Processes for producing biofertilizers from biomass and products produced
The chemotrophic method using CSTRs and nutrient deprivation to induce heterocysts in cyanobacteria, combined with cost-effective materials, addresses the high costs and low production rates of existing methods, achieving efficient and environmentally friendly biofertilizer production and soil enhancement.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- PCT/US2025/022900
- Authority / Receiving Office
- WO · WO
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2024-04-19
- Filing Date
- 2025-04-03
- Publication Date
- 2025-10-23
AI Technical Summary
Existing methods for producing cyanobacteria-based biofertilizers are costly, capital-intensive, and limited by low production rates and dependence on sunlight, with phototrophic methods reaching a maximum of 50 tons of biofertilizer per acre per year, and microwave pyrolysis for nano-biochar is also expensive.
A chemotrophic method using less costly reactors like CSTRs and bubble column reactors to reproduce cyanobacteria, followed by nutrient deprivation to induce heterocysts, combined with cost-effective acceleration particulates like biochar and montmorillonite clay, enabling efficient production of self-replicating cyanobacteria-based biofertilizers.
The method achieves high production rates of 375,000 tons per year on a few acres, reduces costs, and allows 24/7 operation, with the biofertilizers fixing atmospheric nitrogen and enhancing soil fertility, stabilizing soil surfaces, and reducing environmental pollution.