System and method for processing biological material

Abstract

The invention provides apparatus and processes for cultivating algae.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A process for the cultivation of algae with an algae cultivation system, comprising:
 a conduit system having a first portion exposed to illumination and a second portion occluded from illumination;   a flow mechanism capable of causing movement of a first type of algae, in an aqueous medium, through said first portion of said conduit system;   a heat exchanger in thermal contact with said second portion and capable of passing the first type of algae, in an aqueous medium, to thereby enable heat transfer between the first portion and the second portion of the conduit system;   a source of algae nutrients;   a first flow regulating system that is capable of regulating flow of algae nutrients from said source of algae nutrients into said first portion of said conduit system;   a source of carbon dioxide;   a second flow regulating system that is capable of regulating flow of carbon dioxide from said source of carbon dioxide into said first portion of said conduit system;   a vertical conduit connected to said first portion of said conduit system and extending vertically upward from said first portion of said conduit system to intoduce hydrostatic pressure to the first portion of said conduit system;   a gas collection chamber communicating with an upper end region of said vertical conduit, said second flow regulating system being controlled based on characteristics of gas in said gas collection chamber; and   an algae processing mechanism that is capable of processing algae from said first portion of said conduit system to extract sugar, water and nutrients and directing the extracted sugar, water and nutrients into said second portion of the conduit system to interact with the second type of algae therein;   
       wherein the first portion is partially or entirely transparent to the illumination,
 the method comprising the steps of: 
 (a) growing type 1 algae in an aqueous medium in the first portion,
 (i) harvesting the type 1 algae from the aqueous medium, and 
 (ii) recovering carbohydrates from cells of the harvested type 1 algae; 
 
 (b) growing type 2 algae in an aqueous medium in the presence of sufficient nutrients to promote heterotrophic growth, in the portion, wherein the nutrients comprise carbohydrates extracted from the type 1 algae,
 (i) harvesting type 2 algae from the aqueous medium of the second reservoir, and 
 (ii) recovering lipids, proteins, and/or carbohydrates from cells of the harvested type 2 algae. 
 
 
     
     
         2 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the illumination of the first portion is from sunlight. 
     
     
         3 . The process of  claim 2  wherein the sunlight imparts thermal energy to the first portion and said thermal energy is distributed to the second portion to maintain temperatures in a range of from about 20° C. to about 45° C. 
     
     
         4 . The process of  claim 1  further comprising a third flow regulating system that is capable of regulating a flow of oxygen from said gas collection chamber into the interior of said heat exchanger to interact with the second type of algae therein. 
     
     
         5 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the nutrients further comprise oxygen collected from gas collection chamber.