Solid-Surface Photobioreactor for High-Density Cyanobacteria Cultivation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current photosynthetic bioreactors face limitations in cultivating high densities of photosynthetic microorganisms due to light penetration issues and the need for extensive energy and resources, particularly in providing adequate light and carbon dioxide, and are not well-suited for continuous production.
Innovation Solution
A transgenic cyanobacterium engineered to accumulate carbohydrates is cultivated using a photobioreactor with a non-gelatinous, solid cultivation support and a physical barrier that allows for efficient nutrient and moisture provision, enabling higher cell densities and reducing the need for aeration and complex liquid handling systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If liquid phase cultivation systems are used to increase cell density, then productivity is improved, but light penetration ability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention transitions from three-dimensional liquid phase suspension cultivation to two-dimensional solid surface cultivation. By growing photosynthetic microorganisms on solid support surfaces rather than in liquid suspension, the system maintains high cell density while ensuring all cells remain accessible to light from above, eliminating the light penetration limitation that occurs in deep liquid cultures.
2Reliability
If enclosed tank-type reactors are used to control environment, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the complex liquid handling, aeration, and agitation systems that are characteristic of enclosed tank reactors. By using solid surface cultivation, the system achieves environmental control through simpler means while removing the cumbersome infrastructure required for liquid phase systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The solid support surface provides inherent structural stability and environmental control without requiring active mechanical systems for agitation or aeration. The system serves itself by using the solid surface properties to maintain cultivation conditions rather than requiring external complex control mechanisms.
3Ease of operation
If liquid phase systems are used for cultivation, then ease of operation is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces the mechanical agitation and aeration systems required for liquid phase cultivation with a passive solid surface system. This substitution eliminates the need for energy-intensive mixing, pumping, and gas sparging while maintaining ease of operation through simple solid surface inoculation and cultivation.
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 allows for the efficient cultivation of high-density photosynthetic microorganisms with reduced energy consumption and simplified operations, enabling continuous production and improved sustainability in biofuel production.
Implementation Method 1
transgenic photosynthetic microorganisms and photobioreactor
Implementation Method 2
a physical barrier covering at least said portion of the surface of the cultivation support
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided herein is a transgenic bacteria engineered to accumulate carbohydrates, for example disaccharides. Also provided is a photobioreactor for cultivating photosynthetic microorganisms comprising a non-gelatinous, solid cultivation support suitable for providing nutrients and moisture to photosynthetic microorganisms and a physical barrier covering at least a portion of the surface of the cultivation support. Devices for the large scale and continuous cultivation of photosynthetic microorganisms incorporating photobioreactors and methods of use are disclosed. Also disclosed are methods of producing fermentable sugar from photosynthetic microorganisms using a photobioreactor of the invention.