Abstract: An apparatus for the concentration of suspended algae particles in an aqueous solution. The apparatus includes an electrolytic cell containing at least an anode and a cathode, and a filter. The electrolytic cell receives a solution containing suspended algae particles therein. A power supply is near the filter. A zone of depleted suspended algae particles is near the filter, formed under the influence of an applied electric field from the power supply.

Abstract: A system for collecting matter provides a low energy, low cost and nearly zero pollutant process for extracting suspended and/or dissolved matter in a medium. The system collects the matter on a material which is deployed into the medium, and the matter is extracted off the material. If the extracted matter is algae, then it can be processed into end user commercial products such as pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, cosmetics, biofuels, food products, crop fertilizer, animal feed and polymers. If the extracted matter is oil or bitumen, then it can be recovered at oil spills or in tar sands. If the medium is infected with a harmful algae bloom of cyanobacteria, then the system could not only harvest the algae for processing but also cut off a food source of remaining algae by additionally extracting suspended silt. This invention collects matter in an economically and environmentally viable manner.

Abstract: An electrolytic filtration method and apparatus for the concentration and collection of suspended particulates from aqueous solutions is disclosed. The electrolytic cell contains at least an anode and a cathode, and in one embodiment contains a plurality of anodes and cathodes. The electrolytic cell also contains a filter, and in one embodiment the filter is a moving belt filter. While not bound by theory, the electrolytic filtration method and apparatus is based on the electrophoretic movement of algae particles suspended in an aqueous solution away from the filter under the influence of an electric field. In one embodiment the electric field is a pulsed waveform with unidirectional voltage or current pulses. In another embodiment, the electric field is a pulsed waveform with bidirectional voltage or current pulses.

Abstract: A method for collecting matter using a matter collection Unit, as described below, provides a low energy, low cost and nearly zero pollutant process for extracting suspended and/or dissolved matter in a medium. The method collects the matter on a material when the medium is permitted to flow past the material which is disposed within a chamber, and the medium, with less suspended matter, can flow back to a medium body to permit, e.g., further growth and/or higher collection efficiency. The process can operate continuously alongside, e.g. a growth system, to harvest suspended matter until the matter is ready for extraction. Post extraction collected matter, e.g., can be converted into valuable commercial products or the process can be used to remediate a medium, such that the valuable product is a substantially cleaner medium.