摘要 |
Process and apparatus for the production of algae biopolymer employing a first stage for the growth of algae and a second stage for biopolymer production. In the first stage, growth of algae biomass in a culture medium is accomplished by operating the first stage in a continuous mode in which fresh nitrogen-containing nutrient medium is supplied to the culture. Concomitantly with the supply of fresh nutrient medium to the culture in the first stage, a portion of the culture medium is transferred from the first stage to the second stage in which the supply of nitrogen is limited. A nitrogen deficiency is created in the second stage to shift the culture to a senescent phase to enhance biopolymer production. The growth phase is carried out in a first stage reaction chamber which is connected to a plurality of second stage reaction chambers in parallel with one another. Culture withdrawn from the first stage is transferred sequentially to each of the second stage reaction chambers such that biopolymer production occurs in several second stage chambers simultaneously with cells produced in the first stage reaction chamber.
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