Biofuel Production

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(12) INTERNATIONAL APPLICATION PUBLISHEDUNDER THE PATENT COOPERATIONTREATY (PCT)

(19) World Intellectual Property OrganizationInternational Bureau

(43) International PublicationDate30 November 2006 (30.11.2006) peT

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(10) International PublicationNumberWO 2006/127512 Al

(21) International Application Number:PCTIUS2006/019560

(51) International Patent Classification:Cl2P 3/00 (2006.01) Cl2P 7/08 (2006.01)Cl2P 5/02 (2006.01) Cl2P 7/64 (2006.01)

(22) International Filing Date:(25) Filing Language:

22May 2006 (22.05.2006)English

(81) Designated States (unless otherwise indicated, for everykind of nationalprotection available): AE, AG, AL, AM,AT, AU, AZ, BA, BB, BG, BR, BW, BY, BZ, CA, CH, CN,CO, CR, CU, CZ, DE, DK, DM, DZ, EC, EE, EG, ES, FI,GB, GD, GE, GH, GM, HR, HU, i l l , IL, IN, IS, JP, KE,KG, KM, KN, KP, KR, KZ, LC, LK, LR, LS, LT, LU, LV,LY, MA, MD, MG, MK, MN, MW, MX, MZ, NA, NG, NI,NO, NZ, OM, PG, PH, PL, PT, RO, RU, SC, SD, SE, SG,SK, SL, SM, SY, TJ, TM, TN, TR, TT, TZ, UA, UG, US,UZ, VC, VN, YU, ZA, ZM, zw.

(71) Applicant (jor all designated States except US):CARGILL, INCORPORATED [USIUS]; Law DeptIMS24, 15407 Mcginty Rd. w., Wayzata, Minnesota 55391(US).

(72) Inventors; and(75) Inventors/Applicants (for us only): EYAL, Aharon

[lLllL]; 16 Levy Street, 93386 Jerusalem (IL). PURTLE,Ian, C. [USIUS]; 1280 Zircon Lane N., Plymouth, Minnesota 55447 (US).

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(26) Publication Language:(30) Priority Data:60/683,041

English

20 May 2005 (20.05.2005) US

(84) Designated States (unless otherwise indicated, for everykind of regional protection available): ARIPO (BW, GH,GM, KE, LS, MW, MZ, NA, SD, SL, SZ, TZ, UG, ZM,ZW), Eurasian (AM, AZ, BY, KG, KZ, MD, RU, TJ, TM),European (AT, BE, BG, CH, CY, CZ, DE, DK, EE, ES, FI,FR, GB, GR, HU, IE, IS, IT, LT, LU, LV, MC, NL, PL, PT,RO, SE, SI, SK, TR), OAPI (BF, BJ, CF, CG, CI, CM, GA,GN, GQ, GW , ML, MR, NE, SN, TD, TG).

Published:with international search reportbefore the expiration of the time limit fo r amending theclaims and to be republished in the event of receipt ofamendments

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(74) Agents: TUROSKI, Christopher, M. et al.; Cargill, Incorporated, Law DeptIMS 24, P.O. Box 5624, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55440-5624 (US).

(54) Title: BIOFUEL PRODUCTION

For two-letter codes and other abbreviations, refer to the "Guidance Notes on Codes andAbbreviations"appearing at the beginning of each regular issue of the PCT Gazette.

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M,.-..I~ (57) Abstract: A method for biofuel production is disclosed. The method includes providing a first photosynthesis product. TheM method also includes processing the first photosynthesis product to form a product mixture comprising a first biofuel and CO2,,.-..I The method also includes separating CO2 from the product mixture. The method also includes growing biomass in a photosynthe\0 sis process, which biomass comprises a second photosynthesis product. The method also includes providing CO2 to the growingQ biomass, wherein at least partof the CO2 is consumed in the photosynthesis process. The method also includes optionally harvestingQ the grown biomass.Mo~


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BIOFUEL PRODUCTION

PCT/US2006/019560

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONSThis application claims priority to and incorporates by reference U.S.

Patent Application No. 60/683041 titled "Biofuel Production and Sequestration5 System" filed May 20,2005.

FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention generally relates to a biofuel production system. The

present invention more particularly relates to a method for producing ethanol withreduced CO2 emissions to the atmosphere.

10 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONIt is generally known to convert raw biological material (e.g. plants, cane

sugar, wood pulp) to fuel (i.e. "biofuel") through fermentation. However,converting photosynthesis products to a biofuel typically forms CO2 as a coproduct, which decreases biofuel production yield and may increase CO2

15 emissions to the atmosphere. Accordingly, there is a need for a biofuel productionmethod that provides for a relatively high yield of biofue!. There is also a need fora biofuel production method that reduces the availability of CO2 to theatmosphere. It would be advantageous to provide a biofuel production systemfilling anyone or more of these needs or having other advantageous features.

20 BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to a method for biofuel production. The

method includes providing a first photosynthesis product. The method alsoincludes processing the first photosynthesis product to form a product mixturecomprising a first biofuel and CO2. The method also includes separating CO2 from

25 the product mixture. The method also includes growing biomass in aphotosynthesis process, which biomass comprises a second photosynthesisproduct. The method also includes providing CO2 to the growing biomass,

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wherein at least part of the CO2 is consumed in the photosynthesis process. Themethod also includes optionally harvesting the grown biomass.

The present invention also relates to a method for the production of biofuel.The method includes providing a first photosynthesis product. The method also

5 includes processing the first photosynthesis product to form a product mixturecomprising a first biofuel and CO2. The method also includes separating CO2 fromthe product mixture. The method also includes growing biomass in aphotosynthesis process, which biomass comprises a second photosynthesisproduct. The method also includes providing CO2 from 0 the growing biomass,

10 wherein at least part of the CO2 is consumed in the photosynthesis process. Themethod also includes harvesting grown biomass. The method also includesprocessing at least part of the second photosynthesis product to form a productmixture comprising a second biofuel.

The invention will now be described in connection with certain preferred15 and alternative embodiments with reference to the following illustrative figures so

that it may be more fully understood.With specific reference now to the figures in detail, it is stressed that the

particulars shown are by way of example and for purposes of illustrativediscussion of the preferred embodiments of the present invention only and are

20 presented in the cause of providing what is believed to be the most useful andreadily understood description of the principles and conceptual aspects of theinvention. In this regard, no attempt is made to show structural details of theinvention in more detail than is necessary for a fundamental understanding of theinvention, the description taken with the drawings making apparent to those skilled

25 in the art how the several forms of the invention may be embodied in practice.

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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

PCT/US2006/019560

FIGURE 1 is a flow diagram of biofuel production and CO2 sequestrationaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a flow diagram of biofuel production and CO2 sequestration5 according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention.

FIGURE 3 is a flow diagram of biofuel production and CO2 sequestrationaccording to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED AND OTHEREXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS10 An exemplary method of the present invention is described in the following

with reference to figures. Referring generally to the figures, a plant material (e.g.corn) is processed to yield a first product (e.g. oil) and a second product (e.g.starch). The second product (e.g. starch) is fermented to yield a biofuel (e.g.ethanol). Fermentation creates a bi-product, specifically carbon dioxide (C02). In

15 conventional systems, such CO2 is emitted to the atmosphere. According to apreferred embodiment of the present invention, such bi-product CO2 is used in aphotosynthesis process to create a carbon sink (e.g. algae) or naturalenvironment that absorbs and stores CO2 . Such carbon sink may be a biomassused as a fuel or energy source. According to a preferred embodiment of the

20 invention, such biomass is used as a fermentation product to yield biofuel (e.g.ethanol).

Referring to Figure 1,a schematic flow diagram of an embodiment of theinvention is shown. A plant material 8 (e.g. corn) undergoes a processing step(operation 10) to yield a first product 12 (e.g. oil) and a fermentable product 14

25 (e.g. a product that is capable of being fermented such as starch, carbohydrate,glucose, sucrose, etc.) Suitable plants for the fermentable product include starchones, such as corn, wheat, potato and rice and sucrose crops such as sugar caneand sugar beet, lignocellulosics, etc. and plant materials such as various parts ofthe plant such as corn and wheat kernels, corn stalk, straw, etc. Known methods

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and their combinations are suitable for the production of the fermentable, e.g. drymilling, of corn, wet milling of corn and combinations of those, wheat milling,starch hydrolysis and saccharification, processing of sugar cane, sugar beet,processing of lignocellulosics (e.g. via hydrolysis), processing of dairy products,

5 etc. Also suitable are products of processing such plants, e.g. products of corndry milling and corn wet milling, such as steeped corn, corn endosperm, corn orwheat starch, debranned corn or wheat, bran, fiber, orange peel, etc.

Referring further to Figure 1, fermentable product 14 is fermented(operation 20) to yield a fermentation product 22 (e.g. ethanol-containing aqueous

10 stream, lactic acid, formic acid, acetic acid, hydrogen, butanediol, etc.) and afermentation byproduct 24 (e.g. CO2), Fermentation product 22 and fermentationbyproduct 24 (e.g. CO2) are separated (operation 20). Fermentation product 22(e.g. ethanol-containing aqueous stream) is further treated in a separationoperation (30) to yield a biofuel32 (e.g. ethanol). Separation could use known

15 means such as distillation. If desired, azeotropic ethanol formed by distillation isfurther dried, e.g. on molecular sieve.

Referring further to Figure 1, fermentation byproduct 24 (e.g. CO2) isprovided, optionally along with additional CO2 from other sources, such asatmospheric CO2 and CO2 from combustion (26), and/or irradiation (28) to a step

20 of photosynthesis growth (operation 40). In the growth step, the CO2 issequestered and transformed into a carbon sink or biomass, rather than beingemitted to the atmosphere. According to a preferred embodiment, the grownbiomass is algal biomass, e.g. micro-algae or macro-algae. According to apreferred embodiment, the grown biomass is harvested and used, e.g. for feed.

25 Thus, it is believed that the process of Figure 1 generates biofuel (e.g. ethanol),and possibly other products with less CO2 emission compared to conventionalethanol-producing processes.

Figure 2 is a schematic flow diagram of an alternative embodiment of theinvention. In a photosynthesis process (140) a fermentable product which is also

30 a biomass 142 (e.g. carbohydrate-containing algal biomass) is grown, for example4-


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using C02 (126) and irradiation (128). The biomass 142 is haNested andprocessed (150), optionally together with another fermentable product orcarbohydrate source, e.g. carbohydrate from a plant source (144), producing asone of the products a fermentable carbohydrate stream (152). The carbohydrate

5 stream 152 is fermented in operation (120). Fermentation results in afermentation byproduct 124 (e.g. CO2) and in a fermentation product 122 (e.g.ethanol-containing aqueous solution), which are separated (operation 120). Thefermentation product 122 (ethanol-containing aqueous stream) is further treated inoperation (130) to separate biofuel132 (e.g. ethanol). According to a preferred

10 embodiment, the fermentation byproduct 124 (e.g. C02) is also provided to thephotosynthesis process of step (140) to be converted into biomass 142.According to a preferred embodiment, the biomass is an algal biomass andfermentation of the biomass is intracellular, e.g. dark fermentation. According to apreferred embodiment, the biomass is concentrated prior to dark fermentation in

15 order to generate a concentrated product. Optionally the biomass is reused afterthe dark fermentation to sequester more CO2and generate more carbohydrate.According to a preferred embodiment, the fermentation liquor produced duringextracellular fermentation and/or intracellular fermentation to ethanol is treated forethanol separation in operation (130) along with stream (122).

20 Figure 3 is a schematic flow diagram of a preferred embodiment of theinvention. A fermentable product stream 214 (e.g. carbohydrate) from a plantsource (208) and a fermentable product stream 252 (e.g. carbohydrate) from acarbon sink or biomass source (252) (e.g. algae) are provided and thefermentable products 214 and 252 are fermented in operation (220). The

25 fermentation results in a fermentation byproduct 224 (e.g. CO2) and in afermentation product 222 (e.g. ethanol-containing aqueous solution), which areseparated (operation 220). Fermentation product 222 (e.g. ethanol-containingaqueous stream) is further treated in operation (230) to separate biofuel 232 (e.g.ethanol). Separated fermentation byproduct 224 (e.g. CO2) is provided, optionally

30 along with additional CO2from another source, e.g. atmospheric CO2 and productof combustion (226) (including flue gas), and with irradiation (228) to a step of

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photosynthesis growth of a carbon sink or biomass 242 (e.g. carbohydratecontaining algal biomass) in operation 240). In the growth step, the CO2 issequestered and transformed into biomass, rather than being emitted to theatmosphere. The grown algal biomass 242 is harvested and processed

5 (operation 240), producing as one of the products a fermentable product (252) tobe used in the fermentation (operation 220).

Any carbohydrate-producing algae are suitable for the purpose of thepresent invention. Many algae convert in a photosynthesis process water andCO2 into starch. The starch is a storage carbohydrate and is stored in the algae in

10 the form of granules. Those granules are similar in nature to those in starchycrops, such as corn. Biomass processing (operations 150 and 250 in Figures 2and 3, respectively) may in.volve extraction of starch granules, optionally liberatingit from cell membrane by sonication or solvent treatment. The starch granules arehydrolyzed chemically (acid catalyzed), enzymatically (e.g. using amylase and/or

15 glucoamylase) or a combination of those to form a carbohydrate solution to befermented. According to a preferred embodiment, processing of algal-biomassresulting starch is combined with processing of plant starch. In a particularlypreferred embodiment, operation 10 or 210 involves processing of corn, wheat oranother starch crop, which generates starch granules from the plant material and

20 that starch is hydrolyzed along with algal starch granules to form the carbohydratestream for fermentation.

According to alternative embodiments, the biomass produced according tothe present invention, e.g. algal biomass, can be processed to generatecommercial products in addition to (or instead of) carbohydrate streams for

25 fermentation to ethanol (and/or to other products). Those commercial productscould be separated from the algal biomass prior to processing into a carbohydratestream, simultaneously with that processing or from a residue left aftercarbohydrate separation. According to a preferred embodiment, biofuel isproduced. Such biofuel may include products such biodiesel (e.g. fatty acid

30 methyl esters produced from oil content of the biomass), biohydrogen and biofuel

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produced via pyrolysis of biomass fractions. Alternatively, or in addition, fractionsof the algae are burned for thermal energy. Such thermal energy and optionallyalso thermal energy produced by combusting plant material and generated biofuelis used, according to a preferred embodiment, to provide processing energy.

5 Processing energy could be used in operations such as processing of plantmaterial to form carbohydrate stream, processing biomass, separation of ethanol,etc. CO2 formed in such combustion is preferably provided to the photosynthesis(operations 40, 140 and 240 in Figures 1,2, and 3, respectively).

According to another preferred embodiment, the algal biomass comprises a10 commercial product selected from a group consisting of oil, glycerol, fatty acids,unsaturated fatty acids, omega3 fatty acids, arachidonic acid, xanthophylls,

carotenoids, beta-carotene and astaxanthin. According to a preferredembodiment, at least one of those commercial products is separated from thealgal biomass. Separation may use known methods and be conducted prior to the

15 production of a carbohydrate stream, simultaneously with it or after suchproduction.

According to a preferred embodiment, algal biomass is grown in abioreactor into which CO 2 is provided. Also introduced into the bioreactor isirradiation, which could be solar irradiation, artificial irradiation, irradiation from

20 combustion, selected fractions of those and/or irradiation from any other sourcewith irradiation wavelength suitable for the selected algae. According to anotherpreferred embodiment, suitable nutrients are provided to the growing algalbiomass, including e.g. nitrogen and phosphorous sources. Complex nutrientssuch as steep liquor and yeast extract might be desired for some of the algae.

25 According to a preferred embodiment, those are supplied from internal sources,such as ashes from in combustion of algal residues or other plant material, cornsteep liquor (particularly in cases where the process is run next to corn millingplant and residues of ethanol distillation). Such nutrients are used, according toanother preferred embodiment in the fermentation process.

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The algae biomass produced in the photosynthesis process is typicallyharvested prior to processing. Harvesting uses known methods for separation ofmicroalgae or microalgae from aqueous growth medium, such as filtration andcentrifugation.

5 According to an exemplary process of the present invention, the CO2formed in the fermentation (49% of the weight of the fermented glucose) will beconsumed in the photosynthesis process and partially converted to carbohydratein an algal biomass. That biomass is processed for carbohydrate recovery andthe recovered carbohydrate is fermented to ethanol. Furthermore, the algal

10 carbohydrate yield could be further increased by providing to the photosynthesisstep CO2 from other sources, including CO2 produced in combustion. In aparticularly preferred embodiment, the process of the present invention isoperated next to processing plant material. Such processing and the ethanolseparation require energy, which could be obtained by burning fuel such as

15 natural gas and plant parts. The CO2 produced in such burning of fuel is providedto the growth of the carbohydrate-containing algal biomass. According to apreferred embodiment, algae biomass, e.g. fractions that do not end up in thecarbohydrate stream, and optionally also some of the ethanol provide such fuel.Algal biomass could be burned for that purpose or biologically digested to form

20 methane, which is then used.According to a preferred embodiment, at least one of the provided (first)

photosynthesis products and the biomass-contained (second) photosynthesisproduct comprises at least one of simple carbohydrates, such as glucose, xylose,arabinose and sucrose, oligosaccharides and poly saccharides, such as starch,

25 cellulose and hemicellulose, lignin, pectin, natural polymeric compounds,triglycerides, phospholipids, their combinations, products of their processing andproducts of their degradation, processing and/or hydrolysis.

According to a preferred embodiment, providing a photosynthesis productcomprises processing a lignocellulosic material and/or biomass, such as wood,

30 straw, stalk, corn cobs, switch grass, recycled paper, byproducts of foodlfeed8-


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production, etc. The main components of such lignocellulosic material arecellulose, hemicellulose and lignin. Processing could involve hydrolysis of thehemicellulose and cellulose fractions.

According to a preferred embodiment, processing at least one of the5 provided (first) photosynthesis products and the biomass-contained (second)

photosynthesis product comprises at least one of chemically-catalyzed reactions,biologically-catalyzed reactions, enzymatically-catalyzed reaction, biologicalprocessing, fermentation, anaerobic fermentation, pyrolysis, reforming and transesterification.

10 According to a preferred embodiment, at least one of the first biofuel andthe second biofuel is selected from a group consisting of ethanol, methane,hydrogen, biodiesel and a combination thereof.

According to a preferred embodiment, the second biofuel is ethanol.According to another preferred embodiment, both reaction products comprise

15 ethanol.According to a preferred embodiment, the second biofuel is similar to the

first biofuel. According to a variant of this preferred embodiment, processing atleast part of the first carbohydrate and processing at least part of the secondphotosynthesis product are combined.

20 Alternatively, the first biofuel comprises methane, e.g. as formed inanaerobic fermentation, and the second biofuel comprises ethanol. According toanother alternative the first biofuel comprises hydrogen, e.g. as formed byfermentation, reforming, etc., and the seconq biofuel comprises ethanol.According to still another alternative, the second biofuel comprises biodiesel, such

25 as fatty acid methyl esters, e.g. as formed by a trans-esterification reactionbetween triglycerides and methanol.

According to a preferred embodiment, CO2 formed in processing thesecond photosynthesis product is also consumed by the grown biomass.

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It will be evident to those skilled in the art that the invention is not limited tothe details of the foregoing illustrative embodiments and that the present inventionmay be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit oressential attributes thereof. The present embodiments are therefore to be

5 considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of theinvention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoingdescription, and all changes which come within the meaning and range ofequivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

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WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

PCT/US2006/019560

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1. A method for biofuel production, comprising the steps of:a. providing a first photosynthesis product;b. processing the first photosynthesis product to form a product mixturecomprising a first biofuel and CO2;c. separating CO 2from the product mixture;d. growing biomass in a photosynthesis process, which biomasscomprises a second photosynthesis product;e. providing CO 2from step (c) to the growing biomass, wherein at leastpart of the C02 is consumed in the photosynthesis process; andf. optionally harvesting the grown biomass.

2. The method of Claim 1, further comprising the step of processing thesecond photosynthesis product to form a product mixture comprising acommercial product.

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3.

4.

5.

The method of Claim 2, wherein at least one of the processing of the firstphotosynthesis product and processing the second photosynthesis productcomprises at least one processing step involving chemical catalysis,biological catalysis, enzymatic catalysis, biological processing,fermentation, anaerobic fermentation, pyrolysis and reforming.The method of Claim 2, wherein the commercial product comprises at leastone of ethanol, formic acid, acetic acid, lactic acid, hydrogen, butanedioland their combinations.A method for the production of biofuel, comprising the steps of:a. providing a first photosynthesis product;b. processing the first photosynthesis product to form a product mixturecomprising a first biofuel and CO2;c. separating CO2from the product mixture;d. growing biomass in a photosynthesis process, which biomasscomprises a second photosynthesis product;

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5

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6.

7.

8.

e. providing CO2from step (c) to the growing biomass, wherein at leastpart of the CO2 is consumed in the photosynthesis process;f. harvesting grown biomass; andg. processing at least part of the second photosynthesis product toform a product mixture comprising a second biofuel.The method of claim 5, wherein at least one of the first biofuel and thesecond biofuel comprises at least one of ethanol, methane, hydrogen,biodiesel and a combination thereof.The method of claim 5, where the second biofuel comprises ethanol.The method of claim 5, where both the first biofuel and the second biofuelcomprises ethanol.

9. The method of claim 5, where the first biofuel comprises methane and thesecond biofuel comprises ethanol.

10. The method of claim 5, where the first biofuel comprises hydrogen and the15 second biofuel comprises ethanol.

11. The method of claim 5, where the second biofuel comprises biodiesel.12. The method of Claim 5, wherein the product mixture formed from

processing the second photosynthesis product comprises CO2 , and themethod further comprises the steps of separating the C02 and providing it

20 to the growing biomass, wherein at least part of the provided CO2 isconsumed in the photosynthesis process.13. The method of Claim 5, wherein the grown biomass comprises algalbiomass.

14. The method of Claim 5, wherein the provided first photosynthesis product25 comprises at least one of plant material, algal biomass, their combinations,

products of their processing and product of their degradation.

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15

19. The method of Claim 17 wherein the provided carbohydrate streamcomprises carbohydrate from a plant source.

20. A method for CO2 sequestration and ethanol production, comprising thesteps of:

5 a. processing plant material to generate a carbohydrate stream;b. processing carbohydrate-containing algal biomass to generate acarbohydrate stream;c. providing a combined carbohydrate stream comprising carbohydratefrom both the plant source of step (a) and the algal source of step (b);

10 d. fermenting carbohydrate resulting from the stream provided in (c) toform a product mixture comprising ethanol and CO2;e. separating CO2from the product mixture of step (d);f. growing carbohydrate containing algal-biomass in a photosynthesisprocess;g. providing C02 from step (e) to the growing algal-biomass wherein atleast a portion of the CO2 is consumed in the photosynthesis process;h. harvesting algal biomass grown in step (g); andwherein the carbohydrate-containing algal biomass processed in step (b)results at least partially from the harvested biomass of step (h).

20 21. The method of claim 20, wherein the plant is selected from starchy plants,sugar cane and sugar beet.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the starchy plant comprises at least oneof corn, wheat, rice, and potatoes.

23. The method of Claim 20, further comprising a step of processing harvested25 biomass to generate at least one of biofuel, thermal energy, nutrients, CO2

and commercial products.24. The method of claim 23, wherein a generated nutrient is used in at least

one of growing biomass, growing algal biomass and fermenting.

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25. The method of Claim 20, wherein ethanol is produced, and furthercomprising the step of separating ethanol from the product mixture.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein the generated thermal energy is used inat least one of providing a carbohydrate stream, processing a plant

5 material, processing of biomass and separating ethanol.27. The method of claim 20, wherein the generated CO2 is used in growing

biomass.28. A method for C02 sequestration and for the production of biofuel and a

commercial product, comprising the steps of:10 a. providing a first photosynthesis product;

b. processing the first photosynthesis product to form a product mixturecomprising a biofuel and C02;c. separating C02 from the product mixture;d. growing biomass in a photosynthetic process, which biomass comprises

15 a second photosynthesis product;e. providing C02 from step (c) to the growing biomass wherein at least partof the C02 is consumed in said photosynthesis process;f. harvesting grown biomass; andg. processing at least part of said second photosynthesis product to form a

20 product mixture comprising a commercial product.29. The method of Claim 29, wherein the biofuel is ethanol.

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Figure 1 26 1 2814Processing plant Fennenting and Photosynthesis and. material (10) . separation (20) - harvesting (40)-..8

12 ~ 2422 42Biofuel separation(30)

32

Figure 2

126 128

Fennenting and I - - - - - - - ~ Photosynthesis andseparation (120) 124 harvesting (140)

122 152 142,. -- -biofuel separation - Biomass(130) processing (150)132 144

Figure 3226 228

208 214 IrProcessing plant Fennenting and Photosynthesis and. material (210) separation (220) 224 harvesting (240)212 222 242, 252 ,Ir

biofuel separation l-- Biomass(230) processing (250)

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INTERNATIONAL SEARCH REPORT International application NoPCT/US2006/019560

A. CLASSIFICATIOfjOF SUBJECT MATTER / C12P7/08 C12P7/64NV. C12P3 00 C12P5 02According to International Patent Classification (IPC) or to both national classification and IPCB. FIELDS SEARCHEDMinimum documentation searched (classification system followed by classification symbols)C12PDocumentation searched other than minimum documentation to the extent that such documents are included in the fields searched

Electronic data base consulted during the international search (nameof data base and, where practical, search terms used)EPO-Internal, WPI Data, PAJ

c. DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED TO BE RELEVANTCategory Citation of document, with indication, where appropriate, of the relevant passages Relevant to claim No.

P,X KHESHGI H S ET AL: "Sequestration of 16fermentation CO2 from ethanol production"ENERGY, PERGAMON PRESS, OXFORD, GB,vol. 30, no. 10, July 2005 (2005-07) ,pages 1865-1871, XP004732892ISSN: 0360-5442page 1865 - page 1868A 3,6-11 ,14,15,19,21,22,25,29

- - - - -X EP 0 645 456 A (MITSUBISHI JUKOGYO 1-9,KABUSHIKI KAISHA) 12-20,29 March 1995 (1995-03-29) 23-29page 4, 1ine 41 - page 6, 1ine 15; example3 ------ / - -

[I] Further documents are listed in the continuation of Box C. [ ] See patentfamily annex. Special categories of cited documents:

"r ' laterdocument published afterthe international filing date"A" document defining the general state ofthe art which is not or priority date and not in confl ict with the application butcited to understand the principle or theory underlying theconsidered to be of particular relevance invention"E" earlier document but pUblished on or after the international "X" document of particular relevance; the claimed inventionfiling date cannot be considered novel or cannot be considered to"L" document which maythrowdoubts on priority claim(s) or involve an inventive step when the document is taken alonewhich is cited to establish the publication date of another "Y" document of particUlar relevance; the claimed inventioncitation or other special reason (as specified) cannot be considered to involve an inventive step when the"0 " document referring to an oral disclosure, use, exhibition or document is combined with one or more other such docu-other means ments, such combination being obvious to a person skilled"P" document pUblished priorto the International filing date but in the art.later than the priority date claimed "&" document member of the same patent familyDate of the actuai completion of the international search Date of mailing of the international search report

18 September 2006 25/09/2006Name and mailing address of the ISAI Authorized officerEuropean Patent Office, P.B. 5818 Patentlaan 2NL - 2280 HV RijswijkTel. (+31-70) 340-2040, Tx. 31 651 epo nl, De Kok, AdFax: (+31-70)340-3016

Form PCT/ISAJ210 (second sheet) (April 2005)


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C(Continuation). DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED TO BE RELEVANTCategory* Citation of document, with indication, where appropriate, of the relevant passages

X EP 0 878 533 A (ENERGY OF NATURE PROJEKTGESELLSCHAFT FUER UMWELTTECHNISCHEANLAGENSY) 18 November 1998 (1998-11-18)column 1, line 1 - column 4, line 36column 5, line 35 - column 8, line 16

International application NoPCT/US2006/019560

Relevant to claim No.

1-6,9,12-15,28

A

A

A

STEWART C ET AL: "A study of methods ofcarbon dioxide capture andsequestration--the sustainability of aphotosynthetic bioreactor approach"ENERGY CONVERSION AND MANAGEMENT, ELSEVIERSCIENCE PUBLISHERS, OXFORD, GB,vol. 46, no. 3, February 2005 (2005-02),pages 403-420, XP004605027ISSN: 0196-8904abstractpage 405 - page 410page 412 - page 418US 6 648 949 Bl (DER VICTOR K ET AL)18 November 2003 (2003-11-18)column 3, line 30 - column 4, line 58column 6, line 30 - line 59US 2002/193617 Al (ULRICH JAMES F ET AL)19 December 2002 (2002-12-19)the whole document

1,2,4,5,12,15-18,20,23,24,26-28

5-13,15-18,20,23,27

10,11,21,22

Form PCTIISAl210 (continualion of second sheet) (ApnI2005)


20/20

INTERNATIONAL SEARCH REPORTInformation on patent family members International application No

Patent documentcited in search report I Publicationdate Patent familymember(s) PCT/US2006/019560PublicationdateEP 0645456

EP 0878533US 6648949

A

A81

29-03-1995 DEDEUS

18-11-1998 DE18-11-2003 NONE

69427144 0169427144 T25578472 A19721280 Al

31-05-200111-10-200126-11-199619-11-1998

US 2002193617 Al 19-12-2002 NONE

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