OriginOil’s patent-pending technology, Quantum Fracturing, is based on mass transfer and fluid fracturing science to address the challenges of industrializing the algae oil production process.

A quantum is the smallest quantity of some physical property that a system can possess. We use the term to illustrate how we fracture the growth environment into very small parts, at the scale of a micron, or a millionth of a meter.

So, in Quantum Fracturing, water, carbon dioxide and other nutrients are fractured at very high pressure to create a slurry of micron-sized bubbles, which is then injected into the algae culture awaiting it in a lower-pressure growth vessel, the bioreactor.

This process achieves total and instantaneous distribution of nutrients to the algae culture without fluid disruption or aeration. The pressure differentials between the two zones substantially increase contact and exchange between the micronized nutrients and the algae culture.

Ultimate Oil Production Efficiency

The increased contact interface makes for very high absorption of CO2 and nutrients in the growth phase and very efficient cracking of the tough cell membranes in the extraction phase. Most importantly, by increasing the CO2 absorption during the growth phase, the algae cell will be produce a much greater volume of hydrocarbons (oil).

By fracturing the fluid medium into microscopic “quantum” environments, and exploiting the properties of micron-level mass transfer, our technology can cause a quantum leap in the efficiency of algae oil cultivation.

Two Stages of Algae Production

OriginOil’s patent-pending algae oil production system employs varying intensities of Quantum Fracturing over two major stages of algae production.

Growth Stage: Low Intensity: CO2 and nutrients are fractured into a micro-bubble slurry and injected directly into the algae culture for total contact. Medium Intensity: water is fractured into microbubbles causing algae cells to rotate and float to the top of the vessel where they can be collected for extraction.

Extraction Stage: Water and special catalysts are fractured at high ultrasonic intensity, using very little energy, to crack the algae membrane and extract its oil content.

The Quantum Fracturing technology massively enhances the efficiency of algae production and makes it cost-effective.

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