Nano biofuel production processes: using nantechnology to enhance production fo biofuels
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Publication Number
US-9828580-B2
Publication Date
2017-11-28
Expiration Date
Abstract
Methods, systems, devices and materials for producing biofuels under nanoscale control (“nanobiofuels”) are provided. In one aspect, the invention provides method for producing a biofuel, including providing a hydrocarbon producing organism; exposing the biological hydrocarbon producing organism to conditions effective to cause substantial release of the hydrocarbon from the biological hydrocarbon producing organism; and isolating at least a portion of the hydrocarbon. At least one of the actions of providing, exposing, and isolating is performed using a corresponding nanoscale control.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to producing nanobiofuels using nanotechnological materials and nanoscale control applied to a biorefinery. It provides a biological hydrocarbon producing organism incubator and a system for releasing hydrocarbon under nanoscale-controlled conditions. The released hydrocarbon is isolated, including through optional nanoscale-controlled processing.
The biorefinery architecture includes a waste collector, a bioreaction chamber, and a purification chamber, each in fluid communication with the biological hydrocarbon producing organism incubator. The bioreaction chamber includes nanoscale solid supports and magnetic nanoparticles, and includes microbes selected from Ax99-59 or JH146. The microbes are bound to micron-sized particles or nanobeads, creating a nanoscale microenvironment for hydrocarbon production.
At least one of the incubator, bioreaction chamber, and purification chamber is under nanoscale control or includes at least one nanotechnological material. Nanoscale detection is described for organism selection, and the nanobiofuels approach is associated with cost/yield and CO2 consumption advantages for algae- and microbe-based pathways to hydrocarbons such as isobutanol from CO2.
Claims Coverage
The independent claim is supported by multiple dependent claims, with inventive features centered on a biorefinery architecture that applies nanoscale control and nanotechnological materials to a bioreaction chamber containing nanoscale solid supports and magnetic nanoparticles. Additional features further specify microbial binding to micron-sized particles or nanobeads and refine the nanoscale microenvironment using nanobead arrangements, microfluidic/nanofluidic channels, and magnetic-nanoparticle-induced turbulence for mixing and separating products from waste.
Biorefinery with nanoscale-controlled chambers
A biorefinery comprising a biological hydrocarbon producing organism incubator, a waste collector in fluid communication with the incubator, a bioreaction chamber in fluid communication with the incubator, and a purification chamber in fluid communication with the bioreaction chamber, wherein at least one of the incubator, bioreaction chamber, and purification chamber is under nanoscale control or includes at least one nanotechnological material.
Nanoreaction chamber with nanoscale solid supports, magnetic nanoparticles, and specified microbes
The bioreaction chamber includes nanoscale solid supports and magnetic nanoparticles and further includes microbes selected from the group consisting of Ax99-59 or JH146 microbes, wherein the microbes are bound to micron-sized particles or nanobeads.
Nanobead arrangement in 2-D or 3-D matrix
The biorefinery includes nanobeads arranged in a 2-D matrix or a 3-D matrix.
High packing density matrix
The biorefinery includes a matrix having a high packing density.
Microfluidic/nanofluidic channels for small molecules and dissolved gases transport
The matrix includes microfluidic or nanofluidic channels configured to move small molecules and dissolved gasses from a bioreaction chamber to a waste collector or a purification chamber.
Magnetic nanoparticles generating turbulence for mixing and separation
The bioreaction chamber includes magnetic nanoparticles configured to create turbulence for mixing reactants and products and separating products from waste.
Supplemental reaction zone
The biorefinery includes an additional supplemental reaction zone.
Across the independent claim and its dependents, the coverage centers on a biorefinery that uses nanoscale control and nanotechnological materials, with a bioreaction chamber containing nanoscale solid supports, magnetic nanoparticles, and microbes selected from Ax99-59 or JH146 bound to micron-sized particles or nanobeads. Dependent claims further define nanobead geometry, high packing density, microfluidic/nanofluidic transport of small molecules and dissolved gases, turbulence for mixing and separating products from waste, and an optional supplemental reaction zone.
Stated Advantages
Cost/yield advantages for algae- and microbe-based pathways to hydrocarbons such as isobutanol.
CO2 consumption advantages associated with hydrocarbon production pathways including isobutanol from CO2.
Documented Applications
Production of nanobiofuels using algae- and microbe-based pathways to hydrocarbons including isobutanol from CO2.
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