Method and apparatus for the removal of bioconversion of constituents of organic liquids
- Knoxville, TN
- Oak Ridge, TN
A method and apparatus for the removal or conversion of constituents from bulk organic liquids. A countercurrent biphasic bioreactor system is utilized to disperse and recoalesce a biocatalyst contained in the aqueous liquid phase into the organic liquid phase containing the constituent. Two transient, high-intensity electrical fields rupture the aqueous drops into a plurality of microdroplets and induce continuous coalescence and redispersion as the microdroplets travel through the organic phase, thus increasing surface area. As the aqueous microdroplets progress through the organic phase, the biocatalyst then reacts with the constituent to produce a product which is then removed from the bioreactor in the aqueous phase or retained in the organic phase. The organic liquid, now free of the original constituents, is ready for immediate use or further processing.
- Research Organization:
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC05-84OR21400
- Assignee:
- Martin Marietta Energy Systems, Inc. (Oak Ridge, TN)
- Patent Number(s):
- US 5358614
- OSTI ID:
- 869573
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
apparatus
removal
bioconversion
constituents
organic
liquids
conversion
bulk
countercurrent
biphasic
bioreactor
utilized
disperse
recoalesce
biocatalyst
contained
aqueous
liquid
phase
containing
constituent
transient
high-intensity
electrical
fields
rupture
drops
plurality
microdroplets
induce
continuous
coalescence
redispersion
travel
increasing
surface
progress
reacts
produce
product
removed
retained
free
original
immediate
processing
organic liquids
electrical fields
electrical field
phase containing
organic phase
liquid phase
aqueous phase
organic liquid
aqueous liquid
continuous coalescence
intensity electric
catalyst contained
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