Perforated Support for Eukaryotic Microorganism Cultivation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for cultivating eukaryotic microorganisms, such as algae, face challenges including high costs, unfavorable light conditions, mechanical stress, and contamination issues, particularly during harvesting and substrate reuse in industrial production.
Innovation Solution
A method utilizing a perforated support with a web material, where eukaryotic microorganisms are immobilized on one surface and an aqueous solution flows along the other, allowing capillary transport of nutrients while preventing contamination and mechanical stress, using a multi-layered system with a supply layer for nutrient distribution and a support layer for cultivation, facilitating easy harvesting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If algae are cultivated in open basins or photobioreactors, then biomass production is achieved, but the costs for obtaining dry algae matter increase and mechanical stress on organisms occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses thin film supports (membranes) as cultivation substrates for algae immobilization. These thin films provide a large surface area for biomass production while enabling easy harvesting by simply removing the film from the culture medium, avoiding complex dewatering and drying processes required in conventional photobioreactors.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs porous or perforated support structures that allow culture medium to pass through while retaining algae cells. This design facilitates both biomass production and easy separation of algae from medium by removing the support, eliminating the need for energy-intensive dewatering and drying operations.
2Productivity
If algae are immobilized on vertically arranged synthetic fiber tissue, then gas exchange is accelerated and light supply is more effective, but mechanical stress causes wear of the substrate reducing reusability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs single-use or limited-use thin film supports that are inexpensive and can be easily replaced. These supports provide effective gas exchange and light supply during the cultivation period, then are discarded after one or few uses, avoiding the wear and contamination problems that limit reusability of more durable substrates.
3Productivity
If nutrient solution flows above the substrate, then gas exchange is enhanced, but erosion of organisms from the substrate occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a liquid film flow system where nutrient solution flows as a thin film over the support surface rather than as a turbulent stream. This hydraulic approach provides enhanced gas exchange at the liquid-gas interface while the laminar flow pattern minimizes shear forces that would erode algae cells from the substrate.
4Productivity
If conventional harvesting methods are used, then biomass is obtained, but heavy mechanical stress results in increased wear of substrate and reduced reusability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the algae biomass from the culture medium by simply removing the thin film support on which algae are immobilized. This extraction method requires no mechanical stress on the substrate, allowing the support to be easily replaced or discarded, and eliminates the wear and contamination problems associated with conventional harvesting methods that require agitation, filtration, or centrifugation.
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 approach reduces costs, minimizes mechanical stress, prevents contamination, and enhances biomass productivity by maintaining microorganisms on the support layer, allowing for efficient and economic cultivation and harvesting of eukaryotic microorganisms.
Implementation Method 1
a portion of the flowing aqueous solution is essentially transported by capillary forces from the second major surface through the support to the first major surface
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a method and device for cultivating eukaryotic microorganisms, whereby a perforated support (14) having a first major surface (19) and a second major surface (22) which is substantially impermeable to eukaryotic microorganisms (20), is prepared and the microorganisms (20) are applied on the first major surface (19). A layer, containing an aqueous solution (18), passes over the second major surface (22). The aqueous solution (18) moves from the second major surface (22) to the first major surface (19) substantially by means of capillary forces. As a result, the first major surface (19) is supplied the aqueous solution (18) and the applied microorganisms (20) grow on the first major surface (19).