Embodiments of the present disclosure describe bioreactor systems that integrate phototrophic organism cultivation with energy harvesting, methods of using said bioreactor systems, and the like. The bioreactor systems can comprise a bioreactor, wherein the bioreactor is configured to cultivate a phototrophic organism in a liquid growth medium, and at least one transparent photovoltaic panel positioned between the bioreactor and a light source, where the transparent photovoltaic panel transmits select wavelengths of light and absorbs select wavelengths of light.

A system includes a photobioreactor that provides a channel configured to contain an algae slurry, a duct positioned adjacent the channel and configured to convey a gas, and a barrier separating the duct from the channel and providing one or more apertures to allow a portion of the gas to be injected into the algae slurry from the duct.

A method of treating microbial biomass includes mixing the microbial biomass in a liquid to form a suspension, the microbial biomass having an initial color, and exposing the suspension to light to form treated microbial biomass, the treated microbial biomass having a treated color. The treated color is lighter than the initial color. The microbial biomass can also have an initial taste and odor that are stronger than a treated taste and odor of the treated microbial biomass.

The present invention relates to the cultivation of microalgae for the production of biofuels. In this scenario, the present invention provides a vertical flow agitation system for microalgae culture tanks comprising: a source of energy generation (1); an energy storage device (2); a control system (3); an electric motor (4); at least one end of travel sensor (5); an agitation plate (6); a torque transmission system (7); and at least two lateral drive elements (8).

Methods and systems for sequestering carbon dioxide and growing algae can include: producing fluids from a subsurface formation; separating the fluids into hydrocarbons and produced water; transferring the produced water to a treatment pond; transferring the hydrocarbons to a gas fractionation plant; separating the hydrocarbons resulting in a carbon dioxide side stream; and discharging the carbon dioxide side stream into the treatment pond.

The present disclosure relates to an algal cultivation system comprising an algal pond. The algal pond comprises a growth chamber containing algal culture which is exposed to light to enable rapid growth of algae therein, and a regeneration chamber which is substantially devoid of light and configured to provide a residence time to algal culture for repair of damaged proteins of algal cells. The present disclosure also relates to a process for biomass production, comprising circulating algal culture using convection current or forced convection, between the growth chamber and the regeneration chamber. The system and process facilitate in increasing biomass and mitigating salinity and/or temperature variations in the algal culture (A).

System and methods for monitoring the growth of an aquatic plant culture and detecting real-time characteristics associated with the aquatic plant culture aquatic plants. The systems and methods may include a control unit configured to perform an analysis of at least one image of an aquatic plant culture. The analysis may include processing at least one collected image to determine at least one physical characteristic or state of an aquatic plant culture. Distribution systems and methods described may track and control the distribution of an aquatic plant culture based on information received from various sources. System and methods described may include a bioreactor having a plurality of vertically stacked modules designed to contain the aquatic plants and a liquid growth medium.

Microalgae cultivation equipment for the cultivation of microalgae is provided in which a raceway is modified so as to contain multiple generally upright photobioreactor columns spaced apart along its length so as to increase the total surface area of liquid growth medium directly exposed to light and to improve the transfer of CO.sub.2 from the gas-phase to the liquid-phase by providing adequate height inside the vertical photobioreactor columns. The lowermost ends of the photobioreactor columns are immersed inside the liquid growth medium in the raceway component and are fed with liquid growth medium by a circulation promoting facility circulating the liquid growth medium from the raceway through the photobioreactor columns to become discharged back into the raceway. Gas inlets provide CO.sub.2 containing gas bubbles passing upwards in each of the photobioreactor columns. One or more paddle wheels or jet pumps induce a flow of liquid growth medium within the raceway.

A method of treating microbial biomass includes mixing the microbial biomass in a liquid to form a suspension, the microbial biomass having an initial color, and exposing the suspension to light to form treated microbial biomass, the treated microbial biomass having a treated color. The treated color is lighter than the initial color. The microbial biomass can also have an initial taste and odor that are stronger than a treated taste and odor of the treated microbial biomass.

Culture systems and methods of using same. The systems include a housing defining an inner space. The inner space includes a headspace and at least a portion of a reservoir. A surface for immobilizing cells is moveable between the headspace and the reservoir. The systems can be used for coculturing methanotrophs and phototrophs for processing biogas and wastewater, particularly from anaerobic digesters.