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Methods and compositions for growth hydrocarbons in botryococcus sp.

a technology of growth hydrocarbons and botryococcus, which is applied in the field of methods and compositions for growth hydrocarbons in botryococcus sp., can solve the problem that the cost of production of a gallon of renewable transportation fuel exceeds the sales price of fossil fuels

Inactive Publication Date: 2009-04-02
NONOMURA ARTHUR M
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

Academically, Botryococcus species have proven quite attractive for their natural chemistries, but the cost for production of a gallon of renewable transport fuel exceeded the sales price of fossil fuels.

Method used

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  • Methods and compositions for growth hydrocarbons in botryococcus sp.
  • Methods and compositions for growth hydrocarbons in botryococcus sp.
  • Methods and compositions for growth hydrocarbons in botryococcus sp.

Examples

Experimental program
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Effect test

example 1

[0039]Hydrological shear forces are greatest at the air:water interface. When the liquid cultures of Botryococcus sp. in ZiP were placed in a shaker table (>100 rpm) cloaked in 3% carbon dioxide, oil was pressed out of the colonies by shearing forces. When brought to a stand still, the oil floated at the surface to be harvested by skimming.

[0040]In healthy sunlit water-borne cultures, colonies rose off the bottom to various levels up to the top half of the +2 column in ZiP cultures supplemented with 36 ppm to 50 ppm Zn 120 mM phosphate and KwiK components at about pH 7. All control colonies in conventional phycological media dropped below the bottom half of the culture tube within an hour.

[0041]After residing in the dark for 12 hours, colonies in ZiP remained floating at the meniscus, while, in contrast, the colonies of control cultures remained sunken at the bottom of the culture vessels. Starting from colonies maintained for a week in KwiK, the time to flotation of the population ...

example 2

[0042]The process system of the present invention is schematically depicted in FIG. 4, wherein the mud niche is mimicked by provision of a continuously moistened solid medium such as a fabric beltway that is sufficiently tight in its weave to prevent the colonies from slipping through. For example, 25 to 50 micron Nitex® Broadcloth is an appropriate selection. Nitex® Broadcloth 10 microns to 600 microns is the material of choice for plankton nets. The fabric belt is inoculated with Botryococcus spp. and growth is maintained by continuous misting with carbon dioxide gas-supplemented KwiK and natural solar illumination. Initially, gas-carbonation assists by sustaining acidity that prevents loss of metallic nutrients to precipitation. Different oleomic strains, varieties and species may be interspersed in the culture. When sufficient biomass is measured by achieving growth to 1 to 10 mm depth, the nutrient mist is replaced with a 10 mM bicarbonate-supplemented ZiP mist. Over time, bica...

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Abstract

Bottom dwelling colonies of Botryococcus are stimulated to produce and accumulate unusually high hydrocarbon concentrations that make them float to the surface. When exposed to carbon dioxide gas at the surface of the water, hydrocarbon induced flotation and growth is further enhanced with concomitant provision of appropriate light and available nitrogen. Botryococcus var. Ninsei is distinct from previously cultured strains of the genus in color, metabolism, and niche. The Ninsei variety grows green at the air-water interface. Metabolically, Ninsei is distinct from other varieties because it produces hydrocarbons in the presence of surplus ammonia in contrast to other varieties that shut down hydrocarbon production when ammonia is available. These characteristics are consistent with growth on the surface at water's edge, e.g., in the niche characterized by a mud alga. The surface niche for Ninsei is distinct because all other varieties are submerged, occupying the floor, e.g., all other varieties live at the bottom of the culture. Flotation of green colonies based on concomitant production of hydrocarbons in vitro occurs solely in the Ninsei variety.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims priority of provisional application Ser. No. 60 / 678,711, filed May 6, 2005, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. This application is related to co-pending plant patent application entitled THE NINSEI VARIETY OF BOTRYOCOCCUS, filed May 5, 2006 under Attorney Docket No. 705P003A, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention is a novel and distinct process for commercial growth of hydrocarbons in photosynthetic organisms while maintaining a biologically exclusive monocultural environment, as for example, in the case of the present invention, from Chlorophyta, Trebouxiophyceae, and particularly Botryococcus species.[0003]For decades, Botryococcus species have been suggested as potential sources of liquid transport fuels (Wolf, et al. 1985). Academically, Botryococcus species have proven quite attractive for their natural chemi...

Claims

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Application Information

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Patent Type & Authority Applications(United States)
IPC IPC(8): C12P5/00C12N5/04C07C11/00
CPCA01H13/00C12R1/89C12P5/00C12N1/12C12R2001/89C12N1/125
Inventor NONOMURA, ARTHUR M.
Owner NONOMURA ARTHUR M
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