Optofluidic photobioreactor apparatus, method, and applications
US9518248B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 14, 2011 |
| Grant date | Dec 13, 2016 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 26, 2033 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02E50/30
- WIPO fieldBiotechnology
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
An optofluidic photobioreactor including an optical waveguide having an input, characterized by an evanescent optical field confined along an outer surface of the optical waveguide produced by radiation propagating in the optical waveguide, means for inputting light to the input of the optical waveguide, and a selected photosynthetic microorganism disposed substantially within the evanescent field. A method for optically exciting a photosynthetic microorganism for generating a biofuel, a biofuel precursor, or a biomass from the optically-excited photosynthetic microorganism involves irradiating the photosynthetic microorganism attached to the surface of the waveguide with an evanescent optical field from optical radiation propagating in the optical waveguide, and driving photosynthesis in the microorganism by the evanescent optical field.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.