Patent ID: 8262776
Filing Date: 2012-09-11
Classification: C12M,Y02E,Y02P,Y02W

Abstract:
1. A system for producing biofuel from pollutant-fed algae which comprises: a scrubber having a chamber for receiving a pollutant-contaminated flue gas stream and an outlet for releasing cleaned flue gas; a liquid scrubber solution received in the chamber for scrubbing the pollutant-contaminated gas stream, wherein the scrubber solution is a sodium-based liquid solution for absorbing carbon-rich pollutants from the pollutant-contaminated gas stream to produce a carbon-rich liquid scrubber solution; a bioreactor for growing algae cells with high oil content, said bioreactor having an input port for receiving the carbon-rich liquid scrubber solution with absorbed carbon-rich pollutants for use of the absorbed carbon-rich pollutants as nutrients in a medium to support algae cell growth; an algae separator in fluid communication with the bioreactor for removing the algae cells from the medium to create an effluence; a channel for recycling the effluence from the algae separator to the scrubber for use as the liquid scrubber solution; an oil separator in fluid communication with the algae separator for withdrawing oil in the algae from the remaining cell matter; a channel for recycling the remaining cell matter from the oil separator to a hydrolysis device to produce hydrolyzed cell matter for return to a chemostat of the bioreactor to further support algae cell growth; and a reactor for receiving the oil from the oil separator and to synthesize biofuel and byproduct from said oil.