Autotrophic algal growth in high incident light situations may be conducted in a reactor with circulation of algal reaction medium between light and dark zones with very short residence time in the light zone to maintain algal growth in the reactor in a linear growth regime in which the rate of algal biomass production is proportional to the incident photosynthetic photon flux density. Process monitoring and control may permit quick processing in a single step even in open pond systems. Dissolved nitrogen levels in product may be monitored and nitrogen nutrient input may be restricted to reduce dissolved nitrogen in effluent and to increase lipid yield without a separate nitrogen starvation step.

Disclosed herein is a single use continuous recovery, flow-through harvest vessel and corresponding method for harvesting culture medium and simultaneously either leaving the microcarrier beads behind in the vessel or flowing microcarrier beads and medium back into a bioreactor.

The invention is directed to a method for recovering at least one product from a fermentation broth. The invention relates to the use of a vacuum distillation vessel to recover products, such as ethanol, from a fermentation broth, where the fermentation broth comprises viable microbial biomass, and where the recovery of the product is completed in such a manner to ensure the viability of the microbial biomass. The invention provides for product recovery at an effective rate so as to prevent the accumulation of product in the fermentation broth. To ensure the viability of the microbial biomass, the invention is designed to reduce the amount of stress on the microbial biomass. By ensuring the viability of the microbial biomass, the microbial biomass may be recycled and reused in the fermentation process, which may result in an increased efficiency of the fermentation process.

Provided are methods, systems, and compositions for producing activated carbon from lignin residues produced from cellulosic or lignocellulosic biomass after hydrolysis of saccharides. The activated carbon is low in ash and sulfur, high in oxygen content and iodine number.

Improvements in biological conversion processes and associated apparatuses are disclosed for the generation of useful end products such as ethanol, through metabolic pathways of C1-fixing bacteria that utilize, as a nutrient, a C1-carbon source from a C1-containing substrate such as an industrial waste gas. Particular aspects of the disclosure relate to the downstream recovery of ethanol and/or isopropanol from bleed and permeate streams and more particularly to performing such recovery with improved efficiency that can advantageously reduce capital (e.g., equipment) and/or operating (e.g., utility) costs.

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.

A component recovery mechanism includes a recovery unit configured to recover a component for recovery from a target, and a diffusion adjustment unit configured to adjust a diffusion rate of the component for recovery from the target to the recovery unit. The diffusion adjustment unit changes the diffusion rate of the component for recovery from the target to the recovery unit according to a change in at least one environmental parameter.

A device including a mixing bag for mixing liquids, a cell-suspension bag fluidly connected to the mixing bag, a diluent bag fluidly connected to the mixing bag, and a fluidly connected to the mixing bag is capable of easily preparing a sheet-shaped cell culture without requiring any large-scale equipment. The sheet-shaped cell culture can be aseptically prepared by the device, while reducing the risk of contamination, by using the mixing bag which is fluidically connected to the other bags. The device includes a support having a foldable structure. At least one of the cell-suspension bag, the diluent bag and the filter is fixed to various portions of the support. The device can be folded into a compact size, by folding the various portions of the support, allowing for efficient transportation and storage.

A method for producing H.sub.2, methane, VFAs and alcohols from organic material, including the steps of introducing organic material and microorganisms into a completely mixed bioreactor for producing H.sub.2, CO.sub.2, VFAs, and alcohols; recovering H2 and CO2; recovering a first liquid effluent including microorganisms, VFAs, and alcohols; introducing the first liquid effluent into a gravity settler for separating into a first biomass including microorganisms and a second liquid effluent including VFAs, alcohols and microorganisms; introducing the second liquid effluent into a separation module for separating into a second biomass including microorganisms and a third liquid effluent including VFAs and alcohols; recovering at least a portion of the third liquid effluent; and providing a recovered biomass by recovering at least a portion of the first biomass, the second biomass, or both, and introducing the recovered biomass into a biomethanator for production of CH.sub.4 and CO.sub.2.

Processes and systems for recovering products from a fermentation mash. In some examples, a process for recovering products from a fermentation mash can include processing a ground corn product to produce a fermentation mash that can include ethanol. At least a portion of the ethanol can be separated from the fermentation mash to produce a whole stillage. The whole stillage can be separated to produce a fiber rich product and a filtrate. The fiber rich product can be hydrolyzed to produce a saccharification mash. The saccharification mash can be processed to produce additional ethanol and a stillage protein product.