Patent ID: 6667171
Filing Date: 2003-12-23
Classification: B01D,C12M,Y02A,Y02C,Y02P

Abstract:
An apparatus for removing a carbon-containing compound from a flowing gas stream, said apparatus comprising:(a) at least one substantially immobile membrane mounted in said gas stream; (b) a plurality of photosynthetic microbes, selected from the group of algae and cyanobacteria, on said membrane; (c) a water and nutrient delivery device including a liquid-conveying conduit having at least one opening near a top edge of said at least one membrane for delivering water and nutrients in the conduit near the top edge of the membrane, wherein the membrane permits water and nutrients to flow through the membrane by capillary action; and (d) means for changing a pressure of the water front a microbe-sustaining pressure, wherein water and nutrients are supplied to the microbes without substantial removal of microbes from the membrane, to a microbe-removing pressure, wherein at least water is applied to the membrane to remove at least some of the microbes from the membrane.