Patent ID: 8617891
Filing Date: 2013-12-31
Classification: C12M

Abstract:
1. A method of increasing the growth rate of a liquid algae culture in a vessel, wherein the liquid algae culture comprises microalgae cells and contaminants, comprising: coupling a contaminant removal system to the vessel containing the liquid algae culture, wherein the growth rate of the microalgae cells is progressively slowing; processing the liquid algae culture in the vessel through the contaminant removal system, wherein at least a portion of the contaminants are removed during processing; and returning at least a portion of the processed liquid algae culture comprising at least a portion of the contaminants and at least a portion of the initial live population of the at least one of the microalgae and the cyanobacteria to the vessel at least 10 times in a 24 hour period, wherein the portion of the liquid algae culture returned to the vessel exhibits an increase in growth rate of the microalgae cells of at least 5% higher than the first growth rate.