Aggregating Microalga Strain for Self-Separation in Ethanol Production
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional microalga-based ethyl alcohol production requires costly and labor-intensive steps for concentrating and collecting algal bodies through centrifugal or filtering treatments due to their lack of aggregating ability, making the transition from proliferation to self-fermentation and subsequent ethyl alcohol isolation inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A variant strain of Chlamydomonas sp., such as the Honda DREAMO strain, which can proliferate and aggregate, allowing for easy separation and shifting to self-fermentation and ethyl alcohol production systems without the need for centrifugal or filtering treatments, and can be reused or diverted for other applications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conventional microalga is used for ethyl alcohol production, then the microalga can be cultivated and undergo self-fermentation, but the microalga lacks settleability and requires costly centrifugal or filtering treatments for concentration and collection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the physical state and aggregation behavior of microalga through specific cultivation conditions. The microalga is cultivated to exhibit aggregation ability, changing from dispersed unicellular state to aggregated flocs that settle spontaneously, eliminating the need for complex centrifugal or filtering equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements self-service by enabling the microalga to perform its own separation function through natural aggregation and sedimentation. The aggregated algal bodies settle spontaneously under gravity without requiring external mechanical separation devices, making the system self-sufficient for concentration and collection.
2Productivity
If conventional microalga is used for ethyl alcohol production, then the microalga can proliferate in liquid medium, but the algal body remains dispersed and requires labor-intensive concentrating and collecting steps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the aggregation parameter of microalga to transition from dispersed to aggregated state. This parameter change enables rapid sedimentation, dramatically reducing the time required for concentration and collection steps, thereby improving overall process efficiency and reducing production time.
Solution Approach 2:
The microalga performs self-separation through natural aggregation and sedimentation, eliminating the need for external mechanical separation processes. This self-service mechanism removes time-consuming centrifugal or filtering steps, allowing the system to rapidly transition from proliferation to self-fermentation and subsequent ethyl alcohol isolation.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional microalga is used, then the microalga can be cultivated, but expensive equipment and labor are required for separation and processing steps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the aggregation parameter of microalga to create settleable flocs, changing the physical characteristics to enable gravity-based separation. This parameter change eliminates the need for expensive centrifugal or filtering equipment, significantly reducing capital investment and operational costs while requiring minimal labor for separation and processing.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution simplifies the ethyl alcohol production process by enabling easy separation and reuse of algal body aggregates, reducing labor and equipment costs, and allowing for efficient production and potential diversion of the algal body aggregate into other products like food, medicine, or fuel.
Implementation Method 1
algal bodies can be aggregated by spontaneous sedimentation after proliferation
Implementation Method 2
the microalga which accumulates starch in cells is cultivated, slurry obtained by concentrating a culture solution containing the cultivated algal body is maintained in the darkness and an anaerobic atmosphere with the pH maintained in the range of 6.0 to 9.0 to produce ethyl alcohol
Data Source
AI summary
In ethyl alcohol production using the self-fermentation of a microalga, a step of concentrating or collecting an algal body by centrifugal treatment, filtering treatment or the like is made unnecessary or simple to save labor for effort and equipment therefor is saved. The microalga belongs to Chlamydomonas sp., and is a variant strain which has an ability to produce ethyl alcohol under dark and anaerobic conditions and has acquired an ability to proliferate while aggregating. The microalga is proliferated and maintained under dark and anaerobic conditions to generate ethyl alcohol in this method for producing ethyl alcohol.