Patent ID: 8092685

Claim:
A method for growing algae in a bioreactor having an extra capillary space (ECS) and an inner capillary space (ICS) separated by a liquid-permeable membrane, the liquid-permeable membrane comprising a plurality of hollow fiber membranes with each hollow-fiber membrane including a hollow interior and being made of a liquid-permeable, algae-impermeable material, wherein the respective interiors of the hollow fiber membranes at least partially define the ICS, and the interior of a chamber and respective exteriors of the hollow fiber membranes at least partially define the ECS, the method comprising: growing algae in the ECS; extracting lipids from the algae; and transferring the lipids from the ECS to the ICS through the liquid-permeable membrane while containing the algae to the ECS and without killing the majority of the algae, wherein individual algae specimens are cultured on the outside surface of the hollow fiber membranes.