Yuxiao Xie

US Patent:

20130319059, Dec 5, 2013

Filed:

Dec 9, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/992291

Inventors:

Shulin Chen - Pullman WA, US
Zhanyou Chi - Pullman WA, US
Yuxiao Xie - Pullman WA, US

Assignee:

WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY - Pullman WA

International Classification:

C12M 1/00
C05F 11/00
C12P 19/04
C12P 7/64
C12P 23/00

US Classification:

71 23, 435134, 435 67, 435101, 4352891, 4353031

Abstract:

The feasibility of using COfrom a concentrated source to grow microalgae is limited by the high cost of COcapture and transportation, as well as significant COloss during algae culture. Another challenge is the inability of algae in using COduring night while COis continuously produced from the source. To address these challenges, this invention provides a process in which COis captured as bicarbonate and used as feedstock for algae culture. Then the carbonate is regenerated in the algae culture process as absorbent to capture more CO, which is converted to bicarbonate for use as feedstock, etc. This process significantly reduces carbon capture costs since it avoids the energy for carbonate regeneration. Also, transporting a solid or aqueous bicarbonate solution has a much lower cost than transporting compressed CO, and using bicarbonate provides a better alternative for COdelivery to algae culture systems than supplying COgas.