Abstract: A process is disclosed for recycling carbon dioxide emissions from a fossil-fuel power plant into useful carbonated species The process primarily comprises the steps of: a) burning the fossil fuel, thereby generating heat and a hot exhaust gas containing CO2; and b) converting the heat into energy. The process is characterized in that it further comprises the steps of: c) cooling the exhaust gas; and d) biologically transforming the CO2 contained in the cooled exhaust gas into carbonated species, thereby obtaining a low CO2 exhaust gas and producing useful carbonated species. The low CO2 exhaust gas obtained in step d) can be released in the atmosphere without increasing the problem of greenhouse effect.

Abstract: A triphasic bioreactor for physico-chemically treating a gas is disclosed. The triphasic bioreactor comprises a reaction chamber with a liquid and biocatalysts in suspension in the liquid, for catalyzing a reaction between the gas and the liquid to obtain a treated gas and a solution containing a reaction product. A gas bubbling means is provided in the reaction chamber for bubbling the gas to be treated into the liquid thereby dissolving the gas into the liquid and increasing a pressure inside the reaction chamber. The bioreactor further comprises a liquid inlet in fluid communication with the reaction chamber for receiving the liquid and filling the reaction chamber, a liquid outlet in fluid communication with the reaction chamber for releasing the solution and a gas outlet in fluid communication with the reaction chamber to release the treated gas. The bioreactor further comprises a retention device to retain the biocatalysts in the reaction chamber.

Abstract: The present invention relates to polynucleotide and polypeptide sequences of carbonic anhydrase variants having increased stability under high temperature conditions compared to native carbonic anhydrase.

Abstract: In order to reduce incoming atmospheric carbon dioxide levels in compressed air prior to cryogenic distillation, a water spray cooling tower equipped with biocatalytic packing, or fed with absorptive reagents, is used to convert gaseous carbon dioxide into bicarbonate ions which dissolve in the cooling water. The hydration reaction and refrigeration occur synergistically. The bicarbonate ions are subsequently removed from the solution using the heat from the compressed air in a regenerator re-boiler unit, and then fed to a percolation cooling tower for releasing CO2 and cooling.

Abstract: A triphasic bioreactor for physico-chemically treating a gas is disclosed. The triphasic bioreactor comprises a reaction chamber with a liquid and biocatalysts in suspension in the liquid, for catalyzing a reaction between the gas and the liquid to obtain a treated gas and a solution containing a reaction product. A gas bubbling means is provided in the reaction chamber for bubbling the gas to be treated into the liquid thereby dissolving the gas into the liquid and increasing a pressure inside the reaction chamber. The bioreactor further comprises a liquid inlet in fluid communication with the reaction chamber for receiving the liquid and filling the reaction chamber, a liquid outlet in fluid communication with the reaction chamber for releasing the solution and a gas outlet in fluid communication with the reaction chamber to release the treated gas. The bioreactor further comprises a retention device to retain the biocatalysts in the reaction chamber.

Abstract: A ventilation system is disclosed for an enclosure in which people live. The ventilation system comprises a first ducting means for ducting fresh air from outside to inside the enclosure and a second ducting means for ducting stale air. The second ducting means comprises a stale air inlet for receiving stale air containing carbon dioxide from inside the enclosure and an exhaust manifold having a first vent to exhaust air outside the enclosure and a second vent in fluid communication with the first ducting means to return clean air into the first ducting means. The ventilation system is further characterised in that it comprises catalysing means for catalysing hydration of carbon dioxide contained in at least a portion of the stale air into a solution of carbonate ions and hydrogen ions, and thereby removing carbon dioxide from said portion of the stale air and obtaining clean air. Evacuating means are also provided for evacuating the solution out of the ventilation system.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for producing cement clinker, comprising the steps of: a) providing a mixture of ground calcareous materials and ground argillaceous materials; b) heating the mixture of step a) to a temperature sufficient to calcine and fuse the ground materials to form the cement clinker, and thereby producing an exhaust gas containing CO2; c) catalysing the hydration of at least a portion of the CO2 contained in the exhaust gas and producing a solution containing bicarbonate ions and hydrogen ions; and d) adding to the solution obtained in step c) metal ions, and adjusting the pH of the solution to precipitate a carbonate or said metal. Preferably, the metal ions are Ca++ obtained from the dissolution of a material selected from the group consisting of CaCl2, cement kiln dust and sea salts and the carbonate is CaCO3 which is advantageously recycled into the process by adding the CaCO3 to the mixture of step a). A cement plant for performing this process is also disclosed.

Abstract: The object of the invention is the coupling of a hydrogen fuel cell to an enzymatic process for the production of electricity and the transformation and sequestration of CO2. Gaseous CO2 emissions from processes such as hydrocarbon reforming are transformed into carbonate or bicarbonate ions and hydrogen ions by the enzymatic system in order to prevent their contribution to the greenhouse effect. The hydrogen ions resulting from the enzymatic process are recovered and combined in order to supply the hydrogen fuel cell. Finally, water, a by-product of the oxidizing reaction of the hydrogen fuel cell, is recovered and recycled back into the aqueous enzymatic system.

Abstract: A process system that uses a reduced amount of lime or other base to clarify or purify juice obtained from plant material such as sugar cane, sugar beets, or sweet sorghum. Specifically, apparatus and methods to reduce volatile materials in juice providing a product that has an increased pH requiring the use of less lime or other base to achieve the desired pH values for clarification or purification.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for purifying a gas stream containing a contaminant gas and an energetic gas. The process comprises the steps of: a) providing a bioreactor comprising:-a reaction chamber containing a solvent and a biocatalyst capable of catalyzing a transformation reaction of said contaminant gas dissolved in the solvent into ions. The process further comprises the step of b) extracting the contaminant gas from the gas stream, which extraction comprises feeding the gas stream in the reaction chamber and thereby allowing the contaminant gas to dissolve and transform into ions, yielding said energetic gas free of said contaminant gas and leaving a spent solvent containing said ions in solution. Then, in step c) the energetic gas and the spent solvent obtained in step b) are separately released from the reaction chamber. The process further comprises the steps of d) removing the ions from the spent solvent to recycle the solvent; and e) feeding the recycled solvent of step d) in the reaction chamber.

Abstract: A process system that uses a reduced amount of lime or other base to clarify or purify juice obtained from plant material such as sugar cane, sugar beets, or sweet sorghum. Specifically, apparatus and methods to reduce volatile materials in juice providing a product that has an increased pH requiring the use of less lime or other base to achieve the desired pH values for clarification or purification.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for purifying a gas stream containing a contaminant gas and an energetic gas. The process comprises the steps of: a) providing a bioreactor comprising:—a reaction chamber filled with a solvent containing a biocatalyst capable of catalyzing a transformation reaction of said contaminant gas dissolved in the solvent into ions. The process further comprises the step of b) extracting the contaminant gas from the gas stream, which extraction comprises feeding the gas stream in the reaction chamber and thereby allowing the contaminant gas to dissolve and transform into ions, yielding said energetic gas free of said contaminant gas and leaving a spent solvent containing said ions in solution. Then, in step c) the energetic gas and the spent solvent obtained in step b) are separately released from the reaction chamber.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for the extraction, production and purification of carbon dioxide gas. The process may also be employed for the production of aqueous and/or organic solutions of bicarbonate ions using a precursor feed stream of gas containing carbon dioxide. The process consists of the countercurrent flushing of a packed tower-type bioreactor with gas containing carbon dioxide and a liquid solvent. The bioreactor contains carbonic anhydrase covalently bound to an inert inorganic support. The carbon dioxide of the gaseous phase diffuses into the liquid phase. The immobilized carbonic anhydrase catalyses the hydration of the carbon dioxide which forms hydrogen and bicarbonate ions. The solution of ions may be employed directly or, alternatively, subjected to an ion-exchange resin to immobilize the bicarbonate ions. The aqueous solution of hydrogen and bicarbonate ions may also be recirculated into a second identical bioreactor, wherein they are catalytically converted to water and carbon dioxide.

Abstract: A treatment unit is disclosed for treating a fluid in continuous mode. This treatment unit provides the opportunity to carry out simultaneously an enzymatic transformation and a capture of a fluid element. The unit has a reservoir with a fluid inlet for receiving a fluid to be treated and a fluid outlet for releasing a treated fluid. The unit also has removable cassettes provided with a reactive material for treating the fluid and two spaced-apart baffle walls in the reservoir for regulating the flow of the fluid therein. The unit further has a reaction chamber defined between each of the two spaced-apart baffles walls. The reaction chamber has an opening for removably inserting therein the cassette. Yet, the unit further has mounting means for mounting the cassette in a reaction chamber spaced-apart from the two baffle walls, whereby a cassette is disposed between two spaced-apart baffle walls and causes the fluid to flow in a zigzag pattern thus further regulating the flow of the fluid.