United States of America as Represented by the Administrator of Nasa

Travis A Liggett

Lance D Delzeit

Robert Baertsch

Jonathan D Trent

Michael T Flynn

Sherwin J Gormly

Tsegereda N Embaye

Patrick W Buckwalter

Methods for producing hydrocarbons, including oil, by processing algae and/or other micro-organisms in an aquatic environment. Flexible bags (e.g., plastic) with CO/Oexchange membranes, suspended at a controllable depth in a first liquid (e.g., seawater), receive a second liquid (e.g., liquid effluent from a 'dead zone') containing seeds for algae growth. The algae are cultivated and harvested in the bags, after most of the second liquid is removed by forward osmosis through liquid exchange membranes. The algae are removed and processed, and the bags are cleaned and reused.

Algae bioreactor using submerged enclosures with semi-permeable membranes

Growing community of inventors

Redkey, IN, United States of America

Travis A Liggett