Systems and methods are disclosed for optimizing the process energy required for the conversion of carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2) to biochemicals through vapor compression. Mechanical or thermal vapor compression are used to minimize both the process energy and the cooling in condensers, integrating the heat required by those processes and reusing heat that is typically lost. Some variations provide a process for producing biochemicals from biomass, comprising: cooking biomass to release saccharides; fermenting the saccharides to generate a biochemical in aqueous solution, and carbon dioxide; hydrogenating the carbon dioxide with a hydrogen source to generate an additional quantity of biochemical; feeding the fermentation-derived biochemical, as well as the CO.sub.2-derived biochemical, to a distillation column for purification; and compressing vapors from the distillation column, using mechanical vapor recompression and/or thermal vapor recompression, to recover heat of distillation that is utilized elsewhere in the biorefinery to reduce overall process energy usage.

Systems and methods are disclosed for optimizing the process energy required for the conversion of carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2) to biochemicals through vapor compression. Mechanical or thermal vapor compression are used to minimize both the process energy and the cooling in condensers, integrating the heat required by those processes and reusing heat that is typically lost. Some variations provide a process for producing biochemicals from biomass, comprising: cooking biomass to release saccharides; fermenting the saccharides to generate a biochemical in aqueous solution, and carbon dioxide; hydrogenating the carbon dioxide with a hydrogen source to generate an additional quantity of biochemical; feeding the fermentation-derived biochemical, as well as the CO.sub.2-derived biochemical, to a distillation column for purification; and compressing vapors from the distillation column, using mechanical vapor recompression and/or thermal vapor recompression, to recover heat of distillation that is utilized elsewhere in the biorefinery to reduce overall process energy usage.

The present disclosure relates to the design of a recombinant vector for production and separation/purification of a carbonic anhydrase in a plant, a method of separating and purifying a recombinant protein including a carbonic anhydrase produced in a plant by using the capacity of a CBM3 domain of the recombinant protein to bind to cellulose beads, and a method of inducing the hydration reaction of carbon dioxide using a carbonic anhydrase in a state of being firmly immobilized onto the surfaces of cellulose beads by CBM3.

The present disclosure relates to the design of a recombinant vector for production and separation/purification of a carbonic anhydrase in a plant, a method of separating and purifying a recombinant protein including a carbonic anhydrase produced in a plant by using the capacity of a CBM3 domain of the recombinant protein to bind to cellulose beads, and a method of inducing the hydration reaction of carbon dioxide using a carbonic anhydrase in a state of being firmly immobilized onto the surfaces of cellulose beads by CBM3.

The present invention relates to a method for the valorization of gaseous effluents derived from alcoholic fermentation, comprising: a step of alcoholic fermentation in a bioreactor producing a fermented matter and a gaseous effluent, wherein the gaseous effluent comprises carbon dioxide; a step of extraction of the gaseous effluent from the bioreactor, followed by compression thereof, in order to obtain a compressed gaseous effluent; and a step of production of a suspension of alkaline bicarbonate in a bicarbonate production unit, wherein the bicarbonate production unit is divided into at least two compartments arranged successively in series.

The present invention also relates to a corresponding plant.

The present invention relates to a method for the valorization of gaseous effluents derived from alcoholic fermentation, comprising: a step of alcoholic fermentation in a bioreactor producing a fermented matter and a gaseous effluent, wherein the gaseous effluent comprises carbon dioxide; a step of extraction of the gaseous effluent from the bioreactor, followed by compression thereof, in order to obtain a compressed gaseous effluent; and a step of production of a suspension of alkaline bicarbonate in a bicarbonate production unit, wherein the bicarbonate production unit is divided into at least two compartments arranged successively in series.

The present invention also relates to a corresponding plant.

A system and method for directly transferring fermentation carbon dioxide by-product to a greenhouse are disclosed. A three-way valve receives the carbon dioxide by-product from fermentation vessels in a fermentation facility, and either directs the carbon dioxide by-product to a proximately located greenhouse or diverts the carbon dioxide by-product to the external environment based on greenhouse carbon dioxide concentration levels that are monitored by sensors communicatively coupled to the valve. For example, if the concentration levels are below a threshold, the sensors may transmit a signal to the valve to direct the carbon dioxide by-product to the greenhouse; otherwise, if the concentration levels are at or above the threshold, the carbon dioxide by-product may be diverted to the external environment. The threshold may be a carbon dioxide concentration level determined to be optimal for photosynthetic efficiencies based on a number and/or type of the plants contained within the greenhouse.

A system and method for directly transferring fermentation carbon dioxide by-product to a greenhouse are disclosed. A three-way valve receives the carbon dioxide by-product from fermentation vessels in a fermentation facility, and either directs the carbon dioxide by-product to a proximately located greenhouse or diverts the carbon dioxide by-product to the external environment based on greenhouse carbon dioxide concentration levels that are monitored by sensors communicatively coupled to the valve. For example, if the concentration levels are below a threshold, the sensors may transmit a signal to the valve to direct the carbon dioxide by-product to the greenhouse; otherwise, if the concentration levels are at or above the threshold, the carbon dioxide by-product may be diverted to the external environment. The threshold may be a carbon dioxide concentration level determined to be optimal for photosynthetic efficiencies based on a number and/or type of the plants contained within the greenhouse.

This invention relates to methods and apparatus for harvesting by-product oxygen from algae ponds or bioreactors (collectively, algal biofuel production) for use in an oxygen-requiring process that requires oxygen as a reactant such as syngas, hydrogen, or power production processes, which optionally can be integrated with the algal biofuel production. In some embodiments, the invention provides methods that include a method comprising: collecting oxygen from an algal biofuel production process; and using the collected oxygen in an oxygen-requiring process that requires oxygen as a reactant. In some embodiments, the invention provides systems that include an integrated system comprising: an algal bioreactor that produces biodiesel and oxygen, a pipeline for transporting oxygen to an oxygen-requiring process unit so that the oxygen can be used as reactant in the oxygen-requiring process unit, and the oxygen-requiring process unit.

This invention relates to methods and apparatus for harvesting by-product oxygen from algae ponds or bioreactors (collectively, algal biofuel production) for use in an oxygen-requiring process that requires oxygen as a reactant such as syngas, hydrogen, or power production processes, which optionally can be integrated with the algal biofuel production. In some embodiments, the invention provides methods that include a method comprising: collecting oxygen from an algal biofuel production process; and using the collected oxygen in an oxygen-requiring process that requires oxygen as a reactant. In some embodiments, the invention provides systems that include an integrated system comprising: an algal bioreactor that produces biodiesel and oxygen, a pipeline for transporting oxygen to an oxygen-requiring process unit so that the oxygen can be used as reactant in the oxygen-requiring process unit, and the oxygen-requiring process unit.