Generating a biofuel from isolated pseudofecal algae-based particulate material
The first claim of published US application 20110045556 (titled ALGAL LIPID HARVEST USING MOLLUSKS FOR BIOFUELS PRODUCTION ) states
A method of generating a biofuel from an algal-based cultural system, comprising:culturing a population of mollusks and a population of algal cells in a culture system suitable for maintaining the viability and proliferation of the mollusks and proliferation of the algal cells;allowing the population of the mollusks to isolate a proportion of the algal cells from the cultural system, thereby generating an amount of a molluscan pseudofecal algal-based particulate material;isolating said pseudofecal particulate material from the culture system; andgenerating a biofuel from the isolated pseudofecal particulate material.
Within the background section, one has the text:
Microalgae offer great promise to contribute a significant portion of the renewable fuels that will be required to meet the U.S. biofuel production target of 36 billion gallons by 2022, as mandated in the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 under the Renewable Fuels Standard. In the longer term, biofuels derived from algae represent an opportunity to dramatically impact the U.S. energy supply for transportation fuels. The cultivation of algae at a commercial scale could provide sufficient fuel feedstock to meet the transportation fuels needs of the entire United States, while being completely compatible with the existing transportation fuel infrastructure. Further, algal biofuels could prove sustainable for generations--they consume CO.sub.2 as a nutrient, have a much higher yield potential than other terrestrial biomass feedstocks, and can be grown with non-fresh water sources without needing to use high-value arable land. However, despite their huge potential, the state of technology for producing algal biofuels is regarded by many in the field to be in its infancy. There is a general consensus that a considerable amount of research needs to be carried out to produce algal-based fuels sustainably and economically enough to be cost-competitive with petroleum-based fuels.
On first named inventor Keshav C. Das:
* Professor of Engineering at University of Georgia
* Director -- Biorefinery and Carbon Cycling Program at University of Georgia
Other named inventors: Chinnasamy; Senthil; (Tamilnadu, IN) ; Shelton; James; (Athens, GA) ; Wilde; Susan B.; (Watkinsville, GA) ; Haynie; Rebecca S.; (Carlton, GA) ; Herrin; James A.; (Atlanta, GA)
***Separately, note published US application 20110045593 titled Transgenically mitigating the establishment and spread of transgenic algae in natural ecosystems by suppressing the activity of carbonic anhydrase with first claim:
A method to mitigate the effects of introgression of a genetically engineered advantageous genetic trait of cultivated algae or cyanobacteria to its wild type or to an interbreeding related species such that a mitigated algae or cyanobacteria cannot establish populations outside of cultivation, said method comprising the steps of:a) introducing into the algae or cyanobacteria genome at least one gene encoding the advantageous trait in tandem with at least one gene encoding a mitigating trait;said at least one mitigating trait comprising suppressed activity of carbon concentrating mechanism; andb) cultivating the algae or cyanobacteria under above-ambient CO.sub.2 concentrations whereby the suppressed activity of carbon concentrating mechanism does not affect photosynthesis, and the algae or cyanobacteria carrying the low carbon concentrating mechanism activity die outside of cultivation as a result of insufficient CO.sub.2 concentrating capacity.
Inventors: Chen; Ofra; (Rehovot, IL) ; Ufaz; Shai; (Givat-Ada, IL) ; Eisenstadt; Doron; (Haifa, IL) ; Schatz; Daniella; (Givataim, IL) ; Gressel; Jonathan; (Rehovot, IL) ; Einbinder; Shai; (Hofit, IL)
Note also TRANSGENICALLY PREVENTING ESTABLISHMENT AND SPREAD OF TRANSGENIC ALGAE IN NATURAL ECOSYSTEMS ( PCT/US2009/005067 ; WO/2010/027516 )
inventors: GRESSEL, Jonathan; (IL).
UFAZ, Shai; (IL).
CHEN, Ofra; (IL).
EISENSTADT, Doron; (IL).
first claim: A method to mitigate effects of release of at least one advantageous genetically engineered trait of an alga or a cyanobacterium into natural ecosystems, said method comprising a step of transforming an alga or a cyanobacterium to express said at least one advantageous genetically engineered trait, and at least one mitigating genetic trait, wherein: said at least one advantageous genetically engineered trait is encoded by at least one advantageous gene, and said at least one advantageous gene being operably linked with promoter sequences, and said at least one mitigating genetic trait is encoded by at least one mitigating gene, said at least one mitigating gene being optionally operably linked with promoter sequences; and said at least one advantageous gene and said at least one mitigating gene being introduced into the alga or cyanobacterium in tandem, whereby encoding sequences of the advantageous and mitigating genes remain genetically linked in the transgenic alga or cyanobacterium; and said at least one mitigating gene further being desirable in or neutral to the transgenic alga or cyanobacterium when cultivated but rendering the transgenic alga or cyanobacterium incapable of establishing itself or its introgressed offspring in natural ecosystems.
***Separately
US published application 20110045564 titled METHOD OF ENHANCED SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTION OF ALGAL BIO-PRODUCTS, COMPRISING USE OF SYMBIOTIC DIAZOTROPH-ATTENUATED STRESS CO-CULTIVATION
A method of generating a biofuel from an algal-based cultural system, comprising:culturing a population of mollusks and a population of algal cells in a culture system suitable for maintaining the viability and proliferation of the mollusks and proliferation of the algal cells;allowing the population of the mollusks to isolate a proportion of the algal cells from the cultural system, thereby generating an amount of a molluscan pseudofecal algal-based particulate material;isolating said pseudofecal particulate material from the culture system; andgenerating a biofuel from the isolated pseudofecal particulate material.
Within the background section, one has the text:
Microalgae offer great promise to contribute a significant portion of the renewable fuels that will be required to meet the U.S. biofuel production target of 36 billion gallons by 2022, as mandated in the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 under the Renewable Fuels Standard. In the longer term, biofuels derived from algae represent an opportunity to dramatically impact the U.S. energy supply for transportation fuels. The cultivation of algae at a commercial scale could provide sufficient fuel feedstock to meet the transportation fuels needs of the entire United States, while being completely compatible with the existing transportation fuel infrastructure. Further, algal biofuels could prove sustainable for generations--they consume CO.sub.2 as a nutrient, have a much higher yield potential than other terrestrial biomass feedstocks, and can be grown with non-fresh water sources without needing to use high-value arable land. However, despite their huge potential, the state of technology for producing algal biofuels is regarded by many in the field to be in its infancy. There is a general consensus that a considerable amount of research needs to be carried out to produce algal-based fuels sustainably and economically enough to be cost-competitive with petroleum-based fuels.
On first named inventor Keshav C. Das:
* Professor of Engineering at University of Georgia
* Director -- Biorefinery and Carbon Cycling Program at University of Georgia
Other named inventors: Chinnasamy; Senthil; (Tamilnadu, IN) ; Shelton; James; (Athens, GA) ; Wilde; Susan B.; (Watkinsville, GA) ; Haynie; Rebecca S.; (Carlton, GA) ; Herrin; James A.; (Atlanta, GA)
***Separately, note published US application 20110045593 titled Transgenically mitigating the establishment and spread of transgenic algae in natural ecosystems by suppressing the activity of carbonic anhydrase with first claim:
A method to mitigate the effects of introgression of a genetically engineered advantageous genetic trait of cultivated algae or cyanobacteria to its wild type or to an interbreeding related species such that a mitigated algae or cyanobacteria cannot establish populations outside of cultivation, said method comprising the steps of:a) introducing into the algae or cyanobacteria genome at least one gene encoding the advantageous trait in tandem with at least one gene encoding a mitigating trait;said at least one mitigating trait comprising suppressed activity of carbon concentrating mechanism; andb) cultivating the algae or cyanobacteria under above-ambient CO.sub.2 concentrations whereby the suppressed activity of carbon concentrating mechanism does not affect photosynthesis, and the algae or cyanobacteria carrying the low carbon concentrating mechanism activity die outside of cultivation as a result of insufficient CO.sub.2 concentrating capacity.
Inventors: Chen; Ofra; (Rehovot, IL) ; Ufaz; Shai; (Givat-Ada, IL) ; Eisenstadt; Doron; (Haifa, IL) ; Schatz; Daniella; (Givataim, IL) ; Gressel; Jonathan; (Rehovot, IL) ; Einbinder; Shai; (Hofit, IL)
Note also TRANSGENICALLY PREVENTING ESTABLISHMENT AND SPREAD OF TRANSGENIC ALGAE IN NATURAL ECOSYSTEMS ( PCT/US2009/005067 ; WO/2010/027516 )
inventors: GRESSEL, Jonathan; (IL).
UFAZ, Shai; (IL).
CHEN, Ofra; (IL).
EISENSTADT, Doron; (IL).
first claim: A method to mitigate effects of release of at least one advantageous genetically engineered trait of an alga or a cyanobacterium into natural ecosystems, said method comprising a step of transforming an alga or a cyanobacterium to express said at least one advantageous genetically engineered trait, and at least one mitigating genetic trait, wherein: said at least one advantageous genetically engineered trait is encoded by at least one advantageous gene, and said at least one advantageous gene being operably linked with promoter sequences, and said at least one mitigating genetic trait is encoded by at least one mitigating gene, said at least one mitigating gene being optionally operably linked with promoter sequences; and said at least one advantageous gene and said at least one mitigating gene being introduced into the alga or cyanobacterium in tandem, whereby encoding sequences of the advantageous and mitigating genes remain genetically linked in the transgenic alga or cyanobacterium; and said at least one mitigating gene further being desirable in or neutral to the transgenic alga or cyanobacterium when cultivated but rendering the transgenic alga or cyanobacterium incapable of establishing itself or its introgressed offspring in natural ecosystems.
***Separately
US published application 20110045564 titled METHOD OF ENHANCED SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTION OF ALGAL BIO-PRODUCTS, COMPRISING USE OF SYMBIOTIC DIAZOTROPH-ATTENUATED STRESS CO-CULTIVATION
posted by Lawrence B. Ebert at 7:19 AM
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