Facilitating Growth of Photosynthetic Microbes with CO2 Nanobubbles

Photosynthetic microbes are promising contributors to the bioeconomy. With light and CO2, they can create biomass, biofuels, green chemicals, food ingredients and more. Typically, CO2 is delivered by sparging; however, CO2 macrobubbles quickly rise to the surface and are lost to the atmosphere. This gas transfer inefficiency not only increases operational costs, but also releases greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. There is a need for greater and more efficient delivery of CO2 to photosynthetic microbes.
 
Researchers at Arizona State University and a collaborator have developed a process for facilitating growth of photosynthetic microbes by infusing CO2 nanobubbles into the culture medium. The use of CO2 nanobubbles greatly reduces the escape of CO2 from the aqueous medium into the atmosphere because the nanobubbles don’t coalesce into larger bubbles, and they have increased interface surface area for improved gas dissolution. When CO2 is delivered this way, it results in much improved CO2 levels in the culture medium and provides the photosynthetic microbes with an excellent source of inorganic carbon.
 
This technology results in higher productivity of photosynthetic microbes and greater production of biofuels, pigments, and other bioproducts with reduced downstream processing costs and a more economically favorable process.
 
Potential Applications
  • Growth of photosynthetic microbes
    • Production of biofuels, biomass, pigments, fatty acids for green chemicals, soaps, food and cosmetics
Benefits and Advantages
  • Nanobubbles are stable in aqueous medium and they have a negative surface charge, which prevents coalescence
    • Prolonged stability in aqueous environments
    • Is more than sufficient for supplying photosynthetic microbes with their inorganic carbon requirement to support vigorous growth
  • Increased interface surface area
    • More efficient gas dissolution as the demand for carbon warrants
  • Improve carbon utilization efficiency in photosynthetic microbes
  • Improve the overall process economics
For more information about this opportunity, please see
 
For more information about the inventor(s) and their research, please see
Patent Information:
Direct Link:
https://canberra-ip.technologypublisher.com/tech/Facilitating_Growth_of_Photo synthetic_Microbes_with_CO2_Nanobubbles
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For Information, Contact:
Jovan Heusser
Director of Licensing and Business Development
Skysong Innovations
jovan.heusser@skysonginnovations.com