Photobioreactor and Method for Thin Layer Cultivation

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This patent describes a photobioreactor and a method enabling efficient thin-layer cultivation of photosynthetic microorganisms (such as algae or cyanobacteria). The core invention features inclined cultivation surfaces placed within a gas enclosure enriched with CO2. Microorganism suspensions flow in thin layers over these surfaces, receiving both light and a controlled, CO2-rich environment, which boosts biomass and valuable substance production while reducing energy consumption compared to traditional systems.

Use CasesContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Industrial production of biofuels (e.g., algal oil for biodiesel)
• Manufacture of nutraceuticals and health supplements (e.g., vitamins, proteins, antioxidants)
• Production of biochemicals (e.g., pigments, amino acids, polysaccharides) for food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical industries
• Animal feed production using algal biomass
• Bioremediation and CO2 sequestration in industrial settings
• Advanced wastewater treatment using microalgae
• Research on photosynthetic organisms under controlled conditions

BenefitsContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Significantly reduced energy consumption during cultivation due to optimized flow and gas exchange design
• Consistent and enhanced CO2 supply improves microorganism productivity and yield
• Minimizes contamination risks and biosecurity hazards via a closed system, useful for genetically modified strains
• Improved scalability and flexibility by stacking or arranging multiple cultivation surfaces
• Lower operational costs due to elimination of large tanks and reduced pumping requirements
• Efficient use of industrial waste CO2 as feedstock, supporting carbon recycling
• Enables high-cell-density cultures, beneficial for downstream processing and harvesting

Technical Classifications (CPCs)

Inventors & Applicants

Patent Abstract

The invention relates to a photobioreactor and a method for thin layer cultivation. According to the invention, a suspension of photosynthesis-conducting microorganisms is conducted, in a photobioreactor, across at least one cultivation surface (1) which is situated in a gassing chamber (6) that is filled with CO2 or CO2-containing gas.