US 7,507,554 B2
Process for the production of ethanol from algae
Ronnie A. Bush, Germantown, Tenn. (US); and Kevin M. Hall, Mesquite, Tex. (US)
Assigned to Propulsion Logic, LLC, Germantown, Tenn. (US)
Filed on May 17, 2006, as Appl. No. 11/435,992.
Application 11/435992 is a continuation in part of application No. 11/363675, filed on Feb. 28, 2006, granted, now 7,135,308.
Prior Publication US 2007/0202582 A1, Aug. 30, 2007
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. C12P 7/39 (2006.01); C12P 7/14 (2006.01); C12N 1/12 (2006.01); C12N 1/16 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 435—42  [435/161; 435/162; 435/255.2; 435/257.1; 435/942; 435/946] 22 Claims
 
1. A process for forming ethanol from algae, comprising:
(a) growing starch-accumulating, filament-forming or colony-forming algae in an aqua culture environment;
(b) harvesting the grown algae to form a biomass;
(c) initiating decay of the biomass;
(d) contacting the decaying biomass with a yeast capable of fermenting it to form a fermentation solution; and,
(e) separating the resulting ethanol from the fermentation solution.