Photo-bioreactor device and methods

Abstract

Photobioreactor devices and units for the production of biomass and remediation of environmental contamination are provided. The bioreactor devices comprise (i) a photobioreactor unit comprising a first membrane layer and a second membrane layer, the two membrane layers arranged such that at least a portion of the first membrane layer is directly bonded to at least a portion of the second membrane layer in order to form a defined boundary around non-bonded portions of the first and second membrane layers, thereby defining the photobioreactor unit capable of containing a fluid, wherein at least one of the first and second layers is translucent, and wherein at least a part of the first and second membrane layers is permeable to gases. The permeability coefficient of oxygen through the first and/or second membrane layer is suitably not less than about 100 Barrer, typically not less than about 300 Barrer, and suitably not less than about 500 Barrer. The photobioreactor unit also comprises an inlet and an outlet port to enable the fluid to circulate through said unit. Systems comprising the devices are provided as well as methods of using the devices for the production of biomass, remediation of wastewater and removal of atmospheric pollutants.

1 . A photobioreactor device comprising:
 (i) a photobioreactor unit comprising a first membrane layer and a second membrane layer, the two membrane layers arranged such that at least a portion of the first membrane layer is directly bonded to at least a portion of the second membrane layer in order to form a defined boundary around non-bonded portions of the first and second membrane layers, thereby defining the photobioreactor unit capable of containing a fluid,   wherein at least one of the first and second layers is translucent, and
 (a) wherein at least a part of the first and second membrane layers is permeable to gases, wherein the permeability coefficient of oxygen through the first and/or second membrane layer is suitably not less than about 100 Barrer, typically not less than about 300 Barrer, and suitably not less than about 400 Barrer; and 
 (ii) an inlet and an outlet port to enable the fluid to circulate through said unit. 
   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein substantially all of the first membrane layer is permeable to gases. 
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein substantially all of both the first membrane layer and the second membrane are permeable to gases. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the permeability coefficient of oxygen through the first and/or second membrane layer is suitably not less than about at least 500, at least 650, at least 750, suitably at least 820 Barrers. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein at least a part of the first and second membrane layers is permeable to carbon dioxide and the permeability coefficient of the membrane to carbon dioxide is selected from: not less than at least 1000, at least 2000, at least 2200, at least 2500, at least 2800, at least 2900, at least 3000, at least 3100, at least 3200, at least 3300, at least 3400, at least 3500, at least 3600, at least 3700, at least 3800, suitably at least 3820 Barrers. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one of the first and/or second membrane layer comprises a material selected from one of: silicones, polysiloxanes, polydimethylsiloxanes (PDMS), fluorosilicones, and organosilicones. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein the material comprises polydimethylsiloxanes (PDMS) or elastomers thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein at least one photosynthetic microorganism is comprised within the unit. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the photosynthetic microorganism is selected from:  Haematococcus  sp.,  Haematococcus pluvialis, Chlorella  sp.,  Chlorella autotraphica, Chlorella vulgaris, Scenedesmus  sp.,  Synechococcus  sp.,  Synechococcus elongatus, Synechocystis  sp.,  Arthrospira  sp.,  Arthrospira platensis, Arthrospira maxima, Spirulina  sp.,  Chlamydomonas  sp.,  Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, Geitlerinema  sp.,  Lyngbya  sp.,  Chroococcidiopsis  sp.,  Calothrix  sp.,  Cyanothece  sp.,  Oscillatoria  sp.,  Gloeothece  sp.,  Microcoleus  sp.,  Microcystis  sp.,  Nostoc  sp., and  Anabaena  sp. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the photosynthetic microorganism is selected from  Dunaliella salina  and  Synechococcus marinus.    
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the photobioreactor unit further comprises at least one flow control structure. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the photobioreactor unit further comprises at least one biological support. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising an auxiliary system in fluid communication with the photobioreactor unit, wherein the auxiliary system comprises at least one of the group consisting of: conduits; reservoirs; pumps; valves; biomass-separators; illumination systems; temperature control systems; sensors; and computers/CPU controllers. 
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 1 , comprising a plurality of photobioreactor units. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 (ii) a fluid reservoir that is in fluid communication with the inlet and outlet port of the at least one photobioreactor unit;   (iii) a pump for maintaining fluid circulation throughout the system; and   (iv) a biomass collector.   
     
     
         18 .- 23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . The device of  claim 17 , wherein the device further comprises at least one of the group consisting of: conduits; valves; biomass-separators; illumination systems; temperature control systems; sensors; and computers/CPU controllers. 
     
     
         25 . A process for manufacturing biomass comprising culturing a photosynthetic microorganism within a device of  claim 1 , and harvesting the biomass from the device. 
     
     
         26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . A process for treating wastewater comprising culturing a photosynthetic microorganism within a device of  claim 1 , passing wastewater through the device such that the photosynthetic microorganism within a device removes or remediates toxins from the wastewater. 
     
     
         28 . A process for removing an atmospheric pollutant comprising culturing a photosynthetic microorganism within a device of  claim 1 , exposing the device to an atmosphere comprising the pollutant such that the photosynthetic microorganism within a device removes or remediates pollutant from the atmosphere. 
     
     
         29 .- 31 . (canceled)