(12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. No.: US 2011/0045561 A1 Hagen (43) Pub

US 2011 0045561A1 (19) United States (12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. No.: US 2011/0045561 A1 Hagen (43) Pub. Date: Feb. 24, 2011 (54) METHOD OF STIMULATING ETHANOL Publication Classification PRODUCTION AND GROWTH OF AOUATIC PLANTS (51) Int. Cl. CI2P 7/06 (2006.01) (76) Inventor: Tony A. Hagen, Sioux Falls, SD C07C3L/08 (2006.01) (US) (52) U.S. Cl. ......................................... 435/161; 568/840 Correspondence Address: (57) ABSTRACT ED A method of stimulating ethanol production and growth of soUX FALLS SD 57.109 (US aquatic plants includes the steps of placing aquatic plants in a 9 (US) cell containing water and creating an oxygenated condition within the cell to initiate an aerobic process. The aquatic (21) Appl. No.: 12/730,213 plants create and store carbohydrates during the aerobic pro 1-1. cess. The cell is then covered with a light blocking cover (22) Filed: Mar. 23, 2010 during the anoxic condition to inhibit light from entering the O O cell. An anoxic condition is created within the cell to initiate Related U.S. Application Data an anaerobic process by the aquatic plants. The aquatic plants (63) Continuation-in-part of application No. 12/437.333, increase in size and release ethanol into the water by metabo filed on May 7, 2009, Continuation-in-part of applica lism of stored carbohydrates during the anaerobic process. tion No. 12/628,601, filed on Dec. 1, 2009. The ethanol is then sequestered from the water. u- 30 Light barrier 1 D Oxygen barrier 60 61 Aq uatic Plants -1 -/N- ^- ----- Wetland Cell eat Exchanger Pump 63 :::::::::::: (Or UV Light CO Antibiotics Algaecides Corderse Patent Application Publication Feb. 24, 2011 Sheet 1 of 3 US 2011/0045561 A1 PLACE AOUATIC PLANTS IN CE ADO YEAST -/ TO CEL (optional) CREATE/ALLOW OXYGENATED CONDITION NCELL WATER AND INITIATE LIGHT PHASE AGTAEWATER, CREATE WATER FLOW CREATE ANOXC CONDITION NCEL WATER AND NITATE DARK PHASE REMOVE ETHANO. FROM CE FIG. 1 Patent Application Publication Feb. 24, 2011 Sheet 2 of 3 US 2011/0045561 A1 62 - 30 Light barrier OxVaen barrier 60 Wetland Cell heat Exchanger UV Light Antibiotics Corderser OOU-->D Fig. 2 Patent Application Publication Feb. 24, 2011 Sheet 3 of 3 US 2011/0045561 A1 Place aquatic plants in cell and establish stabilization system RECHARGE Create Conditions to PHASE transition to aerobic and lighted phase Add nutrients and CO2 and water to promote carbohydrate production Create and maintain flow or agitation Maintain lighted Control and oxygenated recharge Control invasives carbohydrates by introducing, Algaecides, antibiotics, UV light or other inhibitors CYCLE Add activated PRODUCTION Yeast to cell Create PHASE Conditions to Add Catalysts transition to anaerobic and Such as 2,4-d dark phase Maintain atmospheric And Water Create and maintain Conditions of low O2 flow or agitation And in Ceased Maintain Dark and Anaerobic CO2 phase to Control process temperature and pH carbohydrates to Ethano Control invasives by introducing, Algaecides, antibiotics, UV light or other inhibitors Fig. 3 US 2011/0045561 A1 Feb. 24, 2011 METHOD OF STMULATING ETHANOL ing the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the PRODUCTION AND GROWTH OF AOUATIC disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral PLANTS 10 will be described. 0011. As illustrated in FIGS. 1-3, the method 20 of stimu 0001. This application is a continuation in part of U.S. lating ethanol production and growth of aquatic plants gen patent application Ser. No. 12/437,333 filed on May 7, 2009 erally growing aquatic plants in a cell. The aquatic plants may and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/628.601 filed Dec. 1, be acquired in any conventional manner Such as gathering 2009. them from lakes or ponds, growing them in growing tanks or growing them directly in the cell. As the method 20 is per BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE formed, it may be used to grow and provide aquatic plants as Field of the Disclosure they are needed for future cells or for replacement purposes. The cell is constructed to hold water and may or may not be 0002 The disclosure relates to ethanol production meth lined to prevent transfer of fluids and gases into a ground ods and more particularly pertains to a new ethanol produc Surface Supporting the cell. A Substrate, for example a fine tion method for promoting plant growth by plants which particulate, may be placed in the cells and the aquatic plants produce free ethanol during anaerobic metabolism to form a introduced into the cells where they can anchor themselves in self-sustaining cycle of plant growth and ethanol production. the particulate. A fine particulate may used as it may promote less energy expenditure on the part of the aquatic plants to SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE root growth into the particulate and retains a higher percent 0003. An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs age of the plant matter above the surface of the particulate. presented above by generally comprising the steps of placing However, many of the plants being utilized by the method 20 aquatic plants in a cell containing water and creating an primarily rely on their root systems as anchoring means and anoxic and dark condition within the cell to initiate an anaero therefore any type of anchoring mechanism or Substrate may bic process by the aquatic plants. The aquatic plants increase be used which can be engaged by the roots. This may include in size and release ethanol by metabolism of stored carbohy mechanical anchoring devices, such as grids or screens, to drates during the anaerobic process. A lighted condition is which the roots may engage and couple themselves. Addi then created and oxygenation allowed within the cell to ini tionally, a denser particulate may be useful where water flow tiate an aerobic process. The aquatic plants create and store within the cell requires a stouter anchoring substrate. carbohydrates during the aerobic process. The steps of creat 0012. It should be understood that the method may be ing anoxic and oxygenated conditions are repeated to stimu practiced with a number of cells and the size a cell is not late aquatic plant growth and the release of ethanol. crucial to the method. The size of cell may be dictated by 0004. There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the available land area, access to raw materials and cost controls, more important features of the disclosure in order that the though it should be understood that the method may be prac detailed description thereofthat follows may be better under ticed with only a single cell. The cell may have any depth stood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may required for the chosen aquatic plant to properly grow. While be better appreciated. There are additional features of the the cell may have often have a depth of between 10 cm and 7 disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will m to prevent restricted plant growth, it has been found that form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. Some plants may grow in dramatically deeper depths provid 0005. The objects of the disclosure, along with the various ing other environmental factors, such as atypically high water features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are temperatures at depth, are present. For instance, Stuckenia pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and pectinate has been shown to grow in depths of greater than 20 forming a part of this disclosure. m of water where thermal vents provide at least warmer water than would be typically found in a North American lake at BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Such depths. 0006. The disclosure will be better understood and objects 0013 The cell may also be temperature controlled and in other than those set forth above will become apparent when particular the cell should be prevented from freezing which consideration is given to the following detailed description may kill the aquatic plants. Heat for the cells may be seques thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed tered from waste heat emitted by adjacent ethanol processing drawing wherein: plants or any other convenient Source of waste heat. Addi 0007 FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a method of stimulat tional heat Sources, such as geothermic and Solar, may also be ing ethanol production and growth of aquatic plants accord utilized where convenient. However, in particularly hot cli ing to an embodiment of the disclosure. mates, the cells may require cooling to prevent temperatures 0008 FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a method of stimulat that would otherwise harm the plants. Depending on the vari ing ethanol production and growth of aquatic plants accord ety of aquatic plant being utilized, a temperature range may ing to an embodiment of the disclosure. be selected which optimizes plant growth and ethanol pro 0009 FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a method of stimulat duction. For example, Some selected plants such as Stuckenia ing ethanol production and growth of aquatic plants accord pectinate may be maintained between 85°Fahrenheit and 73° ing to an embodiment of the disclosure. Fahrenheit for optimal growth, though it should be under stood that the overall temperature range for growth and pro DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED duction of ethanol falls into a much wider range. One manner EMBODIMENT of controlling temperature is to sink the cell into the ground 0010 With reference now to the drawings, and in particu where the soil around the cell will moderate the temperature lar to FIGS. 1-3, a new ethanol production method embody of the cell.

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