Patent ID: 7172691

Claim:
A system for removal of a contaminant from an aqueous solution containing the contaminant, utilizing photosynthetic algae that interacts with said contaminant to remove it from the aqueous solution, comprising: a tank, the tank having at least two side walls and a floor, for containing a reaction mixture, the tank being open on its top side for exposure of the reaction mixture to light and air, the tank also having an inlet for introducing fresh reaction mixture into the tank and an outlet spaced apart from the inlet pipe, for withdrawing reaction mixture from said tank, the reaction mixture including a quantity of aqueous solution that includes said contaminant and a quantity of photosynthetic algae that interacts with at least a portion of said contaminant to remove said contaminant from the aqueous solution while the reaction mixture is contained within the tank; mixing means positioned for turning and operable to turn the reaction mixture, to expose at least a portion of photosynthetic algae contained in the reaction mixture to light and air; means for exposing the reaction mixture to light; a source of carbon dioxide gas; means connected to said source of carbon dioxide gas for introducing carbon dioxide gas into the reaction mixture; and means for separating algae from the reaction mixture to produce remediated aqueous solution, said means being connected to the outlet.