Method for Increasing Algae Growth and the Use Thereof in Production of Algae-Derived Biofuels and Other Chemicals

Abstract

A method of increasing yield of cultivated algae, which entails the step of cultivating one or more species of algae in the presence of one or more species of PPFM bacteria, for at least a portion of the algae cultivation.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of increasing yield of cultivated algae, which comprises the step of cultivating one or more species of algae in the presence of one of more species of PPFM (Pink Pigmented Facultative Methylotroph) bacteria of the genus  Methylobacterium,  for at least a portion of the algae cultivation, wherein the one or more species of algae comprise a species of  Chlamydomonas, Ulva,  or  Protococcus.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the increased yield is measured by increased algae cell density at standard harvest time for the algae specie or species cultivated. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the increased yield is measured by a reduced time-to-harvest for a desired algal cell density. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more species of algae comprise a species of  Ulva  or  Protococcus.    
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the PPFM is a species of  M mesophilicum.    
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , which increases algal yield of compounds that are used as feedstock for extracting biofuel. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the compounds are used as feedstock for oil for biodiesel, for ethanol, for butane, or for other hydrocarbons. 
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , which further comprises isolating one or more compounds from the cultivated algae for subsequent use for animal or human consumption. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , which further comprises isolating one or more compounds from the cultivated algae for subsequent use for human nutritional supplements or cosmetics. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , which is conducted in an outdoor facility. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the outdoor facility is a pond. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the facility is an indoor photo-bioreactor. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the PPFMs are freely mixed with and suspended in media in which the algae are cultivated. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the PPFMs are freely mixed with and suspended in media in which the algae are cultivated. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the PPFMs are isolated in a chemostat in order to prevent direct contact between the PPFMs and the algae, but wherein compounds secreted by the PPFMs are able to reach the algae in an algal growth medium compartment. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the secreted compounds are able to reach the algal growth compartment by being pumped directly into the compartment. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the secreted compounds are able to reach the algal growth compartment by free diffusion of the secreted compounds across tubing into the compartment. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 1 , which produces a maximum density that is at least about 10% greater than a control in a same unit time. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 1 , which produces a maximum density that is the same as a control, but in at least about 10% less unit time. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the co-cultivation of the one or more species of algae with one or more species of PPFM bacteria is for an entire cultivation time.