Systems and methods are provided for integrated conversion of biomass to ultimately form naphtha and/or diesel boiling range products. The integrated conversion can include an initial conversion of biomass to alcohols, such as by fermentation, followed by conversion of alcohols to olefins and then olefins to naphtha, jet, and diesel boiling range compounds, with high selectivity for formation of diesel boiling range compounds. The integrated conversion process can be facilitated by using a common catalyst for both the conversion of alcohols to olefins and the conversion of olefins to naphtha and/or diesel boiling range compounds. For example, ZSM-48 (an MRE zeotype framework structure catalyst) can be used as the catalyst for both conversion of alcohols to olefins and for oligomerization of olefins with increased selectivity for formation of diesel boiling range products.

A method of using electricity to produce methane includes maintaining a culture comprising living methanogenic microorganisms at a temperature above 50° C. in a reactor having a first chamber and a second chamber separated by a proton permeable barrier, the first chamber comprising a passage between an inlet and an outlet containing at least a porous electrically conductive cathode, the culture, and water, and the second chamber comprising at least an anode. The method also includes coupling electricity to the anode and the cathode, supplying carbon dioxide to the culture in the first chamber, and collecting methane from the culture at the outlet of the first chamber.

A bioreactor (1, 2, 3) and use thereof for converting organic residual and/or waste materials into an organic nutrient solution with a proportion of at least 10% plant-available mineralized nitrogen relative to the total nitrogen content of the nutrient solution. A process for preparing an organic nutrient solution is also provided, as well as an organic nutrient solution, use of an organic nutrient solution as an absorbent for carbon dioxide storage, use of an organic nutrient solution as an agent for binding carbon in plants and soils and to a nutrient production and carbon dioxide storage system.

The Biopowerplant is a system that integrates the generation of carbon-neutral energy through the cultivation and conversion of microalgal biomass, with sewage sanitation and environmental carbon recovery, with the additional and secondary production of biofertilizer, biofuel, water for reuse. This system integrates a suboptimal anaerobic digestion subsystem focused on the generation of biogas, the processing of the resulting digestate through a microalgal consortium culture subsystem with biofilm induction and smooth decreasing gradient of light radiation, and the transformation of the generated microalgal biomass into syngas through a subsystem of evaporation, torrefaction, pyrolysis, gasification, and combustion in separate chambers. The syngas and methane from the biogas are subsequently used as fuel in an electric power generator capable of operating with mixed gases. The biogas generation process is enriched through the recirculation of the microalgal biomass supernatant, the residual heat from the syngas generation subsystem, and the heat transferred from the combustion gases of the electric generator. The residual sludge from the biogas generation subsystem is recirculated towards a longitudinal biopile subsystem, where it acts as an anaerobic medium compared to the aerobic medium that constitutes the concentrated microalgal biomass, and both streams are mixed to be transformed into the syngas generation subsystem. Input inflows for system operation are mainly sewage, and optionally seawater and/or leachate. The inflows must be bioaugmented with a microalgal consortium dosed automatically by a Compact in situ bioaugmentation system, preferably more than 3 kilometers before the inflow enters the system.

An interconnected photosynthesis matrix and bio-energy production system. More specifically, a self-sustaining bio-system that uses the bio-energy production system, which comprises a selection process, an extraction process, and a transfer process, to create an energy enhanced organism and then uses the energy from the energy enhanced organisms for human use and/or for the second portion of the system, the photosynthesis matrix, where photosynthesis takes place. The energy is extracted from the energy enhanced organism by creating an energy rich homogenate, and then the energy is transferred to the grid, to an energy storage device, or to the photosynthesis matrix. The photosynthesis matrix consumes carbon dioxide and reduces carbon dioxide concentration while producing glucose, which it then provides to the bio-energy production system. The two systems work together in a feedback loop to allow continuous chemical reactions.

A deepwater photobioreactor system including a vertical stack extending between an ocean surface and an ocean floor. The vertical stack includes an inlet conduit and an outlet conduit where the inlet conduit is arranged to transport at least seawater and the outlet conduit is arranged to transport at least a biomass. The system includes a first photobioreactor in fluid communication with the inlet conduit and the outlet conduit that is connected to the vertical stack via the inlet and outlet conduits at a first position along the vertical stack below the ocean surface. The first bioreactor is arranged to cultivate the biomass. The system also includes a mooring system arranged to anchor the vertical stack to the ocean floor and arranged to receive the biomass via the outlet conduit and output the biomass to a harvest pipeline.

Methods include providing a natural gas stream; directing a first fraction of the natural gas stream to a bioreactor including a propagating culture of hydrocarbon degrading microbes; directing a second fraction of the gas stream to a local power generator and converting the natural gas stream to electricity and heat; using a dynamic control system to balance of the gas stream to the first fraction and the second fraction based on one or more of the availability of electricity from an electricity grid and the price of electricity from the electricity grid; powering, at least in part, the bioreactor with the electricity generated by the local power generator; and harvesting the hydrocarbon degrading microbes from the bioreactor as a biomass. Related systems are also provided.

A waste reduction system that utilizes organic solids suspended in a waste stream to produce carboxylic acids, which can then be employed as an input to a microbial fuel cell or other biological processes to further enhance biogas production, is provided. The organic waste stream influent undergoes a multistage fermentation process in which fermentative microorganism metabolize the organic waste materials and produce one or more carboxylic acids, especially short chain fatty acids. The carboxylic acids serve as a food source for bacteria within an anode compartment of an MFC that generates useable electricity therefrom.

An elongated hollow optical waveguide (1) is described, as can be used in particular in a photobioreactor for supplying phototrophic organisms both with light and with nutrients. The optical waveguide (1) has a casing (3) made from transparent plastic, which surrounds a hollow core (5). The hollow core has a diameter of at least 1 mm, preferably at least 3 mm or at least 1 cm. A plurality of openings (7) with a diameter of at least 0.5 mm, preferably at least 1 mm, is constructed in the casing (3). Light can propagate through the transparent casing and preferably exit laterally (19) along the entire optical waveguide (1). Nutrients (15) can be conveyed through the hollow core (5) into the interior of the photobioreactor. Conversely, portions of the solution, to which organisms have been added, can also be sucked through the hollow core (5), for example in order to analyze the same.

The invention integrates electromethanogenesis, which uses electric energy to produce fuel, with a method to capture and recycle the carbon dioxide generated when the fuel is used to release energy.