Importance

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Abstract

There is provided a process of growing a phototrophic biomass in a reaction zone. The reaction zone includes an operative reaction mixture. The operative reaction mixture includes the phototrophic biomass disposed in an aqueous medium. Gaseous exhaust material is produced with a gaseous exhaust material producing process, wherein the gaseous exhaust material includes carbon dioxide. Reaction zone feed material is supplied to the reaction zone of a photobioreactor such that any carbon dioxide of the reaction zone feed material is received by the phototrophic biomass so as to provide a carbon dioxide-enriched phototrophic biomass in the aqueous medium. A discharge of the gaseous exhaust material from the gaseous exhaust material producing process is supplied to the reaction zone feed material and defines a gaseous exhaust material reaction zone supply. The carbon dioxide-enriched phototrophic biomass disposed in the aqueous medium is exposed to photosynthetically active light radiation so as to effect photosynthesis. A product is discharged from the photobioreactor. The product includes at least a fraction of the contents of the reaction zone of the photobioreactor. A supplemental aqueous material supply is supplied to the reaction zone so as to replenish the contents of the photobioreactor. The supplemental aqueous material supply includes at least one of: (a) aqueous material which has been condensed from the gaseous exhaust material reaction zone supply while the gaseous exhaust material reaction zone supply is being cooled before being supplied to the reaction zone, and (b) aqueous material which has been separated from the discharged product.

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First Claim