Patent ID: 8546133
Filing Date: 2013-10-01
Classification: C12M

Abstract:
1. A system for removing substances from a liquid culture in a vessel comprising a growth medium and at least one of a microalgae and a cyanobacteria, comprising: an inlet tube coupled to the vessel configured to receive the liquid culture from the vessel; a pump coupled to the inlet tube, wherein the pump is configured to receive the liquid culture and propel the liquid culture at a preselected liquid flow rate; a gas injector coupled to the pump and configured to inject a gas into the liquid culture in the pump at a preselected gas flow rate, and to mix the gas with the liquid culture in the pump to produce a gas and liquid culture mixture; a substantially vertical chamber coupled to the pump and configured to receive the gas and liquid culture mixture from the pump at a first end of the substantially vertical chamber, wherein a foam comprising a substance is generated at a second end of the substantially vertical chamber; a collection container disposed at the second end of the vertical chamber configured to separate and collect the foam; and a return pipe coupled to an outlet of the substantially vertical chamber and the vessel, the return pipe comprising a photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) light source disposed along the length of the return pipe and configured to apply PAR to the interior of the return pipe.