Martek Limited

Westvaco Corporation

Scot D Hoeksema

Paul Warren Behrens

Jacques J Delente

William H Williams

A photobioreactor for the cultivation of photosynthetic microorganisms is disclosed wherein a plurality of baffles are mounted in the photobioreactor tank forming hollow cavities which enable the insertion of light sources through openings in the tank wall. The baffles shield the light sources housed therein from the liquid photosynthetic culture contained in the tank thus facilitating electrical connections with the light sources and the maintenance thereof as well.

Photobioreactor

An apparatus is disclosed for the controlled production of microorganisms by photosynthesis in a closed photobioreactor. The closed photobioreactor contain a photosynthetic culture in a substantially sealed environment and provides a system for recirculating the reactant gas through the culture. This closed loop system can be operated with expensive carbon isotopes (i.e., .sup.13 CO.sub.2 or .sup.14 CO.sub.2). Also, a system is provided for removing the molecular oxygen produced in the photosynthesis reaction from the closed photobioreactor. Furthermore, a pH-regulated control valve is utilized for controlling the addition of reactant gas to the culture in response to the alkalization of the culture.

Closed photobioreactor and method of use

Apparatus is disclosed for continuously measuring the conductivity of the liquor in a pulp mat on a pulp washer. The apparatus comprises a probe which rests on and squeezes washing liquor from the pulp mat. Two modifications of the probe are disclosed, one fixed and one rotatable. In each case, the probe comprises a pair of electrodes separated from one another by non-conducting material. The electrodes are arranged on the probes to be submerged within the washing liquor squeezed from the mat. The electrodes are connected to an energy source, and when current is applied to one electrode, the current flows through the liquor to the other electrode to complete an electrical circuit. The measurement of the current flow or the resistance to current flow is directly related to the conductivity of the liquor and can be correlated with the soda loss in the pulp washing step.

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Elkridge, MD, United States of America

Scot D Hoeksema