Abstract: A process for enhanced photobiological H2 production using transgenic alga. The process includes inducing exogenous genes in a transgenic alga by manipulating selected environmental factors. In one embodiment inducing production of an exogenous gene uncouples H2 production from existing mechanisms that would downregulate H2 production in the absence of the exogenous gene. In other embodiments inducing an exogenous gene triggers a cascade of metabolic changes that increase H2 production. In some embodiments the transgenic alga are rendered non-regenerative by inducing exogenous transgenes for proton channel polypeptides that are targeted to specific algal membranes.

Abstract: Designer Calvin-cycle-channeled and hydrogenotrophic biofuel-production pathways, the associated designer genes and designer transgenic organisms for autotrophic production of butanol and related higher alcohols from carbon dioxide, hydrogen, and/or water are provided. The butanol and related higher alcohols include 1-butanol, 2-methyl-1-butanol, isobutanol, 3-methyl-1-butanol, 1-hexanol, 1-octanol, 1-pentanol, 1-heptanol, 3-methyl-1-pentanol, 4-methyl-1-hexanol, 5-methyl-1-heptanol, 4-methyl-1-pentanol, 5-methyl-1-hexanol, and 6-methyl-1-heptanol. The designer autotrophic organisms such as designer transgenic oxyphotobacteria and algae comprise designer Calvin-cycle-channeled and hydrogenotrophic pathway gene(s) and biosafety-guarding technology for enhanced autotrophic production of butanol and related higher alcohols from carbon dioxide and water.

Abstract: A hybrid photovoltaic panel-interfaced solar-greenhouse distillation technology is disclosed that is capable of utilizing solar waste heat to perform liquid distillation while co-generating solar electricity. Solar waste heat co-generated at a photovoltaic panel is effectively utilized by in situ distillation liquid as an immediate heat sink in thermal contact with the photovoltaic panel, thus providing beneficial cooling of the photovoltaic panel and co-making of distillation products while generating electricity with significant improvement on total-process solar energy utilization efficiency. Use of this invention can provide a series of distillation-related products such as freshwater, distilled water, hot water, hot steam, sea salts, saline/brine products, and/or harvest biofuels and bioproducts such as ethanol from renewable resources while co-generating solar electricity.

Abstract: A designer proton-channel transgenic alga for photobiological hydrogen production that is specifically designed for production of molecular hydrogen (H2) through photosynthetic water splitting. The designer transgenic alga includes proton-conductive channels that are expressed to produce such uncoupler proteins in an amount sufficient to increase the algal H2 productivity. In one embodiment the designer proton-channel transgene is a nucleic acid construct (300) including a PCR forward primer (302), an externally inducible promoter (304), a transit targeting sequence (306), a designer proton-channel encoding sequence (308), a transcription and translation terminator (310), and a PCR reverse primer (312). In various embodiments, the designer proton-channel transgenic algae are used with a gas-separation system (500) and a gas-products-separation and utilization system (600) for photobiological H2 production.

Abstract: Designer Calvin-cycle-channeled and photosynthetic NADPH-enhanced pathways, the associated designer genes and designer transgenic photosynthetic organisms for photobiological production of butanol and related higher alcohols from carbon dioxide and water are provided. The butanol and related higher alcohols include 1-butanol, 2-methyl-1-butanol, isobutanol, 3-methyl-1-butanol, 1-hexanol, 1-octanol, 1-pentanol, 1-heptanol, 3-methyl-1-pentanol, 4-methyl-1-hexanol, 5-methyl-1-heptanol, 4-methyl-1-pentanol, 5-methyl-1-hexanol, and 6-methyl-1-heptanol. The designer photosynthetic organisms such as designer transgenic oxyphotobacteria and algae comprise designer Calvin-cycle-channeled and photosynthetic NADPH-enhanced pathway gene(s) and biosafety-guarding technology for enhanced photobiological production of butanol and related higher alcohols from carbon dioxide and water.

Abstract: The present invention provides a revolutionary photosynthetic ethanol production technology based on designer transgenic plants, algae, or plant cells. The designer plants, designer algae, and designer plant cells are created such that the endogenous photosynthesis regulation mechanism is tamed, and the reducing power (NADPH) and energy (ATP) acquired from the photosynthetic water splitting and proton gradient-coupled electron transport process are used for immediate synthesis of ethanol (CH3CH2OH) directly from carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O). The ethanol production methods of the present invention completely eliminate the problem of recalcitrant lignocellulosics by bypassing the bottleneck problem of the biomass technology.

Abstract: A hybrid photovoltaic panel-interfaced solar-greenhouse distillation technology is provided that is capable of utilizing solar waste heat to perform liquid distillation while co-generating solar electricity. Solar waste heat co-generated at a photovoltaic panel is effectively utilized by in situ distillation liquid as an immediate heat sink in thermo contact with the photovoltaic panel front surface, thus providing beneficial cooling of the photovoltaic panel and co-making of distillation products while generating electricity with significant improvement on total-process solar energy utilization efficiency. Its enabled beneficial utilization of waste heat can provide a series of distillation-related products such as: freshwater, sea salts, distilled water, hot water, hot steam, saline/brine products, and brine photobiological cultures for production of advanced biofuels and bioproducts, in addition to solar electricity.

Abstract: A designer proton-channel transgenic alga for photobiological hydrogen production that is specifically designed for production of molecular hydrogen (H2) through photosynthetic water splitting. The designer transgenic alga includes proton-conductive channels that are expressed to produce such uncoupler proteins in an amount sufficient to increase the algal H2 productivity. In one embodiment the designer proton-channel transgene is a nucleic acid construct (300) including a PCR forward primer (302), an externally inducible promoter (304), a transit targeting sequence (306), a designer proton-channel encoding sequence (308), a transcription and translation terminator (310), and a PCR reverse primer (312). In various embodiments, the designer proton-channel transgenic algae are used with a gas-separation system (500) and a gas-products-separation and utilization system (600) for photobiological H2 production.

Abstract: The present invention provides a photobiological ethanol production and harvesting technology using greenhouse distillation systems with designer photosynthetic organisms, such as designer transgenic oxyphotobacteria. The designer oxyphotobacteria are created such that the endogenous photobiological regulation mechanism is tamed, and the reducing power (NADPH) and energy (ATP) acquired from the photosynthetic process are used for synthesis of ethanol (CH3CH2OH) directly from carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O). The designer use of a pair of NADPH-dependent vs. NAD-dependent glyceralde-hyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenases in the pathway designs offers a special cyclic “transhydrogenase” redox-shuttle function to convert NADPH to NADH for enhanced photobiological ethanol production. Through combined use of a designer photosynthetic organism with a greenhouse distillation system, the waste solar heat associated with the photobiological ethanol-production process is utilized in harvesting the produced ethanol.

Abstract: The present invention provides a biosafety-guarded photobiological butanol production technology based on designer transgenic plants, designer algae, designer blue-green algae (cyanobacteria and oxychlorobacteria), or designer plant cells. The designer photosynthetic organisms are created such that the endogenous photobiological regulation mechanism is tamed, and the reducing power (NADPH) and energy (ATP) acquired from the photosynthetic process are used for synthesis of butanol (CH3CH2CH2CH2OH) directly from carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O). The butanol production methods of the present invention completely eliminate the problem of recalcitrant lignocellulosics by bypassing the bottleneck problem of the biomass technology.

Abstract: A process for enhanced photobiological H2 production using transgenic alga. The process includes inducing exogenous genes in a transgenic alga by manipulating selected environmental factors. In one embodiment inducing production of an exogenous gene uncouples H2 production from existing mechanisms that would downregulate H2 production in the absence of the exogenous gene. In other embodiments inducing an exogenous gene triggers a cascade of metabolic changes that increase H2 production. In some embodiments the transgenic alga are rendered non-regenerative by inducing exogenous transgenes for proton channel polypeptides that are targeted to specific algal membranes.

Abstract: A switchable photosystem-II designer algae for photobiological hydrogen production. The designer transgenic algae includes at least two transgenes for enhanced photobiological H2 production wherein a first transgene serves as a genetic switch that can controls photosystem II (PSII) oxygen evolution and a second transgene encodes for creation of free proton channels in the algal photosynthetic membrane. In one embodiment, the algae includes a DNA construct having polymerase chain reaction forward primer (302), a inducible promoter (304), a PSII-iRNA sequence (306), a terminator (308), and a PCR reverse primer (310). In other embodiments, the PSII-iRNA sequence (306) is replaced with a CF1-iRNA sequence (312), a streptomycin-production gene (314), a targeting sequence (316) followed by a proton-channel producing gene (318), or a PSII-producing gene (320). In one embodiment, a photo-bioreactor and gas-product separation and utilization system produce photobiological H2 from the switchable PSII designer alga.

Abstract: The present invention provides a revolutionary photosynthetic ethanol production technology based on designer transgenic plants, algae, or plant cells. The designer plants, designer algae, and designer plant cells are created such that the endogenous photosynthesis regulation mechanism is tamed, and the reducing power (NADPH) and energy (ATP) acquired from the photosynthetic water splitting and proton gradient-coupled electron transport process are used for immediate synthesis of ethanol (CH3CH2OH) directly from carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O). The ethanol production methods of the present invention completely eliminate the problem of recalcitrant lignocellulosics by bypassing the bottleneck problem of the biomass technology.

Abstract: A switchable photosystem-II designer algae for photobiological hydrogen production. The designer transgenic algae includes at least two transgenes for enhanced photobiological H2 production wherein a first transgene serves as a genetic switch that can controls photosystem II (PSII) oxygen evolution and a second transgene encodes for creation of free proton channels in the algal photosynthetic membrane. In one embodiment, the algae includes a DNA construct having polymerase chain reaction forward primer (302), a inducible promoter (304), a PSII-iRNA sequence (306), a terminator (308), and a PCR reverse primer (310). In other embodiments, the PSII-iRNA sequence (306) is replaced with a CF1-iRNA sequence (312), a streptomycin-production gene (314), a targeting sequence (316) followed by a proton-channel producing gene (318), or a PSII-producing gene (320). In one embodiment, a photo-bioreactor and gas-product separation and utilization system produce photobiological H2 from the switchable PSII designer alga.

Abstract: A method is described for catalyst-induced growth of carbon nanotubes, nanofibers, and other nanostructures on the tips of nanowires, cantilevers, conductive micro/nanometer structures, wafers and the like. The method can be used for production of carbon nanotube-anchored cantilevers that can significantly improve the performance of scaning probe microscopy (AFM, EFM etc). The invention can also be used in many other processes of micro and/or nanofabrication with carbon nanotubes/fibers. Key elements of this invention include: (1) Proper selection of a metal catalyst and programmable pulsed electrolytic deposition of the desired specific catalyst precisely at the tip of a substrate, (2) Catalyst-induced growth of carbon nanotubes/fibers at the catalyst-deposited tips, (3) Control of carbon nanotube/fiber growth pattern by manipulation of tip shape and growth conditions, and (4) Automation for mass production.

Abstract: This invention relates a series of steps to provide an economical production of a carbon based fertilizer and soil amendment made during the capture of greenhouse gases from the combustion of fossil and non fossil fuels. The invention uses biomass and other carbonaceous sources through pyrolytic conversion to gases and charcoal, to allow for the further production of co-products, such as hydrogen and ammonia. The invention also relates to the combination of hydrated ammonia, combustion flue gas exhaust, and charcoal, provide for the conversion of the charcoal into a valued added soil amendment to return essential trace minerals and plant nutrients to the soil. The ability to produce a large volume carbon co-product while removing mandated emissions and producing renewable based hydrogen provides an economic gain to a large number small and large businesses and increase the chance of achieving significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.

Abstract: Industrial combustion facilities are integrated with greenhouse gas-solidifying fertilizer production reactions so that CO2, CO, NOx, and SOx emissions can be converted prior to emission into carbonate-containing fertilizers, mainly NH4HCO3 and/or (NH2)2CO, plus a small fraction of NH4NO3 and (NH4)2SO4. The invention enhances sequestration of CO2 into soil and the earth subsurface, reduces N03− contamination of surface and groundwater, and stimulates photosynthetic fixation of CO2 from the atmosphere. The method for converting CO2, CO, NOx, and SOx emissions into fertilizers includes the step of collecting these materials from the emissions of industrial combustion facilities such as fossil fuel-powered energy sources and transporting the emissions to a reactor. In the reactor, the CO2, CO, N2, SOx, and/or NOx are converted into carbonate-containing fertilizers using H2, CH4, or NH3.

Abstract: A method of nanometer-scale deposition of a metal onto a nanostructure includes the steps of: providing a substrate having thereon at least two electrically conductive nanostructures spaced no more than about 50 &mgr;m apart; and depositing metal on at least one of the nanostructures by electric field-directed, programmable, pulsed electrolytic metal deposition. Moreover, a method of nanometer-scale depletion of a metal from a nanostructure includes the steps of providing a substrate having thereon at least two electrically conductive nanostructures spaced no more than about 50 &mgr;m apart, at least one of the nanostructures having a metal disposed thereon; and depleting at least a portion of the metal from the nanostructure by electric field-directed, programmable, pulsed electrolytic metal depletion. A bypass circuit enables ultra-finely controlled deposition.

Abstract: A method is described for catalyst-induced growth of carbon nanotubes, nanofibers, and other nanostructures on the tips of nanowires, cantilevers, conductive micro/nanometer structures, wafers and the like. The method can be used for production of carbon nanotube-anchored cantilevers that can significantly improve the performance of scaning probe microscopy (AFM, EFM etc). The invention can also be used in many other processes of micro and/or nanofabrication with carbon nanotubes/fibers. Key elements of this invention include: (1) Proper selection of a metal catalyst and programmable pulsed electrolytic deposition of the desired specific catalyst precisely at the tip of a substrate, (2) Catalyst-induced growth of carbon nanotubes/fibers at the catalyst-deposited tips, (3) Control of carbon nanotube/fiber growth pattern by manipulation of tip shape and growth conditions, and (4) Automation for mass production.