Patent Application: US-77063910-A

Abstract:
the present invention to provides a method for the conversion of biomass comprising cellulosic or carbohydrate polymers , into lipids useful for the production of biofuels . the method is achieved by providing the biomass to a culture of lipogenic zooplankton in a contained space , whereby the zooplankton consume the biomass , thereby converting the biomass to zooplankton derived biomass with increased lipid content . the zooplankton derived biomass is collected , lipids are extracted , and the lipids are converted to fuel through methods known in the art .

Description:
the present invention anticipates the conversion of any biomass that can be consumed by zooplankton and converted into lipid containing zooplankton derived biomass ( zdb ) utilizing the metabolic pathways of the zooplankton . the metabolic pathways comprise both de novo lipid synthesis and assimilation of lipids or lipid precursors provided in the diet . in a preferred embodiment , the biomass is sargassum seaweed harvested from the sargasso sea as detailed in u . s . pat . no . 7 , 479 , 167 b2 to markels jr . hereby incorporated by reference . the biomass may also comprise any other algae , such as naturally occurring marine or freshwater algae , algae that occurs as an unwanted invasive species , or algae that has been purposely cultivated . the biomass may comprise phytoplankton , diatoms , microalgae , or other organisms that may be consumed by the zooplankton . the biomass may comprise low value materials derived from terrestrial sources such as agricultural plant waste , animal waste , or municipal sewage . the lipogenic zooplankton of the present invention comprise non - photosynthetic water - dwelling arthropods with the ability to synthesize lipids from metabolic precursors . the lipids may comprise wax esters , triacylglycerols , phospholipids , or alkyldiacylglycerol ethers as described ( lee et al . 2006 ). in a preferred embodiment , the zooplankton are harpacticoid copepods selected and isolated for their ability to accumulate high proportions of lipids into zdb utilizing the provided biomass as a food source . the zooplankton may be obtained from naturally occurring populations or from isolated culture collections maintained in laboratory or hatchery conditions . the zooplankton may be primarily a single species or population of species selected to optimize the conversion of the biomass to lipid containing zdb . the zooplankton derived biomass ( zdb ) may be any biomass that results from the metabolic activity of the zooplankton , comprising any stage of the life - cycle of the zooplankton , such as eggs , nauplii , intermediate stage copepodites , adults , and diapausing adults , or zooplankton waste such as carcasses or fecal pellets . the zooplankton culture comprises the zooplankton selected for consumption of the biomass , and the biomass prepared in a manner suitable for consumption by the zooplankton , in a contained environment suitable for the maintenance of the metabolic activities of the zooplankton . the biomass may be provided in the form in which it is received or processed to enhance the ability of the zooplankton to consume it . such processing steps may include mechanical processing such as chopping , grinding or pulverizing , chemical treatments , or enzymatic treatments . additives may be used to enhance or maintain the metabolic activity of the culture . additives may include nutritional supplements such as vitamins or essential fatty acids , feeding stimulants , or antibiotics to inhibit growth of undesired organisms . the containment may comprise a manmade enclosure , a natural enclosure , or a combination . examples of manmade enclosures include artificial ponds , bioreactors , tanks , trays , bags , the hold of a ship or barge , or a floating pen or bag configured to contain the culture . natural enclosures include ponds , lakes , bays , inlets , or ocean gyres ( as described in u . s . pat . no . 7 , 479 , 167 b2 to markets jr ) that have the ability to confine the culture . an example of a combination manmade / natural enclosure is a bay or inlet provided with manmade bafflers that serve to confine the culture to the bay or inlet . the present invention further comprises methods for the optimization of biomass conversion to lipid containing zdb , including optimization of the zooplankton population for maximum lipid yield , and optimization of the culture conditions for maximum lipid yield . optimization of culture conditions may include such parameters as the configuration of the enclosure , composition of the biomass , and physical parameters such as aeration , agitation , ph , culture density , temperature , freshwater exchange , and the like . methods for collection of lipids from zooplankton ( lee 2006 ), or u . s . pat . no . 6 , 800 , 299 b1 to beaudoin et al . ), and conversion of biomass derived lipids into biofuel are well known in the art as detailed in u . s . pat . no . 5 , 972 , 057 to hayafuji et al . and us 2005 / 0112735 a1 to zappi et al ., each hereby incorporated by reference . other embodiments of the present invention may occur to one of skill in the art without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention . u . s . pat . no . 7 , 479 , 167 b2 ( markels , jr .) 20 jan . 2009 ( 20 . 01 . 2009 ) u . s . pat . no . 5 , 972 , 057 a ( hayafuji et al .) 26 oct . 1999 ( 26 . 10 . 1999 ) u . s . pat . no . 6 , 800 , 299 b1 ( beaudoin et al .) 05 oct . 2004 ( 05 . 10 . 2004 ) caramujo et al . 2005 trophic interactions between benthic copepods and algal assemblages : a laboratory study j . n . am . benthol . soc ., 2005 , 24 ( 4 ): 890 - 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