A method for producing a biofertilizer in which a cyanobacteria and other photosynthetic microorganisms naturally occurring in the type of soil to which the biofertilizer is to be applied are reproduced in a closed photobioreactor using byproduct CO.sub.2, and the reproduced microorganisms are incorporated in the biofertilizer.

A facility for treating and recycling animal waste (2), including a unit (6) for methanizing the waste including treatment of the obtained biogases, a cogeneration unit (8) delivering electricity and heat (32) from the biogases, and a unit for hydroponically cultivating microalgae (14) in photo-bioreactors supplied by the liquid phase (12) of the organic residues from the methanization. The facility further includes a unit for cultivating macrophytes (22) supplied with water (20) leaving the unit for cultivating microalgae, and a vermiculture unit (24) fed by harvesting the macrophytes (22) and by the sludge (36) coming from the raw digestate from the methanization.

A system and method for growing microalgae capable of mixotrophic metabolism, preferably Chlorella sp. Microalgae grown in the system using the method are able to survive and grow in dark refrigeration, which allows the algae to be stored and transported for application as a live culture. In addition, the microalgae can be grown in sufficient quantities to be sold commercially for application to crops as a biostimulant.

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to systems and methods for ethanol production, use, and waste recovery using aquatic plants. In certain embodiments, systems and methods are disclosed for reuse and further processing of waste alcohols, sugars, organic acids and/or byproducts produced by conversion of corn, other grains, or other biomass materials of use in biofuel production methods.

A method is provided for treating distiller's grains with solubles (DGS) to produce one or more byproducts. The method includes separating the DGS into a low protein mixture and a high protein mixture. The method includes generating, from the low protein mixture, a biogas by an anaerobic digestion process. The method includes generating, from the high protein mixture, at least one of a vegetable oil from a vegetable oil separation process, a high protein animal feed from a separation process and a microalgae biomass material from a microalgae production process.

Methods and systems to achieve clean fuel processing systems in which carbon dioxide emissions (1) from sources (2) may be processed in at least one processing reactor (4) containing a plurality of chemoautotrophic bacteria (5) which can convert the carbon dioxide emissions into biomass (6) which may then be used for various products (21) such as biofuels, fertilizer, feedstock, or the like. Bacteria that reduce oxidized nitrogenous species (13) may be used to supply reduced nitrogenous compounds to the chemoautotrophic bacteria (5).

According to present disclosure, there is disclosed an algae growth and cultivation system that provides a cost-efficient means of producing algae biomass as feedstock for algae-based products, such as, biofuel manufacture, and desirably impacts alternative/renewable energy production, nutrient recovery from waste streams, and valued byproducts production. The system as discussed herein is an integrated systems approach to wastewater treatment, algal strains selection for byproducts production, and recycle of algal-oil extraction waste or additional algae harvested as feedstock for fertilizer production. Embodiments of a system as discussed herein present an economically viable algae production system and process that allows algae-derived products such as biofuels, fertilizer, etc. to compete with petroleum products in the marketplace.

It is an object of the present invention to avoid or reduce various problems or adverse effects by phase transition impurity substances when valuable substances such as ethanol are produced from a raw material gas containing the phase transition impurity substances such as naphthalene. A raw material gas g from a raw material gas generator 2 is passed through a phase transition impurity substance remover 10 to remove phase transition impurity substances such as naphthalene from the raw material gas g. Subsequently, the raw material gas g is passed through a solid/liquid catcher 30 to remove solid or liquid impurity substances from the raw material gas g. Subsequently, the raw material gas g is introduced to a valuable substance producing reactor 6, where a reaction occurs to produce valuable substances such as ethanol.

An integrated process for producing hydrogen includes: a) production of algal biomass by a photobioreactor where microalgae are fed with water and carbon dioxide and irradiated with light radiation; b) anaerobic digestion for obtaining biomethane and nitrogen digestates by an anaerobic digester, where the anaerobic digestion takes place starting from said algal biomass obtained in said step a); c) steam reforming for obtaining hydrogen, carbon dioxide, and heat starting from steam, oxygen, and the biomethane obtained in step b), and subsequent separation of carbon dioxide; and d) alkaline electrolysis of water for obtaining hydrogen and oxygen, by electrolysers, starting from water heated by the heat obtained in step c) and electric power, where the carbon dioxide in step a) comes from step c) and the oxygen in step c) comes from step d).

In one embodiment, a sustainable hydroponic growing system comprises at least one hydroponic growing unit, an algae growing unit configured to produce an algae biomass, a biofuel system configured to process the algae biomass to produce a bioethanol fuel and a solid oxide fuel cell configured to use the bioethanol fuel as at least one source of fuel to produce electrical power for use by the at least one hydroponic growing unit. In one embodiment, the solid oxide fuel cell is further configured to produce steam that serves as a water source for the at least one hydroponic growing unit and/or the algae growing unit.