Biofuel Production via Microbial Oil Extraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current biofuel production methods face challenges in efficiently utilizing carbon-dioxide fixed by photosynthetic microorganisms, as the increased biomass weight makes industrial application difficult, and edible crops used for biofuel lead to food shortages and low yield.
Innovation Solution
A biofuel production method involving culturing photosynthetic microorganisms to convert carbon-dioxide into oils and fats through photosynthesis, followed by extraction and reforming processes to produce a larger quantity of biofuel efficiently.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If photosynthetic microorganisms are cultured to fix carbon-dioxide and increase biomass weight, then the amount of fixed carbon-dioxide increases, but it becomes difficult to make industrial use of the biomass with increased weight
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts oils and fats from the photosynthetic microorganisms through an extraction process. This separates the valuable energy-dense compounds from the bulk biomass, making it feasible to transport and process the extracted oils/fats industrially while leaving the residual biomass behind.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical and chemical parameters of the biomass by converting carbohydrates to oils and fats through metabolic adjustment. This transformation increases the energy density and alters the physical properties, making the biomass more suitable for fuel production applications.
2Productivity
If edible crops such as soy beans, corns and palms are used for raw materials for biofuel, then biofuel production is established, but food shortage occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses photosynthetic microorganisms as a biological copy or alternative to traditional edible crops. These microorganisms perform the same photosynthetic function of converting CO2 to biomass but are not edible, thus copying the fuel production function without competing with food supplies.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the biological parameters by selecting microorganisms that store oils and fats in their cells, fundamentally altering the biological system from plant-based to microorganism-based while maintaining the photosynthetic fuel production capability.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If non-edible crops such as jatropha and camelina are produced for biofuel, then food shortage is avoided, but the yield for a unit area is low
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the biological parameters by using photosynthetic microorganisms that can be cultured in liquid media, enabling much higher cell densities and productivity per unit area compared to traditional non-edible crops. The microorganisms can also be grown in non-arable lands and water bodies.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables continuous production through microbial culture systems that can operate continuously with periodic harvesting. The microorganisms can be cultured in photobioreactors or open ponds with continuous CO2 supply and light exposure, maintaining continuous photosynthetic activity and biomass production.
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 method enables the production of a greater amount of biofuel than existing methods by effectively converting carbon-dioxide into biomass, addressing the challenges of biomass weight and yield, and utilizing non-edible crops for increased biofuel production.
Implementation Method 1
photosynthetic microorganisms which store oils, fats and carbohydrates in cells of the photosynthetic microorganisms, an oil and fat conversion process of converting the carbohydrates stored in the cells of the photosynthetic microorganisms cultured in the culture apparatus to oils and fats
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a production method for biofuel based on a technology to convert carbon-dioxide as a carbon source through photosynthesis by photosynthetic microorganisms to biomass and produce biofuel of the biomass. The production method for biofuel of the present invention comprises a culturing process (S1) of culturing in a culture solution photosynthetic microorganisms which store oils, fats and carbohydrates in cells of the photosynthetic microorganisms, an oil and fat conversion process (S2) of converting the carbohydrates stored in the cells of the photosynthetic microorganisms cultured in the culture apparatus to oils and fats, an extraction process (S3) of extracting the oils and fats out of the cells of the photosynthetic microorganisms, and a reforming process (S4) to reform the extracted oils and fats.