Claims
- 1. A process for producing cell mass, comprising the steps of:
- (a) thermally gasifying organic materials to produce a gaseous mixture consisting essentially of carbon monoxide and hydrogen;
- (b) contacting said mixture with photosynthetic bacteria selected from the group consisting of the Rhodospirillales order of photographic bacteria; wherein said bacteria metabolizing carbon monoxide in light; and
- (c) exposing said bacteria to radiant energy whereby said gaseous mixture is assimilated by said bacteria into bacterial cell mass.
- 2. A process in accordance with claim 1, wherein said gaseous mixture is contacted by said bacteria under anaerobic conditions.
- 3. A process in accordance with claim 1, wherein said organic materials comprise biomass material.
- 4. A process in accordance with claim 1, wherein said radiant energy comprises solar energy.
- 5. A process in accordance with claim 4, wherein said gaseous mixture is exposed to said bacteria in a reactor into which solar energy is permitted to enter.
- 6. A process in accordance with claim 1, wherein said organic materials are thermally combusted.
- 7. A process in accordance with claim 1, wherein said photosynthetic bacteria is selected from the group consisting of Rhodocyclus gelatinosus, Rhodoseudomonas palustris, Rhodospirillum molischianum, and Rhodopseudomonas capsulata.
- 8. A process in accordance with claim 1, wherein said bacteria are present in an aqueous medium.
CONTRACTUAL ORIGIN OF THE INVENTION
The U.S. Government has rights in this invention under Contract No. DE-AC02-83CH10093 between the U.S. Department of Energy and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, a Division of the Midwest Research Institute.
US Referenced Citations (7)