Methods and systems for efficient culturing of algae in open ponds are described.

The present invention generally relates to a novel process in which thin stillage is processed to produce algae oil and protein rich biomass as well as other energy rich byproducts. In accordance with a preferred embodiment, thin stillage is removed from an evaporator during the evaporation process to produce mid-stillage. This mid-stillage is preferably routed to a new process where it is directed to a pre-treatment centrifuge to remove suspended solids, sludge and corn oil. Thereafter, the mid-stillage is preferably cooled and then directed to a fermentation tank where the mid-stillage is subject to a batch fermentation process with algae “seed” fed from an algae inoculation system. Once the batch is harvested, the oil-rich algae/mid-stillage is then preferably heated to rupture the cells and liberate the oil. Thereafter, the oil-rich algae/mid-stillage is preferably processed by a centrifuge which produces solids, a light phase oil and a “clean” mid-stillage stream that can be evaporated to a very high level of solids.

An aerobic treatment system includes a plurality of highly porous, high surface area, inert, synthetic, inorganic, or natural material particles, having a specific gravity of less than 1.0 that float on an enclosed aqueous environment whereby plants and/or microbes can be grown thereon and/or animals such as fish can be raised therein. The inert particles trap air bubbles and nutrients for the growth of diverse types of plants, animals, or microbial systems, which enable phyto treatment of an aqueous waterbody with the ability to limit the growth of unwanted plant and algae such as blue-green algae. The above aerobic bio treatment system contains desirably bioremediation media having one or more microorganisms that are able to withstand system shocks while minimizing energy usage associated with aeration. The system can generally be utilized in any aqueous environment such as waste water and/or polluted water in an enclosed area such as a container, tank, pond, lake, or the like.

A natural invasion promoting method that is environmentally friendly, easy to carry out, can cope with a wide range of areas and inclined surfaces, achieves efficient natural invasion, and can satisfactorily promote greening on a soil surface of interest, and a spraying material used in the method are provided. A natural invasion promoting method including: spraying a spraying material containing live algae on a soil surface; breeding the live algae; and also directly or indirectly catching flying seeds or spores by a tacky substance secreted on surfaces of the live algae or a catching structure composed of the live algae to promote greening on the soil surface.

A floating bobber system for fishing which generates aquatic sounds that includes a floating bobber body having a water-tight hollow body interior and configured to at least partially float when arranged within a body of water. The system further includes an electronic circuit arranged within the body interior of the floating bobber body, the electronic circuit including a controller having reversibly programmable memory capable of replacaebly storing one or more aquatic sounds thereon, the controller being operationally coupled to a speaker for emitting the one or more aquatic sounds, a power source for providing power to the controller, and activation electronics for activating emission of the aquatic sounds from the speaker. The floating bobber body is configured to be coupled to a fishing line, and further configured to be coupled to a fishing bait.

A fishing caddy system which generally includes a rod holder assembly having at least one rod holder which may be rotatable to different angles to suit the user. There are hooks in the rod holder assembly for receiving the fishing line and thereby preventing the wind from blowing the line around, resulting in faster detection of catches. The rod holder assembly can be mounted to a universal mounting receiver which can be placed on any stationary body. Cup holders and other accessories may also be mounted in proximity to the rod holder assembly using other universal mounting receivers. An accelerometer may also be included which detects vibrations caused by the fishing line against the hook, alerting the user via LEDs or a wireless alert sent to the user's wireless computing device, such as a smart phone.

A method of producing lipids, containing the steps of: culturing an alga in which expression of a gene encoding a protein containing a thioredoxin domain and a thioredoxin reductase domain is enhanced, and producing fatty acids or lipids containing the same as components.

A floatable-material harvester is disclosed, including vacuum source, transport hose, and a floatable-material receiver. In one embodiment, the transport hose has at least one air inductor/intake along its length, which allows air to enter the transport hose to accelerate its contents, by negative pressure air induction. In another embodiment, a transport hose has at least one floatable-material thruster along its length, comprised of at least one nozzle, which provides pressurized fluid (e.g., air or water) in the direction of the flow of the harvested floatable material by positive pressure induction. A method is disclosed whereby the floatable material harvester is used to harvest an absorbent material (e.g., wood chips, straw, perlite, zeolite, polypropylene mesh, titanate nanofibres) that has absorbed a pollutant (e.g., oil, solvent, radioactive isotopes) from a beach or in water.

An open raceway algae cultivation system includes a channel configured to contain an algae cultivation fluid. The channel includes a contraction zone having a width and a depth. A pump is configured to circulate the algae cultivation fluid in the channel. A width of the contraction zone decreases leading into the entrance of the pump and a depth of the contraction zone is greater than a depth of at least a portion of the channel located outside of the contraction zone.

An algae cultivation system includes generating a translating hydraulic jump wave that travels across a gas-liquid interface of an algae cultivation fluid contained in the algae cultivation system. The translating hydraulic jump wave has Froude number greater than 1.