protrusions being in close contact with the first sheet and the bottom portion of the third sheet being in close contact with the second sheet, the column portion being hollow and having a communicating hole surrounded by the first sheet, the second sheet, and the microbial culture liquid supply port communicating with the communicating hole, and the first sheet and the second sheet are in close contact with an end of the microbial culture vessel at a contact portion where they are in direct contact with each other or in contact with each other via the third sheet. (3) The exhaust gas decomposition system may be as described in (1) above, in which the microbial culture device and the exhaust gas decomposition device each have an exhaust gas supply port. (4) The exhaust gas decomposition method according to the present invention includes a microorganism preparation step of preparing microorganisms for culturing the microorganisms, a raw material preparation step of preparing raw materials containing at least water, potassium, phosphorus, nitrogen, inorganic salts and gases to be used for culturing the microorganisms, a culture step of supplying raw materials to the microorganisms in a microbial culture vessel having a first sheet and a second sheet, column parts between the first sheet and the second sheet, the column parts being arranged such that the centers of the respective column parts are shifted alternately between a column part set in which the column parts are arranged at equal intervals in a row and an adjacent column part set, and the microbial culture vessel having a microbial culture medium supply port communicating between the first sheet and the second sheet, an organic compound synthesis step of synthesizing an organic compound, a separation step and a recovery step, The culturing step Supplying exhaust gas to do The decomposition method is characterized by having an exhaust gas decomposition step. (5) The exhaust gas decomposition method of the present invention is a decomposition method characterized by comprising: a microorganism preparation step of preparing microorganisms for culturing the microorganisms; a raw material preparation step of preparing raw materials containing at least water, potassium, phosphorus, nitrogen, inorganic salts and gases to be used for culturing the microorganisms; a culture step of supplying raw materials to the microorganisms in a microbial culture vessel having a first sheet and a second sheet, with column parts between the first sheet and the second sheet, the column parts being arranged in a row at equal intervals and adjacent column parts being arranged with the centers of the respective column parts shifted alternately, and having a microbial culture medium supply port communicating between the first sheet and the second sheet, an organic compound synthesis step of synthesizing an organic compound, a separation step and a recovery step, and further comprising an exhaust gas decomposition step of supplying exhaust gas to microbial fragments obtained by crushing the cultured microorganisms in the culture step, or supplying exhaust gas to the synthesized organic compound in the organic compound synthesis step. ( 6 ) The exhaust gas is a sterilization gas exhausted from a gas sterilization step of a medical device, and the sterilization gas is supplied to an exhaust gas decomposition step (4). Or (5) The decomposition method may be as described above. ( 7 ) The above (4) wherein the exhaust gas contains either carbon dioxide or ethylene oxide or a mixture of carbon dioxide and ethylene oxide. Any one of (6) The decomposition method may be as described above. ( 8 The above-mentioned ( ethylene oxide is separated and recovered from the microbial culture liquid after the exhaust gas decomposition step. 7 ) may be used. ( 9 ) The above-mentioned ( 8 ) may be used. ( 10) The method for producing an organic compound using exhaust gas as a raw material according to the present invention includes a microorganism preparation step of preparing a microorganism capable of producing the organic compound, a raw material preparation step of preparing a raw material containing at least water, potassium, phosphorus, nitrogen, inorganic salts and gas to be used for producing the organic compound or for growing the microorganism, a culture step of culturing the microorganism in a microorganism culture vessel having a first sheet and a second sheet, a column portion between the first sheet and the second sheet, a column portion group in which the column portions are arranged at equal intervals in a row and an adjacent column portion group are arranged with the centers of the column portions shifted alternately, and the vessel has a microorganism culture medium supply port communicating between the first sheet and the second sheet, an organic compound synthesis step of synthesizing the organic compound, a separation step of separating the microorganism from the organic compound, and a recovery step of recovering the organic compound, The culturing step and further comprising an exhaust gas supplying step of supplying an exhaust gas to the reaction system. (11) The method for producing an organic compound using exhaust gas as a raw material according to the present invention includes a microorganism preparation step of preparing a microorganism capable of producing the organic compound, a raw material preparation step of preparing a raw material containing at least water, potassium, phosphorus, nitrogen, inorganic salts and gas to be used for producing the organic compound or for growing the microorganism, a culture step of culturing the microorganism in a microbial culture vessel having a first sheet and a second sheet, column parts between the first sheet and the second sheet, a column part group in which the column parts are arranged at equal intervals in a row and an adjacent column part group are arranged with the centers of the column parts shifted alternately, and the microbial culture vessel has a microbial culture medium supply port communicating between the first sheet and the second sheet, an organic compound synthesis step of synthesizing the organic compound, a separation step of separating the microorganism from the organic compound, and a recovery step of recovering the organic compound, and the method includes an exhaust gas supply step of supplying exhaust gas to microbial fragments obtained by crushing the cultured microorganism in the culture step, or supplying exhaust gas to the synthesized organic compound in the organic compound synthesis step. (1 2 ) The above-mentioned () having an exhaust gas decomposition step between the culturing step and the separation step. 10 ) Or (11) The production method may be as described above. (1 3 ) The above-mentioned () has an exhaust gas decomposition step between the separation step and the recovery step. 10 ) Or (11) The production method may be as described above. (1 4 The organic compound is an oil or fat. 10 ) One of (13) The production method may be as described above. (1 5 The microorganism synthesizes fats and oils. 10 ) One of (14) The production method may be as described above. (1 6The above-mentioned ( ) microorganism is at least one of Botryococcus, Nannochlorocyps, Aurantiochytrium, Rockfish, Chlorella vulgaris, Chlorella pyrenoidosa, Dunaliella, Spirulina, Euglena, and Haematococcus. 10 ) One of (15) The production method may be as described above. Effect of the Invention

[0009] The exhaust gas decomposition system and decomposition method of the present invention involve culturing autotrophic microorganisms that use carbon dioxide, which is exhaust gas, as a raw material, and the proliferated microorganisms decompose the CO2 exhaust gas into sugars, amino acids, or a raw material for cellular tissue.

[0010] Alternatively, EO is decomposed by an addition reaction by reacting it with microorganisms or microbial fragments obtained by crushing microorganisms, which have functional groups highly reactive with EO, such as amino groups, carboxyl groups, or hydroxyl groups contained in the microorganisms.

[0011] This will make it possible to reduce CO2 and EO emissions in exhaust gases from factories, hospitals, etc., and essentially reduce them to zero.

[0012] Furthermore, by using microorganisms that synthesize hydrocarbons or oils using exhaust gas as a raw material, it is possible to produce organic compounds, especially oils, synthesized by the microorganisms, thereby reducing the use of fossil fuels such as petroleum and reducing CO2 emissions or CO2 already released into the atmosphere. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a flow diagram of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a microbial culture vessel in the exhaust gas decomposition system according to the present invention. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a plan view of a microbial culture vessel in the exhaust gas decomposition system according to the present invention. [Figure 4]FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view of a modified example of the microbial culture vessel in the exhaust gas decomposition system according to the present invention. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 shows a plan view and a cross-sectional view of a connection portion of a modified example of the microorganism culture vessel. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a plan view of a modified example of the microbial culture vessel of the exhaust gas decomposition system according to the present invention. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a plan view of a modified example of the microbial culture vessel equipped with a receptacle for leaked culture medium in the exhaust gas decomposition system according to the present invention. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC' of FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line DD' of FIG. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line EE' of FIG. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line FF' of FIG. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view taken along line GG' of FIG. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a flow diagram of the exhaust gas decomposition system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is a flow diagram of an exhaust gas decomposition system according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 15] FIG. 15 is a flow diagram of an exhaust gas decomposition system according to a third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 16] FIG. 16 is a plan view of a centrifugal separator in an exhaust gas decomposition system according to the present invention. [Figure 17] FIG. 17 is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view of a plurality of stacked microbial culture vessels in an exhaust gas decomposition system according to the present invention. [Figure 18] FIG. 18 is a schematic diagram of an exhaust gas decomposition system according to the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0014] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the dimensional ratios of the drawings may be exaggerated for the sake of explanation and may differ from the actual ratios.

[0015] The present invention will be outlined with reference to the flow chart of FIG.

[0016] The present invention aims to decompose exhaust gas by reacting it with a raw material, or by reacting exhaust gas with cultured and grown microorganisms, thereby reducing the amount of exhaust gas emitted, and to synthesize and produce oils and fats that can be stored or used as fuel, etc., and organic compounds that serve as nutrients for the microorganisms.

[0017] The exhaust gas decomposition system includes a microorganism preparation device that prepares the obtained microorganisms or trace amounts of microorganisms to a certain extent and removes undesired microorganisms in advance, a raw material preparation device that prepares raw materials containing at least water, potassium, phosphorus, nitrogen, inorganic salts and gas necessary for culturing the microorganisms, a microbial cultivation device that cultivates microorganisms using exhaust gas as raw material, a device that synthesizes organic compounds, a separation device that separates organic compounds from microorganisms or raw materials containing at least water, potassium, phosphorus, nitrogen, inorganic salts and gas, and a recovery device that recovers organic compounds.The exhaust gas decomposition system is equipped with an exhaust gas decomposition device that decomposes the exhaust gas by adding and reacting the exhaust gas with the amino groups, carboxyl groups, hydroxyl groups, thiol groups, etc. possessed by the microorganisms after stopping their activity or crushing them.

[0018] Specifically, the method for decomposing exhaust gas includes a microorganism preparation step of preparing microorganisms to be cultured, a raw material preparation step of preparing raw materials containing at least water, potassium, phosphorus, nitrogen, inorganic salts and gases necessary for cultivation, a microorganism cultivation step of culturing the microorganisms and an organic compound synthesis step of synthesizing organic compounds, a separation step of separating the microorganisms and the raw materials containing at least water, potassium, phosphorus, nitrogen, inorganic salts and gases, and a recovery step of recovering the organic compounds, and includes a step of supplying exhaust gas in at least one of the steps or between the steps.

[0019] The step of supplying exhaust gas to the system may be performed during any one or more of the steps, or between any or more of the steps, of the microorganism preparation step, the raw material preparation step, the cultivation step, the organic compound synthesis step, the separation step and the recovery step.

[0020] Alternatively, the process may include an organic compound synthesis step, an exhaust gas supply step, and then an exhaust gas decomposition step. In the case where the culture concentration of the microorganisms is low and the discharged EO is directly decomposed, the EO can be decomposed by a step of stopping the microbial activity.

[0021] The process may include an organic compound synthesis step, a separation step for separating organic compounds, and an exhaust gas supply step followed by an exhaust gas decomposition step. Alternatively, the exhaust gas may be supplied to a microorganism preparation step, a raw material preparation step, and a culture step.

[0022] Specifically, microorganisms are disrupted by physical methods such as ball mills, sand mills, or bead mills, as well as ultrasonic waves, heat, bubbling, microbubbles, and nanobubbles, and chemical methods such as UV irradiation and chemicals, and then the water-soluble organic compounds and microbial fragments are separated by centrifugation. The water-soluble organic compounds are used as they are, or after sterilization or decomposition by UV, etc., as nutrients for other heterotrophic microorganisms, supplemental nutrients for autotrophic microorganisms, or for culturing the same type of microorganism. EOs may also be decomposed by reacting with the microorganisms themselves.

[0023] Next, the microbial fragments are dispersed in water and brought into contact with EO, which is exhaust gas, and the EO is decomposed by an addition reaction with the amino, carboxyl, hydroxyl or thiol groups of the microbial fragments.

[0024] At the same time, ethylene glycol (EG), which is synthesized when EO is decomposed by reaction with water, is not mixed into the organic compounds that serve as nutrients for microorganisms, which is preferable for microorganisms that cannot metabolize ethylene glycol.

[0025] In addition, since a microbial culture solution with a high concentration of microorganisms has a large amount of EO that can be decomposed, in order to reduce the risk of EO leaking out of the exhaust gas decomposition system, EO may be decomposed by microbial fragments without providing a step of contacting EO with oils and fats, which are organic compounds.

[0026] Furthermore, the microbial debris contains cellulose and protein, which can be decomposed by enzymes such as cellulase and peptase into glucose, amino acids, or peptones that can be used by microorganisms to provide nutrition for the microorganisms. Alternatively, the nutrition for the microorganisms can be separated from the residual organic compounds that cannot be used as nutrition, and the residual organic compounds can be reacted with EO.

[0027] Trace amounts of EO, for example, extremely low concentrations that do not meet the emission standards for air, pass through the EO decomposition unit without coming into contact with the solid surface of the solid catalyst. As a result, the amount of EO emitted into the air never reaches zero, and the catalyst must be replaced periodically.

[0028] Since the amount of EO decomposed by residual organic compounds that cannot be used for nutrition is less than the amount of EO decomposed by the cessation of microbial activity, the EO discharged after sterilization of medical devices may be decomposed by existing EO decomposition equipment and then used to decompose the trace amounts of EO discharged.

[0029] Existing EO decomposition devices decompose EO by contacting it with a solid catalyst heated to a relatively low temperature of around 100°C to 300°C, or by directly burning EO using a straight combustion method. When small amounts of EO that do not meet the emission standards for atmospheric emissions are burned at high temperatures of over 1000°C, there is a risk that fuel consumption will increase, CO2 emissions or nitrogen oxides will be generated, and exhaust gases will increase.

[0030] Furthermore, the EO concentration is below the lower limit of EO detection, for example, 0.002 μg / m 3In the following cases, the amount of EO removed from exhaust gas may not be quantified. In contrast, the method of reacting EO with microorganisms according to the present invention is superior to conventional EO decomposition systems in that it does not require catalyst replacement or fuel by direct combustion, and even EO below the detection limit is not emitted until it becomes EG or other organic compounds. Therefore, it is more preferable to use the method of reacting EO with microorganisms according to the present invention as a final step decomposition method, either alone or in combination with a conventional EO decomposition method, since EO emissions are essentially zero.

[0031] In addition, if the culture concentration of the microorganisms is high, it is possible to decompose EO by directly reacting it with the microorganisms, thereby reducing EO emissions to essentially zero without installing the above-mentioned catalytic EO decomposition equipment.

[0032] Furthermore, exhaust gases emitted by other sterilization methods, such as very small amounts of monomer gas produced from plastics during gamma ray sterilization or electron beam sterilization, and odorous components produced during high-pressure steam sterilization, may also be decomposed by reacting them with microorganisms in a similar manner.

[0033] Alternatively, the exhaust gas may be reactive, such as formaldehyde, or may be metabolized by microorganisms, such as EG, or may be a volatile organic compound, or a vapor organic compound (VOC).

[0034] Here, "substantially zero" means below the detection limit of a gas chromatography analyzer or gas detector, and preferably zero.

[0035] When exhaust gas concentrations are below the detection limit, for example, EO dissolves freely in water, so the gas from which the exhaust gases that are ultimately released into the atmosphere are removed is aerated into an aquarium, and the amount of EO or EG remaining in the aquarium is measured over a long period of time, for example every 30 days or yearly.

[0036] The amount of EO discharged may be the amount of EO in the tank or the presence or absence of EO. If the CO2 and EO contained in the air in the system after exhaust gas removal meet the exhaust environmental standards or are substantially zero, the air in the system may be discharged to the atmosphere.

[0037] CO2, which is produced as exhaust gas from the combustion of fuels and waste, is considered to be a cause of global warming, so autotrophic microorganisms use photosynthesis to break down CO2 using water as a raw material and synthesize organic compounds such as glucose, fatty acids, and amino acids.

[0038] In particular, when microorganisms that synthesize oils and fats are used, the oils and fats can be stored or used as fuel, reducing the amount of fossil fuels such as gas, oil, and coal used, thereby reducing CO2 emissions or CO2 that has already been released.

[0039] The exhaust gas decomposition system or method according to the present invention comprises the following steps.

[0040] The microorganism preparation step may use microorganisms newly grown by cell division in the microorganism deposit, collection or culture step, or microorganisms separated immediately after division after culture in a microorganism culture device. Alternatively, the microorganisms obtained in the microorganism preparation step may be grown to a certain extent under conditions suitable for microbial culture according to a conventional method.

[0041] The microorganism preparation device may be a known culture device, a separation device that separates some of the microorganisms that have been cultured and grown in the previous batch, piping and pumps that supply the microorganisms to the next batch, or a device that supplies sodium hypochlorite at a concentration that kills only the non-target microorganisms without killing the target microorganisms in order to prevent contamination by non-target microorganisms.

[0042] The step of preparing the raw materials refers to the step of preparing at least water, potassium (K), phosphorus (P), nitrogen (N), inorganic salts, and necessary gases, as well as the step of preparing trace elements necessary for cultivation, and organic compounds such as sugars, polysaccharides, amino acids, peptones, and proteins.

[0043] Or, if gas is used as the raw material, atmospheric CO 2、 O2, water vapor, nitrogen oxides, and sulfur oxides may be used. CO, which is an exhaust gas from the raw material preparation step or raw material preparation equipment, 2、 EO, nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides or VOCs may be supplied directly or as an aqueous solution.

[0044] Furthermore, the exhaust gas decomposition system or method may include a step of supplying CO2 or O2, or a step of sterilization using a UV germicidal lamp to remove unwanted microorganisms.

[0045] In the sterilization step, it is preferable to sterilize water or other raw materials that can be sterilized in advance to prevent the growth of undesired microorganisms, and a known sterilization method may be used as the sterilization method.

[0046] As for the sterilization method, in addition to UV irradiation sterilization, ozone sterilization, chlorine sterilization, etc. may be used as long as they do not inhibit the growth of microorganisms. However, in order to eliminate the degassing step, UV sterilization is preferred.

[0047] UV sterilization may be performed by irradiating a tank of water or seawater, which is the raw material before microbial cultivation, with a UV germicidal lamp or LED-UV that is mainly composed of a so-called UV-C wavelength of 100 to 280 nm, preferably a wavelength of 254 nm, from the outside or by irradiating the tank with the raw material. Alternatively, a transparent or translucent microbial culture vessel and its piping may be sterilized by irradiating them with UV light.

[0048] In the case of UV sterilization, electricity is generated by solar panels in the exhaust gas decomposition system described below or by power generation using synthetic oils and fats as fuel, which is particularly preferable because it reduces the cost of purchasing ozone and chlorine and CO2 emissions during transportation.

[0049] The raw material preparation equipment may include a rainwater bucket for catching rainwater when rainwater is used, containers and piping for filtering and storing rainwater that has accumulated on the top surface of the microbial culture vessel, a pump for drawing seawater when seawater is used, a UV germicidal lamp, an ozone generator, a sodium hypochlorite supplying device and piping, an air supplying device for supplying CO2 recovered from the atmosphere or a boiler and associated piping and filters, a dissolving tank and agitator for dissolving the raw materials and preparing the aqueous solution, a concentration sensor, and a heater, cooling device, or heat exchanger for heating or cooling to a temperature suitable for culture.

[0050] The exhaust gas decomposition system or method includes a culture step in which microorganisms are added to an aqueous solution in which the raw material has been adjusted to a composition, concentration, temperature, O2 concentration, and CO2 concentration suitable for culture, and the microorganisms are cultured under conditions suitable for culture.

[0051] The microbial culture device may be a known microbial culture tank or an open pond method, but it is preferable to use a device that prevents the inclusion of undesired microorganisms and that easily refreshes the gas-liquid interface with CO2 supplied as exhaust gas, or a device with a thin microbial culture container that allows photosynthesis even in a highly concentrated microbial culture solution, or a device that allows light to pass through even when stacked.

[0052] Furthermore, the microbial culture vessel may be provided with a microorganism, a raw culture liquid supply port, and an exhaust gas supply port, and may be equipped with piping or a pump for supplying the culture liquid, synthesized organic compounds, remaining raw materials, and exhaust gas to a separation step after microbial culture, and, if the culture time is long, piping or a pump for supplying the culture liquid discharged from the microbial culture vessel back to the microbial culture vessel and circulating it.

[0053] In the culturing step in which the microorganisms are grown, a synthesis step is carried out in which the microorganisms grown simultaneously with or by the culturing synthesize an organic compound. When a predetermined concentration or a predetermined amount of the organic compound is synthesized, the culturing and / or organic compound synthesis step is completed.

[0054] The organic compounds synthesized by microorganisms include glucose synthesized by autotrophic microorganisms through photosynthesis, as well as cellulose, hemicellulose, polyphenols, amino acids, peptones, proteins, phospholipids, DNA, oils and fats, and other metabolites, and may also include cell membranes, cell walls, or cytoplasm.

[0055] As fats and oils, fatty acids such as docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), fatty acid esters, and phosphate esters, as well as hydrocarbons such as botryococcene (C 34 H 58 ) and squalane (C 30 H 50 ), or acids such as aldehydes, ketones, acetic acid, citric acid, and oxalic acid, amines, and thiols produced by metabolism.

[0056] Furthermore, the organic compound synthesis step may include a microbial activity stopping step in which the microbial activity is stopped by reacting the microbial activity with EO, which is exhaust gas, and the organic compounds synthesized may include EO adducts formed by reaction of EO with DNA or the like, or microbial fragments formed by crushing the microbial activity, or EO-added microbial fragments.

[0057] The organic compound synthesis apparatus may be equipped with an exhaust gas decomposition apparatus, and in cases where the organic compounds cannot be directly utilized as nutrients by the microorganisms, it may be equipped with an enzyme decomposition vessel for enzymatically decomposing cellulose and proteins, and an enzyme separation apparatus for inactivating the enzymes or separating the enzymes from the organic compounds.

[0058] The separation steps include separation of synthesized organic compounds from microorganisms, separation of organic compounds from water, separation of unreacted exhaust gases such as EO, CO2, other VOCs, or O2 from water, separation of exhaust gases based on the difference in their boiling points or solubility in water, crushing microorganisms to separate water-soluble organic compounds from microbial fragments that do not dissolve in water, separation and recovery using a bead mill used for crushing, decomposition of microbial fragments with enzymes and separation of organic compounds and microbial residues after enzymatic decomposition, distillation of water and EG from the culture liquid, combustion of EO adducts produced by the reaction of the distillation residue with EO after distillation to separate organic compounds as CO2, separation of EG from salts that do not dissolve in EG after distilling off water, heating of salts in a molten salt furnace to burn and remove organic compounds that are difficult to use, separation of potassium, phosphorus, nitrogen, etc. from NaCl contained in seawater based on the difference in solubility of salts in water, and combinations of each separation method are also possible.

[0059] The separation device is formed by a batch centrifuge, a continuous centrifuge, a gas-liquid separator, a distillation column, a settling tank, a filter, or a combination of these, along with a control device, associated piping, pumps, vacuum pumps, etc., and a continuous centrifugal microbial separator is preferred for separating microorganisms and organic compounds without stopping the activity of the microorganisms.

[0060] The separated organic compounds are recovered in a recovery step. The recovery device is formed by a storage tank for storing the separated organic compounds, a tank for storing water-soluble organic compounds separated by crushing microorganisms, or a supply device for directly supplying organic compounds to the microbial culture vessel as nutrients for heterotrophic microorganisms or supplementary nutrients for autotrophic microorganisms, and may also include a condenser for recovering water and exhaust gas, a heat exchanger for recovering and utilizing exhaust heat, etc.

[0061] The recovered organic compounds can be used as a nutrient source for the microorganisms, and oils, microbial debris, and distillation residues can be used as fuel for heat and electricity sources within the system. CO2 and water produced by combustion can be recovered and used to synthesize organic compounds within the system.

[0062] In addition, the heat of combustion generated by the combustion of organic compounds can be recovered by a heat exchanger together with the exhaust heat generated by air conditioning and cooling water for machines in medical equipment manufacturing plants and hospitals, and can be used as hot water for cleaning, air conditioning, and as a heat source at night or in winter for culturing microorganisms.

[0063] These measures can reduce the use of fossil fuels, which are the source of CO2 in exhaust gases, and can produce oils and hydrocarbons that can be sold or stored as products.

[0064] Specific exhaust gases include gas produced by a boiler as a heat source, CO2 produced by burning crude oil or coal, and sterilization gases used to sterilize medical equipment. The exhaust gas exhausted in the gas sterilization step of the medical equipment and the exhaust step after the gas sterilization step is supplied to a microbial cultivation step or an exhaust gas decomposition step with microbial debris.

[0065] The sterilization gas is not particularly limited as long as it can be used as a gas for sterilization or disinfection, but is preferably ethylene oxide (EO), propylene oxide, ozone (O3), formaldehyde (HCHO), nitrogen oxides such as nitrogen dioxide, chlorine, hydrogen peroxide, peracetic acid, CO2 used in supercritical fluid CO2 sterilization, etc., or an aqueous solution in which the sterilization gas is dissolved in water, or an aqueous solution of a chlorine source such as sodium hypochlorite, or hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) water, and more preferably EO, a mixture of EO and CO2, or nitrogen oxides containing NO2, or a mixture of one or more of these gases.

[0066] EO is highly reactive and undergoes addition reactions (alkylation) with the amino, hydroxyl, carboxyl, and thiol groups of microorganisms, thereby inhibiting cell division or killing the cells, thereby halting microbial activity.

[0067] To sterilize medical devices such as catheters, 100% EO gas or a mixture of EO gas and CO2 to prevent combustion is often used.

[0068] EO has a boiling point of 11°C and is highly soluble in water; it reacts with water to form ethylene glycol (EG); however, since its half-life in freshwater is around 12 to 14 days, simply dissolving it in water will take a long time to decompose; moreover, if exposed to the atmosphere, EO will volatilize and be released into the atmosphere as a gas; and if its half-life in the atmosphere is longer than a few weeks, it may remain in the atmosphere.

[0069] Furthermore, when EG and water produced by the reaction are separated by distillation through heating, and electricity is generated by burning fossil fuels such as heavy oil, additional CO2 is produced.

[0070] EO in exhaust gases used to sterilize medical devices in medical device manufacturing plants can be supplied after the synthesis step in which microorganisms synthesize organic compounds to stop microbial activity, or can be supplied to an additional reaction between microbial fragments and organic compounds separated by cell disruption.

[0071] The unreacted EO is separated and recovered by distillation or the like, and is then supplied to another exhaust gas decomposition step or another device for stopping microbial activity, where it is circulated within the system until it becomes EG or organic compounds. Therefore, it is not discharged outside the exhaust gas decomposition system of the present invention, or the amount of discharged EO is substantially zero.

[0072] CO2 is used for sterilization in the combustion of fossil fuels, mixed with EO to prevent explosions, or becomes exhaust gas after sterilization or disinfection with supercritical fluid CO2.

[0073] Autotrophic microorganisms that synthesize organic compounds from CO2 through photosynthesis or grow microorganisms are added to the raw materials for microbial cultivation during the raw material preparation step, or CO2 is supplied to the microbial cultivation vessel.

[0074] Nitrogen oxides, such as nitrogen dioxide (NO2), are produced when atmospheric nitrogen is oxidized during the sterilization of medical equipment, when mixed with EO to prevent combustion, or when natural gas, crude oil, or coal is burned in heat boilers or to generate electricity.

[0075] Nitrogen oxides may be supplied to the raw material preparation device in the raw material preparation step as a nitrogen source necessary for microbial growth, or may be supplied to the exhaust gas decomposition vessel in the exhaust gas decomposition step following the organic compound synthesis step in order to stop microbial activity, similar to EO.

[0076] Chlorine or sodium hypochlorite, which generates chlorine, may also be introduced into the water recovered after the organic compound synthesis step, from which the organic compounds and microorganisms or microbial fragments have been separated, and supplied at a concentration that kills undesirable microorganisms that hinder the growth of microorganisms, but does not kill the desired microorganisms.

[0077] Alternatively, sodium hypochlorite or chlorine may be synthesized using NaCl recovered from seawater as a raw material and used.

[0078] Ozone is used for sterilization and disinfection, and is produced by irradiating oxygen in the air with UV-C light, but it can also be used to stop the activity of microorganisms and decompose EO itself. Because it is quickly decomposed into O2, it can also be used as O2 after decomposition.

[0079] Specifically, the microorganisms are those that can be cultured in water, but the environment in which aquatic microorganisms can be cultured may be either freshwater or seawater, and they may be autotrophic microorganisms that can synthesize their own nutrient-providing organic compounds through photosynthesis when supplied with water and CO2, or heterotrophic microorganisms that are cultured by providing nutrient-providing organic compounds.

[0080] There are no particular limitations on the autotrophic microorganism, so long as it is capable of photosynthesis when supplied with water and CO2. For example, algae such as cyanobacteria, green algae, diatoms, red algae, and brown algae are preferred. Photoautotrophic microalgae (PAMA) such as Rock Shell and Botryococcus spp. that produce oils and fats that can be stored or used as fuel are preferred. Those that produce 5% or more, more preferably 20% or more, of the dry weight of the algae are preferred, and Botryococcus spp. are even more preferred. Botryococcus spp. is particularly preferred, as it synthesizes 60% or more of the dry weight of oils and fats and releases the oils and fats outside the microorganism.

[0081] As PAMA capable of synthesizing organic compounds and fats and oils that are nutrients for heterotrophic microorganisms, preferably Nannochlorocyps, which can be cultured in seawater, or Chlorella, which can be cultured in freshwater with a NaCl concentration of substantially zero or lower than seawater, may be used. In freshwater culture, Chlorella Vulgaris, Chlorella pyrenoidosa, Scenedesmus, Dunaliella, Spirulina, Euglena, Haematococcus, etc. may be used. One type may be cultured in a microbial culture vessel, or multiple types may be cultured in a mixture. These microorganisms can be cultured in a NaCl concentration between seawater and freshwater, which is lower than seawater, that is, in the so-called brackish water.

[0082] Nannochlorocyps and Chlorella grow quickly and decompose exhaust gas, CO2, for growth and the synthesis of organic compounds.

[0083] After the microorganisms have multiplied, EO can be decomposed by subjecting it to an addition reaction with amino, carboxyl, hydroxyl or thiol groups in the DNA or cell membranes of the Chlorella species, thereby stopping the microbial activity and reducing the consumption of organic compounds, thereby increasing the amount of organic compounds recovered. The inactive microorganisms can then be crushed using a ball mill or similar device, and the organic compounds contained in the cytoplasm that serve as nutrients for heterotrophic microorganisms, such as glucose, polysaccharides, amino acids, peptones and proteins, can be separated.

[0084] The heterotrophic microorganism is not particularly limited, but for example, a chemoheterotrophic microorganism (CHMO) that produces fats and oils when provided with nutrients such as sugars and amino acids is preferred, and yeasts, filamentous fungi, and Labyrinthules are preferred, with Aurantiochytrium, a Labyrinthule of eukaryotes, being more preferred, and Aurantiochytrium 18W-13a, which has a high growth rate and a hydrocarbon content of more than 20% as fats and oils, being particularly preferred.

[0085] In addition, in the cultivation step, PAMA may promote cultivation using sunlight or a light source, or may supply additional CO2, O2 or raw materials as necessary, or may provide organic compounds that serve as nutrient sources such as sugars, amino acids or peptones, or may provide artificial light in addition to sunlight, or may use a heat exchanger to control the water temperature during cultivation to a temperature suitable for growth in order to promote the growth of microorganisms.

[0086] In particular, when the microbial culture container is installed outdoors, the temperature can become too high during the day in summer, weakening the activity of the microorganisms, inhibiting their growth and reducing the amount of organic compound synthesis. Therefore, the microbial culture liquid in the culture container can be sent from the microbial culture container to a heat exchanger, where the excess heat is removed and separated and returned to the microbial culture container. Alternatively, the exhaust gas to be supplied can be heated or cooled by a heat exchanger and supplied to the microbial culture liquid to control the temperature of the microbial culture liquid.

[0087] The temperature suitable for cultivation varies depending on the type of microorganism, but is, for example, from 5°C to 50°C, preferably from 20°C to 35°C. More preferably, the temperature suitable for cultivation of Nannochlorocyps, Chlorella, and Aurantiochytrium is 25°C, and the temperature suitable for cultivation of Botryococcus is 30°C.

[0088] The culture temperature may be adjusted depending on the amount of exhaust gases such as EO that need to be decomposed, the amount of CO2 emitted by the combustion of the fuel used as the heat source required to maintain the temperature, and the amount of organic compounds synthesized. The temperature may be lowered in winter and at night, but since there is a risk of the microorganisms dying during the day in summer, it is preferable that the maximum temperature of the culture medium does not exceed 35°C, and it is more preferable to control the culture temperature within a range of ±2°C of the temperature suitable for culturing the microorganism.

[0089] Alternatively, the culture medium including the inside of the microbial culture vessel may be heated at night or in winter by utilizing the exhaust heat from within the factory or the heat accumulated during the day in buildings and houses around the factory.

[0090] The culture temperature may be measured by multiple temperature sensors installed in the microbial culture vessel, or it may be the temperature of the culture medium at the inlet and outlet of the culture vessel, or it may be the temperature measured by non-contactly measuring the surface temperature of the microbial culture vessel using an infrared temperature sensor, or it may be the temperature measured by a temperature sensor affixed to the surface of the microbial culture vessel.

[0091] The microbial culture step of culturing microorganisms may be carried out in a light-transmitting glass or transparent resin container, or outdoors using an open pond method, or may use a three-layer air bubble cushioning material 10 as shown in Figures 2 and 3.

[0092] The three-layer bubble cushioning material 10 may be molded as a single unit, or may be formed by bonding or fusing the convex portions of a sheet and a two-layer bubble cushioning material, and is used as a microbial culture vessel 20 having a first sheet 1, a second sheet 2, a pillar portion 4 between the first sheet 1 and the second sheet 2, and a microbial culture medium supply port 21 communicating between the first sheet 1 and the second sheet 2.

[0093] As shown in FIG. 2, the column 4 is formed by disposing a third sheet 3 having a plane portion 7, a bottom portion, and a plurality of convex portions 6 protruding from the plane portion 7 between a first sheet 1 and a second sheet 2, and the tops 8 of the convex portions 6 of the column 4 are in close contact with the first sheet 1, and the column 4 is hollow. The bottom portion is disposed on the back side of the plane portion 7 and is in close contact with the second sheet 2. The column 4 of the three-layer bubble cushioning material is arranged such that the column group 4A and the adjacent column 4B are arranged in a row at equal intervals, with the centers of the column 4 being shifted alternately. As a result, the culture solution does not move straight between the column 4 but collides with the column 4, so that the culture solution and the exhaust gas are mixed and come into contact efficiently even without a stirring blade or the like.

[0094] The microorganism culture vessel 20 has a communication hole 5 communicating with the microorganism culture liquid supply port 21, and has a fused part 13 at the end of the microorganism culture vessel 20 where the first sheet 1 and the second sheet 2 are in close contact and heat-sealed. The close contact part 12 only needs to be in contact, and only needs to be able to maintain adhesion, sealing material, or airtightness, and may be separable. The close contact part 13 may be formed by the first sheet 1 and the second sheet 2 being in direct contact with each other, or may be formed by the first sheet 1 and the second sheet 2 being in indirect contact with each other via the third sheet 3. When the first sheet 1 and the second sheet 2 are in indirect contact with each other, one side of the third sheet 3 is in close contact with the first sheet 1, and the other side of the third sheet 3 is in close contact with the second sheet 2, and the column part 4 is hardly formed.

[0095] The fused portion 13 is a portion that is strengthened by fusing the adhesive portion 12, and is a portion that is difficult or impossible to separate, and is less likely to leak water or gas. As a fusion method, heat fusion or ultrasonic fusion is preferable, but adhesion with an adhesive may also be used.

[0096] The microorganism culture container 20 shown in FIG. 3 has a three-layer air bubble cushioning material 10, a microorganism supply port 21, and a first sheet 1 of the microorganism culture container 20, and a pillar portion 4 between the first sheet 1 and the second sheet 2.

[0097] Specifically, the container has a first sheet 1 and a second sheet 2 at the end of a short side of a substantially rectangular microorganism culture vessel 20, and a contact portion 12 where the first sheet 1 and the second sheet 2 are in contact with the microorganism culture medium supply port 21 to prevent leakage of the culture medium, and a fused portion 13 of the first sheet 1 and the second sheet 2 at the end of a long side of the container, and a communication hole 5 communicating with the microorganism culture medium supply port 21 surrounded by the first sheet 1, the second sheet 2, and the column portion 4, and a fused portion 13 where the first sheet 1 and the second sheet 2 are fused, and the column portion 4 is formed of a third sheet 3 having a protrusion 6, and is hollow, and air bubbles remain. The first sheet 1 and the second sheet 2 are indirectly fused via the third sheet 3, but may be directly fused without the third sheet 3.

[0098] Furthermore, an exhaust gas supply port 23 for supplying carbon dioxide as an exhaust gas is disposed in close contact with the first sheet 1 and the second sheet 2 on the other short side of the microorganism culture container 20 .

[0099] The microbial culture medium supply port 21 and the exhaust gas supply port 23 may be disposed close to each other, or may be disposed in a plurality of locations, or may be disposed facing each other in the microbial culture container 20 as shown in Fig. 3. The airtightness of the contact portion 12 may be enhanced by bonding, heat fusion, or use of a sealant with the microbial culture medium supply port 21 or the exhaust gas supply port 23.

[0100] When the microbial culture solution supply port 21 and the exhaust gas supply port 23 are arranged opposite each other, if a difference in height is provided between the microbial culture solution supply port 21 and the exhaust gas supply port 23 and the microbial culture solution supply port 21 is positioned at a higher position, the microbial culture solution will naturally fall, while the exhaust gas supplied from the exhaust gas supply port 23 has a smaller specific gravity than water and will move toward the microbial culture solution supply port 21 due to buoyancy, facilitating contact and mixing of the microbial culture solution and the exhaust gas, and facilitating gas exchange between the microorganisms.

[0101] In addition, by providing air vent holes 11 in the column portion 4 formed by the third sheet 3 located at the fused portion 13 to remove any air remaining in the bubbles, and then fusing the first sheet 1 and the second sheet 2 together with the third sheet 3, the fused portion 13 will not rupture, and the flat portion 7 and the convex portion 6 of the third sheet 3 will be fused between the first sheet 1 and the second sheet 2, thereby preventing leakage of culture medium and exhaust gas.

[0102] In order to cultivate autotrophic microorganisms by photosynthesis, a transparent or semi-transparent resin may be used as the material of the sheet. The resin may be a polyolefin-based, polyamide-based, polyester-based, polycarbonate-based, polyurethane-based, fluorine-based, or silicone-based resin, or an elastomer or a polymer alloy thereof, but is preferably a polyolefin-based resin, and is preferably a polyethylene-based or polypropylene-based resin. The ethylene-based resin includes ethylene copolymer resin, polyethylene resin, etc., and the ethylene copolymer resin may be ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer resin (EVA) or ethylene-ethyl acrylate copolymer resin (EEA).

[0103] As the polyethylene resin, linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE), low density polyethylene (LDPE), high density polyethylene (HDPE), etc. can be used. Furthermore, the pillars 4 stir the culture solution and renew the gas-liquid interface around the microorganisms, facilitating gas exchange on the surface of the microbial cell membrane. Furthermore, when exhaust gas or air containing exhaust gas is fed into the microbial culture vessel 20, the air bubbles fed by the pillars 4 become smaller, making it easier to supply the exhaust gas, for example CO2, to the culture solution.

[0104] Due to the supply of exhaust gas or the generation of O2, the internal pressure of the microorganism culture vessel 20 becomes higher than atmospheric pressure, and the solubility of CO2 and O2 increases according to Henry's law.

[0105] As a result, the microbial culture vessel 20 according to the present invention can increase the microbial concentration in the culture solution compared to conventional culture tanks or open pond methods. The size and shape of the microbial culture vessel 20 are arbitrary, but in the case of a rectangular flat surface as shown in Figure 3, the width (short side) is 0.1 m to 3 m, preferably 0.3 m to 1.0 m.

[0106] If the width is less than 0.1 m, the proportion of the tightly sealed portions at the ends will increase, reducing the volume of the communication holes 5 through which the culture fluid flows. If the width exceeds 3 m, the center will sag due to the weight of the culture fluid, causing an uneven flow of the culture fluid.

[0107] The length of the microbial culture vessel 20 (the length of the long side of the rectangular microbial culture vessel 20 in FIG. 3) is arbitrary as long as it can be installed, but the length of the long side is preferably 0.3 m to 1000 m, and more preferably 10 m to 100 m. If the length is less than 0.3 m, the culture time is short, and if it exceeds 1000 m, the efficiency of repair or replacement work when a leak occurs decreases.

[0108] The thickness of the microorganism culture vessel 20 (the length from the surface on which the first sheet 1 is located to the surface on which the second sheet 2 is located) may be 1 mm or more, but is preferably 2 mm or more and 20 mm or less, and more preferably 3 mm or more and 10 mm or less.

[0109] Alternatively, if the microbial culture container 20 is installed outdoors, in the event of sudden physical damage from flying objects, insects, birds, hail, lightning strikes, etc., or leakage due to deterioration caused by light or oxidation, a receptacle for catching leaked microbial culture liquid, a protective plastic sheet, a container frame for supporting the microbial culture container, etc. may be provided to reduce the frequency of repairs and replacements.

[0110] The receiver may be a gutter, sheet, bag, etc., and may be made of a resin that is highly transparent and water-resistant so that it is possible to visually check for the presence or absence of leakage and to ensure that any leaked culture medium does not spread further, preferably a polyolefin resin such as polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polycarbonate resin, polyvinyl chloride, acrylic resin, or an elastomer, polymer alloy, or laminate of these.

[0111] Alternatively, the modified microorganism culture container 20' shown in Figures 4 to 12 may have a three-layer bubble cushioning material 10' in which some of the column portions 4 are cut horizontally, a plate-shaped liner 111 placed inside, four container frames 110 (upper container frame 110A, left container frame 110B, lower container frame 110C, and right container frame 110D) consisting of ribs 112 that act as columns supporting the hollow portion 113, and four connection portions 120 (upper left connection portion 120A, lower left connection portion 120B, lower right connection portion 120C, and upper right connection portion 120D) connecting adjacent container frames 110.

[0112] In addition, in Figures 4 to 7, the upper side of the microorganism culture vessel 20' is referred to as the upper side, the lower side as the lower side, the right side as the right side, and the left side as the left side on the paper, but the actual orientation of the microorganism culture vessel 20' is not limited to this.

[0113] As shown in the partial cross-sectional view of Figure 4, the microorganism culture container 20' has an upper container frame 110A, a left container frame 110B, a lower container frame 110C, and a right container frame 110D arranged on the outer edge of a three-layer bubble cushioning material 10' in which some or all of the circumference of some of the column sections 4 have been cut open.

[0114] The connecting portion 120 shown in FIG. 5 has a plurality of slits 121 arranged in a line in part of a flat plate, and a plurality of protrusions 122 formed therein are inserted into hollow portions 113 of the container frames 110 to fix adjacent container frames 110 to each other.

[0115] The four container frames 110 are connected by an upper left connecting part 120A, a lower left connecting part 120B, a lower right connecting part 120C, and an upper right connecting part 120D, forming the outer edge of a substantially rectangular microorganism culture container 20'. The connecting parts are formed with grooves 130 (grooves 130A, 130B, 130C, and 130D) through which the culture solution or exhaust gas flows. The culture solution or exhaust gas may be directly passed through the grooves 130, or a pipe may be disposed in the grooves 130. The material of the pipe is not particularly limited, but a polyethylene tube is preferable because it is rust-resistant, inexpensive, and easy to process.

[0116] Specifically, a linear groove 130A is provided in the upper left connecting part 120A in the vertical direction to place a culture solution supply polyethylene tube 114 and an exhaust gas supply polyethylene tube 115 on the inlet side of the culture solution and exhaust gas. The width of groove 130A is larger than the width of the two pipes, and the depth of groove 130A is preferably set so that there is a gap between the pipes and the upper surface of connecting part 120A when the pipes are placed, but the thickness of the pipes and the dimensions of the groove are not limited to these. The upper surface refers to the surface on the first sheet 1' side or the flat surface side. The lower surface refers to the surface on the second sheet side or the bottom surface side.

[0117] Part of the piping of upper left connecting portion 120A may be flattened to provide a gap between it and hollow portion 113 of container frame 110. This prevents a gap from being generated between liner portion 111 of container frame 110 and first sheet 1' of three-layer bubble cushioning material 10' when the sheet portion of three-layer bubble cushioning material 10' is fixed to container frame 110.

[0118] A curved groove 130B is provided in the lower left connecting portion 120B, and a partially curved supply polyethylene tube 114C and an exhaust gas supply polyethylene tube 115C are disposed therein.

[0119] A partially curved groove 130C is provided in the lower right connecting portion 120C, and a culture medium outlet or a polyethylene tube 117 for discharging the culture medium is disposed therein.

[0120] At the upper right connecting portion 120D, a groove 130D is provided on the upper side through which the culture solution that has passed through the reaction area 15 in the three-layer bubble cushioning material 10' and gases such as exhaust gas or oxygen produced by photosynthesis are exhausted, and on the lower side through which the culture solution flows downward, and an exhaust polyethylene tube 116 is arranged on the upper side.

[0121] The slits in the connecting portion 120 are provided in accordance with the presence or absence of the ribs 112 of the container frame 110. The connecting portion 120 may be provided with a recess 123 having a small depth instead of a slit so that the rib 112' with a part cut away, shown by the dashed line, can be fitted therein.

[0122] As shown in FIG. 6, three-layer bubble cushioning material 10' is fixed to piping fixed to container frame 110 and connection part 120. As a fixing method, adhesive (not shown) is applied to the upper surface of the piping fixed to container frame 110 and connection part 120, and first sheet 1', third sheet 3' and cut column part 4" are adhered to it. Similarly, second sheet 2', a part of third sheet 3' and cut column part 4" are adhered to the lower surface of container frame 110 and connection part 120.

[0123] At this time, the column group 4A, which is evenly spaced in a row, is arranged to intersect at right angles with the rib 111B of the left container frame 110B and the rib 111D of the right container frame 110D. The column group 4A and the adjacent column group 4B, which are evenly spaced in a row, of the column group 4' of the three-layered bubble cushioning material are arranged with the centers of the column groups 4A and 4B alternately shifted.

[0124] As a result, the culture solution and air bubbles pass through the communicating hole 5' between the column set 4A and the adjacent column set 4B, but do not move straight up or down. Instead, the culture solution and air bubbles are stirred, so that the air-liquid interface on the surface of the microorganisms is constantly renewed, improving the reaction efficiency of exhaust gas decomposition.

[0125] The culture solution and exhaust gas may be supplied directly to the reaction region 15 through a hollow portion 113 communicating with the reaction region 15, or may be supplied through a culture solution supplying polyethylene tube 114 and an exhaust gas supplying polyethylene tube 115. The culture solution supplying polyethylene tube 114 and the exhaust gas supplying polyethylene tube 115 each have a culture solution supply side opening 114A and an exhaust gas supply opening 115A, and the other ends are sealed with a culture solution supplying polyethylene tube sealed end 114B and an exhaust gas supplying polyethylene tube sealed end 115B.

[0126] The culture medium supplying polyethylene tube 114 and the exhaust gas supplying polyethylene tube 115 in contact with the supply side reaction region 15 are provided with a culture medium supplying hole 114D and an exhaust gas supplying hole 115D which communicate with each other.

[0127] The culture medium supply hole 114D communicates with a hole 140C provided in a rib 112C of the lower container frame 110C. The exhaust gas supply hole 115D communicates with a hole 140C' provided in a rib 112C' of the lower container frame 110C.

[0128] As a result, the culture medium and the supplied exhaust gas are supplied from the lower side of the microorganism culture container 20' and flow toward the upper side.

[0129] The culture medium supply polyethylene tube 114 and the exhaust gas supply polyethylene tube 115 are fixed to the liner 111 and the rib 112 with an adhesive so as not to block the culture medium supply hole 114D and the exhaust gas supply hole 115D and to prevent the culture medium and exhaust gas from leaking from below, and may be partially fixed to the three-layer bubble cushioning material 10', or may be configured as a single tube from the culture medium supply side opening 114A to the culture medium supply polyethylene tube sealed end 114B, or may be used only in part and communicated with each other through the hollow portion 113. The same applies to the exhaust gas supply polyethylene tube 115, but the arrangement of the piping for supplying the culture medium and the exhaust gas is not limited to this.

[0130] As shown in FIGS. 7 and 10 to 12, a receptacle 150 may be provided to reinforce the microorganism culture vessel 20 and to collect leaked culture medium.

[0131] The receiver 150 includes receiver outer frames 160, 160' arranged on the first sheet 1' side on the upper surface of the microorganism culture container 20' and the third sheet 3' side on the lower surface, receiver inner frames 170, 170', plastic sheets 180, 180' on the upper and lower surfaces of the receiver 150, and receiver leak liquid discharge outlets 118, 118' provided on the lower right side of the receiver 150.

[0132] The receptacle outer frame 160 is arranged so that the direction of the ribs of the receptacle outer frame 160 is perpendicular to the direction of the ribs of the receptacle inner frame 170 and the container frame 110. This also prevents the container frame 110 of the microorganism culture vessel 20' from breaking even if a load is applied from above to the microorganism culture vessel 20' due to its own weight or wind, rain, or flying objects.

[0133] Furthermore, in order to provide a receptacle leakage liquid discharge port 118 for collecting leaked culture liquid in the left receptacle outer frame 160B and the left receptacle inner frame 170B, the lower side of the left receptacle outer frame 160B is inserted inward and a portion of the left receptacle inner frame 170B is cut out.

[0134] When the culture medium leaks from the first sheet 1 ′ side of the reaction region 15 , the culture medium pools below between the first sheet 1 ′ and the plastic sheet 180 .

[0135] The accumulated culture liquid is collected from the receiver leak liquid outlet 118 and returned to the microorganism culture vessel 20'', or if it comes into contact with the outside and other microorganisms become contaminated, it may be inactivated with ultraviolet light or the like and then discarded. In this case, the microorganism culture vessel 20'' equipped with the receiver 150 may be tilted so that the right side is higher than the left side so that the leaked culture liquid flows into the receiver leak liquid outlet 118.

[0136] If the amount of leakage exceeds a certain amount or if there are many leaking locations, the microorganism culture vessel 20' may be repaired or replaced.

[0137] Even if the culture medium leaks from the microorganism culture vessel 20', the receiver 150 can easily collect the leaked culture medium, thereby reducing the frequency of repairs and replacement of the microorganism culture vessel 20' and reducing costs.

[0138] 8, the polyethylene tube 114 for supplying culture medium and the polyethylene tube 115 for supplying exhaust gas on the left side may be replaced with, for example, the hollow portion 113. The ribs 112 are disposed in the three-layered bubble cushioning material 10' as walls to prevent leakage of the culture medium and the supplied exhaust gas.

[0139] As shown in the horizontal D-D' cross section of the lower part of the microorganism culture vessel 20' in Fig. 9, the culture medium supplying polyethylene tube 114 and the exhaust gas supplying polyethylene tube 115 may be partially flattened. Also, the culture medium overflowing between the thinned protrusion 122D' of the right connection part 120D and the hollow part 113D is configured to flow downward, and a polyethylene tube may be installed here.

[0140] In the microorganism culture container 20'' equipped with a receptacle 150 shown in FIG. 10, as shown in the horizontal E-E' cross section which is the center of the microorganism culture container 20' and the receptacle 150 in the vertical direction, the plastic sheet 180 and the rib 112 of the left receptacle inner frame 170B function as walls to prevent the leaked culture medium from spreading, and the lower side also retains the leaked culture medium.

[0141] The microorganism culture vessel 20'' equipped with a receiver 150 shown in FIG. 11 has a discharge pipe 118 for leaked culture liquid as shown in the vertical F-F' cross section on the left side, but the hollow portion 113 may be used, or the discharge pipe 118 may be provided only on the upper side or one on each side. The discharge pipe 118 can be easily connected to a pump or an exhaust gas supply device.

[0142] In the case where culture medium leaks from between the lower container frame 110C and the lower outer frame 160C of the receiver shown in FIG. 12, as shown in the vertical G-G' cross section in the right-side direction, the leaked culture medium will flow between the lower container frame 160C and the lower container frame 110C, making it easy to collect the leaked culture medium. Alternatively, if the top of the page is vertically upward, a sheet may be provided between the lower outer frame 160C of the receiver on the vertically upper side and the lower outer frame 160C' of the receiver on the vertically lower side, so that the leaked culture medium flows downward without scattering and can be collected below. Note that sheets 180 and 180' may be a single continuous sheet.

[0143] The location where the microorganism culture vessel 20 is installed may be the roof or wall of a factory or house. When installing it on the roof of a factory, the load capacity of the roof must be 100 kg / m 2 If so, a plurality of microorganism culture vessels 20 can be stacked.

[0144] The microorganisms to be cultured may be of the same type, or different types of microorganisms may be cultured in each microorganism culture container 20 .

[0145] The installation location may be within a factory or in an empty lot nearby, preferably on a slope that has no other use, or on an artificial slope created by cutting and filling earth that is fixed with concrete blocks to prevent collapse, such as on a concrete surface where other uses are difficult and where excessive weight cannot be placed on it to prevent collapse.

[0146] To obtain electricity for driving pumps and UV sterilizing lamps, the microorganism culture container 20 may be layered on a solar panel or a lightweight solar power sheet 90 (see FIG. 17). This reduces heat storage in the solar power sheet 90 because water absorbs infrared rays, preventing a decrease in the power generation efficiency of the solar power sheet 90 due to temperature rise.

[0147] Considering the balance between the amount of solar power generation and the amount of microbial culture, the number of microbial culture containers 20 stacked on the solar sheet 90 is 1 to 10, preferably 2 to 5.

[0148] The microbial culture container 20 and the solar power generation sheet 90 prevent heat accumulation on the roofs of factories and houses during the daytime in summer, and prevent heat loss from the roofs at night and in winter, thereby reducing temperature fluctuations inside the buildings, reducing consumption of electricity and boiler heat sources needed to maintain the temperature, and reducing emissions of CO2, an exhaust gas.

[0149] When installed on the roof of a factory, a pump 52 transports liquid from the raw material preparation device and the microorganism preparation device to the inlet of the microorganism culture vessel 20, and the culture liquid is supplied to the microorganism culture vessel 20 through a culture liquid supply port 21 provided in the microorganism culture vessel 20.

[0150] After distillation, water and EG are recovered using a condenser and discharged outside the system, removing unreacted EO to a concentration below the detection limit. However, if the distilled water is circulated within the system, unreacted EO and EG may remain as long as they do not reduce the amount or rate of microbial growth or organic compound synthesis. Conversely, the step of adding water that may contain EO that has come into contact with or been recovered after reaction with EO to the microbial cultivation step does not need to be included.

[0151] In the first embodiment, Chlorella Vulgaris 102 is used as a fast-growing freshwater chlorella which is an autotrophic microorganism (PAMA).

[0152] The following description will be given with reference to the flow chart in Figure 13 and Figure 18. A small amount of Chlorella Vulgaris 102, which is a PAMA, is added to water, which is the raw material, sterilized by irradiating it with a UV germicidal lamp that emits UV (UV) around 254 nm, in a standard manner, for example, in the ratio described in Water Pollution Research, Vol. 14, No. 9, pp. 615-6231991, to prepare a culture solution. The culture solution is kept at 25°C or 25±2°C and fed into the microbial culture vessel 20 from the microbial culture solution supply port 21.

[0153] In the culture step, Chlorella Vulgaris 102 cultured under sunlight in the microbial culture vessel 20 reaches a predetermined concentration, preferably 0.01 wt% to 50 wt%, more preferably 0.1% to 40%, and even more preferably 1% to 30%, and simultaneously synthesizes organic compounds. A portion of the mixture is separated as the next culture and sent to a microbial preparation device, and the remaining portion is subjected to microbial activity cessation.

[0154] The Chlorella Vulgaris 102 separated as the culture may then be supplied together with new raw material liquid to the microbial culture vessel 20 through the microbial culture liquid supply port 21. As a method for recovering organic compounds from the microorganisms, in addition to stopping their activity with exhaust gas, the microorganisms may also be physically disrupted by the aforementioned UV irradiation, ultrasonic waves, microbubbling, or a bead mill.

[0155] For example, in a medical equipment manufacturing plant, used sterilization gas may be used to sterilize medical equipment, and EO is particularly preferred.

[0156] The microorganisms in the Chlorella Vulgaris 102 culture solution that have reached a predetermined concentration are physically disrupted using a ball mill, sand mill, bead mill, ultrasonic wave, microbubbling, or the like, and then separated into an aqueous solution and water-insoluble Chlorella Vulgaris microorganism fragments 102X using a centrifuge.

[0157] The water-soluble organic compounds contained in the disrupted microorganisms are used as nutrients for the CHMO Aurantiochytrium 104 or as supplementary nutrients for PAMA, and are then used for the next culture together with water, potassium, phosphorus, nitrogen, and other inorganic salts.

[0158] Since fats and oils have a low specific gravity, when they are separated from the aqueous solution, the fats and oils may be recovered and used as nutrients for the microorganisms or may be sent to an oil storage tank 82 for storage.

[0159] The water-insoluble microbial fragments 102X decompose EO in the exhaust gas decomposition vessel 57 by an exhaust gas decomposition method in which the microbial fragments 102X are subjected to an additional reaction with EO.

[0160] Specifically, 100% EO or a mixture of EO and CO2 is supplied from an exhaust gas supply port. The reaction between the microbial fragments 102X and EO may occur in the microbial culture vessel 20, but it is more preferable to bring the exhaust gas into contact with the culture solution in an exhaust gas decomposition vessel 57 made of stainless steel that is airtight, pressure-resistant, and corrosion-resistant.

[0161] Alternatively, a UV germicidal lamp may be irradiated onto the Chlorella Vulgaris culture solution to kill the Chlorella Vulgaris 102. However, if the concentration of microorganisms or microbial fragments in the exhaust gas decomposition vessel 57 is high and the UV light does not sufficiently reach the bottom of the vessel, killing the microbial activity by EO is preferable, and a combination of both is even more preferable.

[0162] EO reacts with the cell membrane and nuclear DNA of Chlorella Vulgaris 102, inhibiting cell division and killing the microorganism itself, thereby stopping its activity.

[0163] Unreacted EO is separated by gas-liquid separation, and EO is freely soluble in water, but because of its low boiling point, it is separated from water or partially distilled together with water in a water distillation column 62 or a vacuum distillation unit, and then reused for stopping the activity of cultured microorganisms or for decomposing exhaust gas.EG produced by the reaction of EO with water can be recovered by distillation and used as fuel.

[0164] The O2 produced by photosynthesis is either used for the next culture or sent to the microbial culture vessel 20C for the Aurantiochytrium 104, which consumes O2.

[0165] As a specific separation method, since O2 is generated as gas bubbles, it is separated as a gas by a gas-liquid separator 61. O2 may be released into the atmosphere after it is confirmed that it does not contain EO, CO2 or nitrogen oxides.

[0166] The unreacted CO2 that dissolved in the water is either recovered together with the water and used as a raw material for culturing microorganisms, or the gas is sent to a CO2 supply source such as a cylinder and reused.

[0167] Microbial debris 102X that does not dissolve in water may be removed by centrifugation and decomposed by enzymes, and may be used as nutrients for Aurantiochytrium 104 or supplemental nutrients for PAMA as sugars, amino acids, or peptones.

[0168] The water can be separated by a water distillation column 61 or a vacuum distillation unit.

[0169] When the water is removed, water-soluble organic compounds and inorganic salts that are poorly soluble in EG precipitate due to their low solubility in EG, and can be separated by centrifugation or precipitation.

[0170] Since EG has a boiling point of 198° C., which is higher than that of water, EG can be separated from organic compounds and inorganic salts using an EG distillation column 63 or a vacuum distillation apparatus.

[0171] EG can be used as fuel as it is, but it can also be metabolized by aerobic microorganisms, PAMA, or CHMO. If it is decomposed into CO2 and water, the CO2 and water can be used as raw materials for PAMA cultivation.

[0172] The residue after distillation of EG contains potassium, phosphorus, nitrogen, inorganic salts, traces of organic compounds and microbial debris. Freshly UV-sterilized water may be added and used as a raw material together with potassium, phosphorus, nitrogen, inorganic salts, organic compounds and microbial debris 102X. These exhaust gas decomposition methods may be carried out in batches, one step at a time, or may be carried out continuously, with each step carried out simultaneously.

[0173] As a modification of the first embodiment, Nannochlorocyps 103, a PAMA that can be cultured in seawater, is used. Nannochlorocyps 103 produces a large amount of fatty acids and fatty acid esters, so the separated fatty acids, etc. can be used as a substitute for waste incineration or fossil fuels, or as boiler fuel for heating or power generation, or they can be solidified and stored by esterification or by adding an oil coagulant such as hydroxystearic acid.

[0174] When seawater is used, if it contains microplastics that are hardly metabolized in seawater, microbial metabolites that inhibit microbial growth, or trace amounts of EG, the organic compounds are burned and removed using combustion or a molten salt reactor (not shown).

[0175] With the organic compounds removed, potassium, phosphorus, nitrogen, inorganic salts, and NaCl can be released back into the ocean, or used or stored as NaCl, after removing potassium, phosphorus, nitrogen, and other inorganic salts that cause abnormal blooms in the ocean until the composition is equivalent to that of seawater due to differences in solubility in water.

[0176] This will reduce the amount of carbon dioxide emitted into the atmosphere or the amount of CO2 in the environment, and will essentially eliminate emissions of EOs that are harmful to living organisms.

[0177] In the second embodiment shown in FIG. 14, chemoheterotrophic microorganisms (CHMO) are used among heterotrophic microorganisms, and the organic compounds, such as fats and oils, are mainly hydrocarbon squalane (C 30 H 50 Among the Aurantiochytrium that produce oils, the Aurantiochytrium 18W-13a strain 104, which has a high oil synthesis rate, is used.

[0178] The exhaust gas decomposition system differs from the first embodiment in that the objectives are to prepare organic compounds that serve as nutrients for cultivation, such as sugars, amino acids, and peptones, in the raw material preparation step, to supply O2, to recover exhausted carbon dioxide, and to produce synthesized hydrocarbons, and therefore a description of the common devices and steps will be omitted.

[0179] After seawater or water with a lower salt concentration than seawater is sterilized with UV light, glucose, amino acids, potassium, phosphorus, nitrogen, inorganic salts, peptone, etc. necessary for Aurantiochytrium 18W-13a strain 104 are added, and the Aurantiochytrium 18W-13a strain 104 is cultured in a microbial culture vessel 20A while supplying O2. Necessary nutrients and inorganic salts may be added during the culture or may be added after UV sterilization.

[0180] After being cultured for a predetermined period of time, for example 96 hours at 25°C, the Aurantiochytrium 18W-13a 18W-3 strain 104, which has stored fats and oils within its cell membrane, has a smaller specific gravity, resulting in a difference in specific gravity between it and the Aurantiochytrium 18W-13a strain 104 that has not yet synthesized or stored oil just after cell division, and the Aurantiochytrium 18W-13a strain 104 can be separated using a continuous centrifugal microbial separation device 40 or a batch-type centrifugal separation device 56.

[0181] The Aurantiochytrium 18W-13a strain 104 that has not yet undergone oil synthesis is cultured in a microbial culture vessel 20A until it stores fats and oils within its cells, and the Aurantiochytrium 18W-13a strain 104 that has stored fats and oils is crushed using a ball mill or ultrasonic waves, and the fats and oils and most of the water are separated from the fats and oils, microbial fragments 104X, and aqueous solution. A small amount of the aqueous solution and microbial fragments are reacted with exhaust gas containing low concentrations of EO that have been decomposed in an existing EO decomposition device.

[0182] After separating the oils and water by distillation or other methods, the oils can be burned to generate heat or electricity, or stored, reducing the amount of fossil fuel used and the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere, thereby reducing utility costs in medical device manufacturing factories, or producing oils and fats using exhaust gas as a raw material.

[0183] Since the CHMO that synthesizes fats and oils, including the Aurantiochytrium 118W-3 strain 104, does not require light irradiation, a plurality of microbial culture vessels 20A may be stacked and installed in a factory or under a floor, etc. Alternatively, the vessels may be installed under existing solar power generation panels to produce fats and oils, and the produced fats and oils may be used to supplement electricity used on rainy days or at night when the solar power generation panels cannot generate electricity, or the fats and oils may be stored.

[0184] The third embodiment shown in FIG. 15 uses botryococcene (C ), which is a type of PAMA and is an organic compound, as an oil and fat. 34 H 58 ) A Botryococcus species, preferably Botryococcus braunii (BB) 101, which synthesizes hydrocarbons and releases them outside the cells of the microorganism, is cultured.

[0185] When BB101 is cultivated at 25 to 35°C, preferably 30°C, under the irradiation of sunlight or other light, it produces botryococcene (C 34 H 58 ) is synthesized to account for 5% or more of the dry weight of the product.

[0186] A preferred BB 101 is a BB that synthesizes hydrocarbons in an amount of 20% or more, more preferably about 60% or more, of its dry weight, and accumulates the hydrocarbons outside the body, mainly around the microorganism, to form a colony 101B.

[0187] As shown in Figures 15 and 18, the method of decomposing exhaust gas using BB101 includes a BB preparation step and a raw material preparation step, and a BB culture step in which culture liquid and CO2, which is exhaust gas, are supplied to the microorganism culture vessel 20B and cultured.

[0188] BB101 synthesizes oils and fats 101A, which are organic compounds, mainly hydrocarbons, and accumulates the synthesized oils and fats 101A inside the cell or releases them outside the cell to form colonies 101B.

[0189] When the maximum microbial concentration or maximum oil production amount is reached, the mixture is separated into low-fat BB, which has a small amount of oil or has not yet been synthesized, and high-fat BB, in a continuous centrifugal microbial separator 40.

[0190] A low-oil BB refers to a BB with a low amount of oil in the cells, such as BB101D, which has not yet synthesized oil and has not produced oil immediately after division, BB101d, which has released oil, and BB101E, which has lost the ability to synthesize oil, while a high-oil BB refers to a BB with a high amount of oil, such as BB101C, which has accumulated oil in the cells, or colony 101B, which has many cells surrounded by oil. Note that a high-oil BB may be one that contains 50% or more of the maximum oil content of the BB strain, or one whose specific gravity is lower than that of the culture medium, water, or seawater.

[0191] The specific gravity of BB strain 101 which produced fats and oils 101A is smaller than that of BB strain which does not synthesize fats and oils, because the specific gravity of botryococcene is 0.83 and that of BB strain which does not contain oil is about 1.03, but is larger than that of botryococcene, so it can be separated by centrifugation.

[0192] Therefore, when centrifugal force is applied by the continuous centrifugal microbial separator 40, the oils and fats are separated into high-density low-fat oils BB on the outside of the separation container 43, oils and fats 101A on the innermost side, and medium-density high-fat oils and fats BB between the outside and the inside.

[0193] The colonies 101B are physically destroyed to separate the fats and oils 101A and the BB that released the oil. The separated oil is collected, but if BB101D or BB101d has the ability to synthesize oil, it is collected and sent to the microorganism culture vessel 20C for continued culture.

[0194] The BB 101E, which does not have the ability to synthesize oil, is sent to the exhaust gas decomposition vessel 57, where the activity of the BB is stopped by exhaust gas such as EO. After crushing, raw materials such as unreacted EO, EG, BB microbial fragments 104X, oils and fats 101A, and aqueous solutions are separated and recovered.

[0195] The centrifuge may be of a batch or continuous type, but as shown in FIG. 16, a continuous centrifugal microbial separator 40 capable of separating a portion based on density and a portion based on the size of the microbial colony is more preferable.

[0196] 16 is a schematic diagram of the centrifugal separation portion of the continuous centrifugal microorganism separator 40. The continuous centrifugal microorganism separator 40 is provided with a rotating portion 41, an inlet pipe 42, a separation container 43, and a fluid chamber 44.

[0197] In the first separation step, the culture liquid containing oils and fats flows into the separation container 43 from the inlet pipe 42, and is subjected to centrifugal force to form a high specific gravity layer 45 mainly composed of low-oil BBs BB101D, BB101d and BB101E, a low specific gravity layer 46 mainly composed of oils and fats 101A, and a medium specific gravity layer 47 mainly composed of high-oil-containing BB101C, which is a high-oil BB that flows toward the fluid chamber 44, and colonies 101B.

[0198] Fluid chamber 44 is provided with fluid chamber inlet 44a and fluid chamber outlet 44b, and is provided with step 44c that separates them by size. Separate high specific gravity layer outlet pipe 45a and high specific gravity layer container 45b, low specific gravity layer outlet pipe 46a and low specific gravity layer storage container 46b for the BB101 culture solution are provided. Medium specific gravity layer outlet pipe 47a is connected to fluid chamber inlet 44a, and is connected to fluid chamber outlet 44b and medium specific gravity layer storage container 47b.

[0199] The mixture of culture medium and oils flowing in from inlet pipe 42 in the center is subjected to centrifugal force on the BB culture medium in separation container 43 by rotating rotating part 41 using a motor (not shown) or the like.

[0200] As they flow from the separation container inlet side 43A to the separation container outlet side 43B, BB101 and fats and oils are separated due to the difference in their respective specific gravities, and BB101 is also separated into fats and oils 101A, colonies 101B, high-fat and oil-containing BB101C, low-fat and oil-containing BB101D which has not synthesized oil, BB101d which has released oil, and BB101E which has no oil synthesis ability; the separation conditions may be set appropriately depending on the amount of culture liquid, the flow rate, and the size of the centrifuge.

[0201] The low specific gravity layer 46 passes through a flow path connected by a tube or the like and is separated into an aqueous solution and oils and fats 101A in an oil-water separator or a distillation column using a pump or the like, and the separated oils and fats 101A flows into an oil storage tank 81 and is stored therein.

[0202] Trace amounts of BB strains can be separated using a filter or centrifuge, and then sent to a microorganism preparation device, or inactivated by UV irradiation.

[0203] The high-specific gravity layer 45 may be first sent to the high-specific gravity layer container 45b through a flow path connected by a tube or the like, and then sent to the microorganism preparation device or the exhaust gas decomposition container 57. The low-oil BBs contained in the high-specific gravity layer 45 are a mixture of oil-unsynthesized BB101D, which has not yet synthesized oils and fats immediately after cell division, oil-releasing BB101d, which has synthesized oil, released it outside the cell, and fallen off the colony, and BB101E, which has no ability to synthesize oil.

[0204] Next, a second separation step is performed to separate the hydrocarbons and the BB strain based on size differences.

[0205] In the second separation step, the medium density layer 47 containing a large amount of oil-rich BB101C that retains oils and fats within the cells and colonies 101B formed by numerous BB strains and oils and fats flows into the fluid chamber 44 through the fluid chamber inlet 44a.

[0206] The medium specific gravity layer 47 that flows in is separated by size at the step portion 44c, and the smallest oils and fats 101A separated from the colony 101B flow out first and are separated into an aqueous solution and oils and fats 101A in an oil-water separator or a distillation column, and the separated oils and fats 101A is sent to the oil storage tank 81 for storage after oil-water separation.

[0207] Trace amounts of BB strain may be separated using a filter or a centrifuge, and may be sent to a microorganism preparation device or an exhaust gas decomposition vessel 57.

[0208] Furthermore, the high-fat / oil-containing BB101C accumulates on the outlet 44b side of the fluid chamber 44 on the outer edge side of the step portion 44c, and colonies 101B larger than the high-fat BB101C gather on the inlet 44a side, so that the high-fat BB101C and BB101d that has released the fats and oils 101A and remains within the colony 101A can be separated.

[0209] BB 101d remaining within colony 101 is destroyed by ultrasonic waves or microbubbling, and the BB 101d is separated from the oils and fats 101A.

[0210] The aqueous solution and fats and oils are separated using an oil-water separator or a distillation column 61. Trace amounts of BB may be separated using a filter or a centrifuge, and may be sent to a microorganism preparation device or an exhaust gas decomposition vessel 57.

[0211] The separated oils and fats 101A flow into the oil storage tank 81 and are stored therein.

[0212] In the second separation step, since the outflow times differ depending on the difference in specific gravity and size, the valves may be switched depending on the time difference.

[0213] The oils and fats 101A are sent to an oil storage tank 81 for storage or for use in incinerating waste materials to recapture the CO2, thereby reducing the amount of CO2 emitted from the exhaust gases of the medical equipment manufacturing plant or the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere.

[0214] The O2 produced by photosynthesis is released into the atmosphere or sent to the Aurantiochytrium microorganism culture vessel 20C.

[0215] After the aqueous solution is recovered, water used in oil synthesis, potassium, phosphorus, nitrogen, inorganic salts and organic compounds are added to the aqueous solution, the concentration is adjusted and the aqueous solution is returned to one of the microbial culture vessels 20, 20A, 20B and 20C.

[0216] The low-fat BB sent to the high-density layer container 45b is cultured under culture conditions, and among the BB strains, BB101D, which begins to synthesize fats and oils and has a lower specific gravity, and BB101E, which does not synthesize oil or undergo cell division, are separated in the continuous centrifugal microbial separator 40. The BB with a lower specific gravity is sent to the microbial preparation device and cultured again in the microbial culture device 20B, while the BB101E, which has a higher specific gravity and is incapable of synthesizing oil, is sent directly to the exhaust gas reaction container 57 and its activity is stopped by the exhaust gas.

[0217] The continuous centrifugal microbial separator 40 may be used without the fluid chamber 44 and separate based on differences in specific gravity alone.

[0218] When multiple microbial culture containers are stacked on the roof of a factory or the like, they should be arranged as shown in FIG.

[0219] When using an existing three-layer polyethylene bubble cushioning material 10 having a thickness of approximately 3 mm as a microbial culture container 20, the microbial culture containers 20 are arranged in multiple tiers, and when the light source is sunlight, they are stacked in three tiers: an upper tier, an intermediate tier, and a lower tier.

[0220] Since light passes through the convex portions 6, even if the concentration of microorganisms is increased, sufficient light reaches the lower stage, enabling photosynthesis by the microorganisms.

[0221] To increase the production of oils and fats, Botryococcus braunii (BB) strain 101 is cultured in the upper microbial culture vessel 20A that does not block sunlight, Chlorella Vulgaris 102 is cultured in the middle microbial culture vessel 20, and Nannochlorocyps 103 is cultured in the lower microbial culture vessel 20B.

[0222] When a solar power generation panel is placed under the microbial culture container 20B, even a lightweight solar power generation sheet 90 can transmit transparent light through its protrusions 6, and if the light has a wavelength that is not used by the microorganisms, it will pass through the microbial culture solution and reach the solar power generation sheet 90, making it possible to generate electricity.

[0223] The microbial culture vessel 20C for the CHMO, Aurantiochytrium 18W-13a strain 104, which does not require light, is placed under the solar power generation sheet 90, and the number of layers may be made greater than those for the microbial culture vessels 20, 20B and 20A for PAMA, such as Chlorella Vulgaris 102, Nannochlorocyps 103, or Botryococcus braunii (BB) 101, thereby increasing the amount of exhaust gas decomposition or the synthesis or production of organic compounds, particularly oils and fats.

[0224] The type of microorganisms to be supplied and the arrangement and size of the microorganism culture containers 20 may be changed as appropriate.

[0225] FIG. 18 illustrates an outline of an exhaust gas decomposition system including the first to third embodiments and a method for producing an organic compound.

[0226] The EO and CO2 fed into this exhaust gas decomposition system are decomposed and synthesized into organic compounds, so they are not actually emitted outside the system. The synthesized organic compounds can be produced in large quantities and used for other purposes.

[0227] The method for producing an organic compound using exhaust gas as a raw material includes a microorganism preparation step of preparing a microorganism capable of producing an organic compound, a raw material preparation step of preparing a raw material containing at least water, potassium, phosphorus, nitrogen, inorganic salts and gas to be used for producing the organic compound or for growing the microorganisms, a culture step of culturing the microorganisms, an organic compound synthesis step of synthesizing an organic compound, a separation step of separating the microorganisms from the organic compound, and a recovery step of recovering the organic compound, and further includes an exhaust gas supply step of supplying exhaust gas to any of the microorganism preparation step, raw material preparation step, culture step, and organic compound synthesis step, the separation step, or between each step.

[0228] A preferred production method is a production method having an organic compound synthesis step, an exhaust gas supply step followed by an exhaust gas decomposition step, and a more preferred production method is a production method having an organic compound synthesis step, a separation step for separating the organic compound, an exhaust gas supply step followed by an exhaust gas decomposition step.

[0229] The organic compound is preferably a fat or oil, more preferably a hydrocarbon, but is not limited thereto. The microorganism is preferably a microorganism that synthesizes fat or oil, and is preferably at least one of Botryococcus, Nannochlorocyps, Aurantiochytrium, Scutellaria, Chlorella vulgaris, Chlorella pyrenoidosa, Dunaliella, Spirulina, Euglena, and Haematococcus.

[0230] For the production of fats and oils, preferred are Nannochlorocyps, Chlorella species such as Chlorella vulgaris and Chlorella pyrenoidosa, Spirulina, and Euglena, which produce fats and oils together with organic compounds such as glucose and amino acids that serve as nutrients for heterotrophic microorganisms or supplementary nutrients for autotrophic microalgae.

[0231] Of the oils and fats, those preferable for producing hydrocarbons are Botryococcus braunii (BB) strain and Aurantiochytrium 18W-13a strain, which synthesize 20 wt % or more of hydrocarbons based on the dry weight of the microorganism.

[0232] A specific exhaust gas decomposition method and a method for producing organic compounds, particularly oils and fats, are described in detail below. A microorganism preparation step for preparing aquatic microorganisms and a raw material preparation step for preparing raw materials such as UV-sterilized water, potassium, phosphorus, nitrogen, inorganic salts (IN), an aqueous solution (H2O Solution) containing organic compounds (Org.) such as sugars and amino acids as nutrient sources, CO2, and seawater or artificial seawater are supplied from each supply source to the microbial culture vessels 20, 20A, 20B, and 20C with a predetermined amount of raw materials and aquatic microorganisms added thereto.

[0233] The microbial culture vessel 20 cultivates Chlorella vulgaris 102, the microbial culture vessel 20A cultivates Botryococcus braunii (BB) 101, the microbial culture vessel 20B cultivates Nannochlorocypus 102, and the microbial culture vessel 20C cultivates Aurantiochytrium 18W-13a strain 104, and the NaCl concentration or the amount of seawater supplied is appropriately adjusted by the valve 53 and the three-way valve 54.

[0234] The bacteria are cultured at a specified temperature for a specified period of time while supplying CO2 or O2 and, if necessary, additional inorganic salts or organic compounds.

[0235] The Chlorella vulgaris 102 cultured in the microorganism culture vessel 20 is crushed in a grinder 55 and then separated in a centrifuge 56, and water-soluble inorganic salts and water-soluble organic compounds are supplied to the microorganism culture vessel 20A for the CHMO Aurantiochytrium 18W-13a strain 104. The water-soluble organic compounds may be supplied to the microorganism culture vessels 20A, 20B and 20C as necessary, or to the next batch 20.

[0236] The crushed microbial fragments 102X, together with water or the remaining culture medium, are supplied with EO / CO2 exhaust gas discharged from a medical device sterilization device 71 installed in a medical device manufacturing factory 70 after use in sterilizing medical devices, and the EO is decomposed by additional reaction between the EO and the amino groups, hydroxyl groups, or carboxyl groups of the microbial fragments 102X and water in the exhaust gas decomposition container 57.

[0237] The culture liquid containing the used raw material is sent to a gas-liquid separator 61, and the gaseous CO2 is collected and sent to the microorganism culture vessel 20, 20A or 20B. The generated O2 is sent to the microorganism culture vessel 20A.

[0238] Unreacted EO is recovered in a gas-liquid separator 61 and a water distillation column 62 and supplied to the exhaust gas decomposition vessel 57.

[0239] EO becomes EG, which serves as fuel, and EO-added microbial fragments 102X, which reacts with microbial fragments to become dehydrated and burned as fuel to turn into CO2. It is further converted into oils and fats by PAMA, which synthesizes oils and fats, so it is not substantially released outside the system.

[0240] After gas-liquid separation, water is distilled from the culture solution 102Y in a water distillation column 62 and collected in a condenser 66.

[0241] The culture liquid 102Y from which the water has been removed contains water-soluble salts that are not soluble in EG, water-soluble organic compounds, and EO-added microbial fragments 102X, and the EG and distillation residue are separated using a separation method not shown, such as centrifugation, filtration, or precipitation.

[0242] The separated EG may be separated in an EG distillation column 63 and used as fuel, or a small amount may remain if it is decomposed as nutrition for microorganisms and ultimately decomposed into CO2 and water.

[0243] If the amount of EO in the exhaust gas after decomposition by the existing catalytic EO decomposition device 72 is low, the amount of EG generated will also be small, so that the EG separation step and the EG distillation column 63 can be omitted and the EO can be directly decomposed by microorganisms.

[0244] EG is decomposed by microorganisms into CO2 and converted into fats and oils by PAMA, so EG is not substantially released outside the system.

[0245] The recovered water or fresh water that has been UV sterilized may be added to the distillation residue and supplied to an enzyme reaction device 64, where the microbial debris 102X is decomposed into sugars, amino acids or peptones by enzymes such as cellulase or peptase, and the decomposition may be supplied as a nutrient source for Aurantiochytrium 104 or as supplementary nutrients for BB101, Chlorella vulgaris 102 and Nannochlorocypus 103.

[0246] The enzyme may be reused by being supported on known enzyme-supporting solid beads, and the aqueous solution 102Y' of the enzymatically decomposed organic compound is separated from the water-insoluble portion 102X' by, for example, centrifugation or precipitation in an enzyme separation device 65.

[0247] The water-insoluble portion 102X' is dehydrated and then incinerated as fuel, and the CO2, potassium, phosphorus, nitrogen and inorganic salts are recovered and reused as raw materials.

[0248] If seawater is used, it contains potassium, phosphorus, nitrogen, inorganic salts and NaCl, and can be incinerated in a molten salt reactor along with organic compounds and trace amounts of microplastics to recover CO2 and water and use it as salt, or it can be dissolved in rainwater and separated due to the difference in solubility of potassium, phosphorus, nitrogen and NaCl, resulting in a salt concentration and composition roughly identical to that of seawater, and then released into the ocean.

[0249] In the microbial culture container 20A for the Aurantiochytrium 18W-13a strain 104, the Aurantiochytrium 18W-13a strain is cultured using sterilized water, potassium, phosphorus, nitrogen, inorganic substances, organic compounds such as sugars and amino acids as nutrient sources, and, if necessary, seawater or artificial seawater sterilized by UV or the like.

[0250] When the Aurantiochytrium 18W-13a strain 104 reaches a maximum concentration or a maximum oil synthesis amount, the culture solution is sent to a microbial exhaust gas reaction vessel 57, and EO or CO2 is supplied to the culture solution to stop the activity of the Aurantiochytrium 18W-13a strain 104.

[0251] C synthesized by Aurantiochytrium 18W-13a strain 104 30 H 50 Since such hydrocarbons or fatty acids are stored within the cells, the cells are disrupted to extract the oils and fats from the microorganisms.

[0252] As a method for disrupting microorganisms, in addition to a grinder, a ball mill, ultrasonic waves, microbubbles, or nanobubbles may be used.

[0253] The crushed Aurantiochytrium 18W-13a strain 104 is separated into fats and oils, an aqueous solution 104Y, and Aurantiochytrium microbial fragments 104X by a centrifuge 56. After separating the synthesized fats and oils, EO, CO2, EG, water, potassium, phosphorus, nitrogen, inorganic salts, and residual organic compounds are separated or recovered and reused in the same manner as for Chlorella vulgaris 102 described above.

[0254] Botryococcus braunii (BB) strain 101 is cultured in a microorganism culture vessel 20A using sterilized water, potassium, phosphorus, nitrogen, inorganic substances, organic compounds such as sugars and amino acids as nutrient sources, and sterilized seawater or artificial seawater as necessary. When the BB strain 101 reaches a maximum concentration or a maximum amount of oil synthesis, the culture liquid is separated by a continuous centrifuge 40. The oils and fats with the smallest specific gravity 101A, colonies 101B, high oil-containing BB101C, oil-unsynthesized BB101D, oil-releasing BB101d, and BB101E with no oil synthesis ability, potassium, phosphorus, nitrogen, inorganic salts, or aqueous solutions are separated.

[0255] The oils, fats, and hydrocarbons produced can be used as raw materials or fuels for other organic compounds, or as fuel for waste incineration, which can reduce fuel costs if the waste itself is combustible, such as waste plastics.

[0256] Alternatively, needles, syringes, catheters, and other medical infectious waste, as well as masks and protective clothing used in the fight against the novel coronavirus (SARS-Cov-2) infection (Covid-19), particularly those containing metals, are burned and sterilized in dedicated incinerators or melting furnaces to avoid the risk of infection. They may be used as fuel for this purpose or as fuel for generating electricity to supply electricity to electric furnaces, etc.

[0257] As a fuel for power generation, it can be used as a direct combustion fuel for steam boilers or as a fuel for diesel engine type generators if it has a low ignition point.

[0258] Unused produced oils, fats, or hydrocarbons may be stored, preferably in an air-tight, more preferably low-oxygen or oxygen-free, condition.

[0259] Furthermore, it is particularly preferable to block light to suppress decomposition by microorganisms.Specific storage methods include, for example, storing in tanks, drums, or depleted oil fields, or solidifying the oils and fats by heating and adding an oil coagulant such as 12-hydroxystearic acid, and storing the solidified oils and fats as they are in warehouses, mines, or abandoned coal fields.

[0260] This will not only reduce CO2 emissions, but it can also be used as a supplementary power source at night or during bad weather when solar power, a renewable energy source, cannot generate electricity.

[0261] Alternatively, a fuel such as coal, which is inexpensive but emits a lot of CO2, can be made into an inexpensive fuel with low CO2 emissions by combining it with the present invention, making it possible to reduce fuel costs such as utility bills.

[0262] If there is or may be a risk of contamination with unintended microorganisms, the BB101 may be washed with low-concentration chlorine or sodium hypochlorite and further neutralized with sodium thiosulfate, and then returned to the microorganism preparation device or the microorganism culture vessel 20A.

[0263] The inactive BB101 may be sent to an exhaust gas reaction vessel 57 where it may be reacted with EO or decomposed with enzymes, or it may be dehydrated and then combusted to produce a heat source, and CO2 and water may be recovered.

[0264] Independent exhaust gas reaction vessels 57 and enzyme reaction vessels 64 may be used, but in order to reduce costs and because the cultivation periods of each microorganism differ, a common exhaust gas decomposition vessel 57 may be used to shorten the time that the exhaust gas reaction vessels 57, etc. are idle, thereby efficiently using the equipment and reducing costs.

[0265] In the above, the present invention has been described by citing preferred embodiments, but the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and it goes without saying that various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0266] The first to third embodiments shown in FIG. 18 may be operated simultaneously or each embodiment may be implemented alone. The number and size of each embodiment may be adjusted according to the operating status of the medical device manufacturing factory 70. The devices may be installed in factories whose sole purpose is to sterilize medical devices that emit EO, factories whose purpose is to sterilize food, waste incineration plants and thermal power plants that emit CO2 and nitrogen oxides, manufacturing plants of other industries, homes, shops, hospitals, schools, rooftops, walls, underground spaces, etc.

[0267] Alternatively, the containers may be placed on steps in farmland or on the roofs of greenhouses, which are normally difficult to use, as well as on riverbeds, cliffs, slopes, reservoirs, sandy areas, embankments, or breakwaters. When the containers are not in use or during bad weather, the culture medium may be removed and the microbial culture containers may be rolled up and stored in a safe warehouse.

[0268] For sterilization, nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides, ozone, formaldehyde, and other VOCs that can serve as a nutrient source for microorganisms may be used.

[0269] This application is based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2019-196897 filed on October 30, 2019, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. [Explanation of symbols]

[0270] 1 first sheet, 2 second sheet, 3 Third sheet, 4 pillars, 5 communication hole, 6 convex part, 7 Plane part, 8 top, 10 Triple layer bubble wrap, 11 Air vent hole, 12 Adhesion part, 13 fusion part, 20, 20A, 20B, 20C microbial culture vessels, 21 Culture medium supply port, 22 Culture solution outlet, 23 exhaust gas supply port, 24 Gas outlet, 30 laminated microbial culture vessel; 40 Continuous centrifugal microbial separator; 41 Rotating part, 42 Inflow pipe, 43 Separation container; 43a Separation vessel inlet side, 43b Separation vessel outlet side, 44 fluid chamber, 44a fluid chamber inlet, 44b fluid chamber outlet; 44c fluid chamber step; 45 High density layer, 45a High density layer outflow pipe, 45b High specific gravity layer container, 46 Low specific gravity layer, 46a Low density layer outflow pipe, 46b Low specific gravity layer container, 47 intermediate density layer, 47a Medium density layer outflow pipe, 47b Medium density layer storage vessel, 50 Exhaust gas decomposition plants, 51 Rainwater catch basin, 52 pump, 53 valves, 54 Three-way valve 55 Crusher, 56 Centrifuges, 57 Exhaust gas decomposition vessel, 61 Gas-liquid separator, 62 Water distillation tower, 63 EG distillation column, 64 Enzyme reaction device, 65 Enzyme separation equipment, 66 Enzyme-loaded beads, 67 Condenser, 70 Medical equipment manufacturing plants, 71 Medical equipment sterilization equipment, 72 EO decomposition equipment, 81 Oil and grease storage tanks, 82 Oil and grease storage tanks, 83 Oil and grease storage tanks, 84 Oil and grease storage tanks, 85 EG combustion furnace, 86 Microbial residue combustion furnace, 90 solar panels, 101 Botryococcus brownii (BB), 102 Chlorella Vulgaris, 103 Nannochlorocyps, 104 Aurantiochytrium strain 18W-13a, 101A Oils and fats, 101B Colony, 101C high fat BB, 101D oil unsynthesized BB, 101d oil release BB, 101X BB microbial debris, 102X Chlorella Vulgaris microbial debris, 103X Nannochlorocypus microbial debris, 104X Aurantiochytrium microbial fragments, 104Y Aurantiochytrium culture medium, 105X mixed microbial debris; 110 Container frame, 111 Liner, 112 Ribs, 113 Hollow part, 114 Polyethylene tube for supplying culture medium, 115 Polyethylene tube for exhaust gas supply, 116 Exhaust polyethylene tube, 117 Polyethylene tube for draining culture medium, 118, 118' receiver leak liquid outlet, 120 connection part, 121 slit, 122 protrusions; 123 recesses, 130 connection part, 140C, 140C' hole, 150 receiver, 160 Receiver Outer Frame, 170 Receiver inner frame, 180, 180' plastic sheet.

Claims

1. 1. An exhaust gas decomposition system comprising: a microorganism preparation device for preparing the microorganism for culturing; a raw material preparation device for preparing raw materials used for culturing the microorganism, the raw materials including at least water, potassium, phosphorus, nitrogen, inorganic salts, and gas; A microbial culture device for culturing the microorganisms by supplying raw materials to the microorganisms; an exhaust gas decomposition device for decomposing exhaust gas by the microorganisms or microbial fragments obtained by crushing the microorganisms; a separation device for separating at least a portion of the exhaust gas, the microorganisms, the microbial debris, the organic compounds synthesized by the microorganisms, and the raw material; and a recovery device for recovering at least a portion of the exhaust gas, the microorganisms, the microbial fragments, the organic compounds, and the raw materials separated by the separation device, The microbial culture apparatus has a microbial culture container, The microorganism culture container has a first sheet and a second sheet, has a column portion between the first sheet and the second sheet, and a column portion set in which the columns are arranged at equal intervals in a row and an adjacent column portion set are arranged with the centers of the columns shifted alternately, and has a microorganism culture solution supply port communicating between the first sheet and the second sheet. An exhaust gas decomposition system comprising:

2. The microorganism culture container includes a third sheet disposed between the first sheet and the second sheet, the third sheet having a plane portion, a bottom portion, and a plurality of protrusions protruding from the plane portion; the column portion is formed such that the top of the protrusion is in close contact with the first sheet and the bottom surface of the third sheet is in close contact with the second sheet, and the column portion is hollow; 2. An exhaust gas decomposition system as described in claim 1, which has a communicating hole surrounded by the first sheet, the second sheet and the column portion, the microbial culture medium supply port communicating with the communicating hole, and a contact portion where the first sheet and the second sheet are directly adhered to the end of the microbial culture container or are adhered to each other via the third sheet.

3. 3. The exhaust gas decomposition system according to claim 1, wherein the microbial culture device and the exhaust gas decomposition device each have an exhaust gas supply port.

4. A method for decomposing exhaust gas, comprising the steps of: a microorganism preparation step of preparing the microorganism for culturing; A raw material preparation step of preparing a raw material containing at least water, potassium, phosphorus, nitrogen, inorganic salts and gases to be used for culturing the microorganism; a culturing step of culturing the microorganisms by supplying raw materials to the microorganisms in a microbial culture vessel having a first sheet and a second sheet, a column portion between the first sheet and the second sheet, a column portion group in which the column portions are arranged at equal intervals in a row and an adjacent column portion group are arranged with the centers of the respective column portions shifted alternately, and the microbial culture vessel has a microbial culture medium supply port communicating between the first sheet and the second sheet; An organic compound synthesis step for synthesizing an organic compound, a separation step, and a recovering step, The culture step includes an exhaust gas decomposition step of supplying exhaust gas, A decomposition method comprising:

5. A method for decomposing exhaust gas, comprising the steps of: a microorganism preparation step of preparing the microorganism for culturing; A raw material preparation step of preparing a raw material containing at least water, potassium, phosphorus, nitrogen, inorganic salts and gases to be used for culturing the microorganism; a culturing step of culturing the microorganisms by supplying raw materials to the microorganisms in a microbial culture vessel having a first sheet and a second sheet, a column portion between the first sheet and the second sheet, a column portion group in which the column portions are arranged at equal intervals in a row and an adjacent column portion group are arranged with the centers of the respective column portions shifted alternately, and the microbial culture vessel has a microbial culture medium supply port communicating between the first sheet and the second sheet; An organic compound synthesis step for synthesizing an organic compound, a separation step, and a recovering step, In the culturing step, an exhaust gas is supplied to microbial fragments obtained by crushing the cultured microorganism, or in the organic compound synthesis step, an exhaust gas decomposition step is provided in which an exhaust gas is supplied to the synthesized organic compound. A decomposition method comprising:

6. 6. The decomposition method according to claim 4, wherein the exhaust gas is a sterilization gas exhausted from a gas sterilization step of a medical device, and the sterilization gas is supplied to the exhaust gas decomposition step.

7. 7. The method according to claim 4, wherein the exhaust gas contains either carbon dioxide or ethylene oxide, or a mixture of carbon dioxide and ethylene oxide.

8. 8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the ethylene oxide is separated and recovered from the microbial culture solution after the exhaust gas decomposition step.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the recovered ethylene oxide is used in another exhaust gas decomposition step.

10. A method for producing an organic compound using exhaust gas, comprising the steps of: A microorganism preparation step of preparing a microorganism capable of producing the organic compound; A raw material preparation step of preparing a raw material containing at least water, potassium, phosphorus, nitrogen, inorganic salts and gas for use in the production of the organic compound or the growth of the microorganism; a culturing step of culturing the microorganisms in a microorganism culture vessel having a first sheet and a second sheet, a column portion between the first sheet and the second sheet, a column portion group in which the columns are arranged at equal intervals in a row and an adjacent column portion group are arranged with the centers of the columns shifted alternately, and the vessel has a microorganism culture medium supply port communicating between the first sheet and the second sheet; an organic compound synthesis step of synthesizing the organic compound; a separation step for separating the microorganisms and the organic compounds; and a recovery step of recovering the organic compound, The method for producing an organic compound as described above, further comprising an exhaust gas supplying step of supplying an exhaust gas to the culturing step.

11. A method for producing an organic compound using exhaust gas, comprising the steps of: A microorganism preparation step of preparing a microorganism capable of producing the organic compound; A raw material preparation step of preparing a raw material containing at least water, potassium, phosphorus, nitrogen, inorganic salts and gas for use in the production of the organic compound or the growth of the microorganism; a culturing step of culturing the microorganisms in a microorganism culture vessel having a first sheet and a second sheet, a column portion between the first sheet and the second sheet, a column portion group in which the columns are arranged at equal intervals in a row and an adjacent column portion group are arranged with the centers of the columns shifted alternately, and the vessel has a microorganism culture medium supply port communicating between the first sheet and the second sheet; an organic compound synthesis step of synthesizing the organic compound; a separation step for separating the microorganisms and the organic compounds; and a recovery step of recovering the organic compound, The method for producing the organic compound includes an exhaust gas supplying step of supplying exhaust gas to microbial fragments obtained by crushing the cultured microorganism in the culture step, or an exhaust gas supplying step of supplying exhaust gas to the synthesized organic compound in the organic compound synthesis step.

12. The production method according to claim 10 or 11, further comprising an exhaust gas decomposition step between the culturing step and the separation step.

13. 12. The method according to claim 10 or 11, further comprising an exhaust gas decomposition step between the separation step and the recovery step.

14. The method according to any one of claims 10 to 13, wherein the organic compound is an oil or fat.

15. The method according to any one of claims 10 to 14, wherein the microorganism synthesizes fats and oils.

16. The method according to any one of claims 10 to 15, wherein the microorganism is at least one of Botryococcus, Nannochlorocyps, Aurantiochytrium, Rock Fragment, Chlorella vulgaris, Chlorella pyrenoidosa, Dunaliella, Spirulina, Euglena, and Haematococcus.

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