Hilbertz et al. [54 Method of enhancing the growth of aquatic organisms, and structures created thereby us005543034A buy Patent Number: 5,543,034
tải về 268.96 Kb.
|
Mẫu-giấy-thi, US5543034
- Điều hướng trang này:
- 3. electric migration.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
A written description setting forth the best mode presently known for carrying out the present invention, and the manner implementing and using it, is provided by the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments and examples, which refer to the accompanying drawings wherein:FIG. 1 depicts a theoretical qualitative model for the electrochcmical processes involved in the accretion of min- erals; FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of an artificial reef with cathode compartments and hard coral growth on it and in its vicinity. The anodes are floating-type and bottom-mounted. 40 2. ionic attraction; and 3. electric migration.Although concentration gradients are most likely the cause of accretion, combinations of the three methods can- not be precluded. The basic model of the electrochemical 45 reactions in a greatly simplified form is diagrammed in FIG. In FIG. 1, the rectangular boxes represent either the mineral compounds precipitated from solution by the above methods, or the gases which are evolved. The arrows rep- resent possible pathways of reactions according to the pH 50 profile. In addition to attracting ions, electrolysis of seawater produces heat at the electrode surfaces. The resistance is greatest at these surfaces; the temperature is, therefore, greater and the pH will rise. At first, the thermal decompo-55 Sition removes the carbonic acid (H CO,) allowing carbon dioxide (CO2) to escape, which causes the hydrogen car- bonate-carbonate equilibrium to shift to the carbonate side. The increased carbonate concentration, with increase in temperature and salinity, will increase the ionic product of 6o calcium carbonate crystals, and induce precipitation. How- ever, as the solution becomes more alkaline (at pH greater than 9), the ionic product of a brucite [Mg(OH) 2] Will exceed the solubility product and brucite as well as the carbonates will be precipitated. 65 A. General discussion The oceans hold in solution a great material resource, acting as a link in the continual and vital cycle of material from land to sea. Each year, rivers contribute 2.73x10 metric tons of ncw1y-dissolved solids. In the 70.89o of the earth’s surface which is covered by water, there are over 60 quadrillon tons of mineral resources (Wenk, E., Jr., “The Physical Resources of The Ocean”, The Ocean, W. J. Free- man & Co. 1969). Apart from oxygen and hydrogen, one cubic mile of seawater contains: chlorine—89 500 000 t electrical currents. This value is above that which can naturally occur in the electrolyte medium unless all calcium carbonate has already been precipitated out. The equilibrium pH is a function of the chemical composition of the elec- 5 trolyte, temperatures and pressure. The table below gives the equilibrium pH in shallow sea water for calcite at various temperatures (p 89, N. M. Garrels & G. L. Christ, 1985, Solutions, Minerals, and Equilibria, Harper & Row, New York), along with the minimum pH produced at the cathode sodium—49 500 000 t 10 magnesium—6 125 000 t sulphur—1 880 000 t calcium—1 790 000 t potassium—1 609 000 t l5 bromine—306 000 t carbon—132 000 t and 51 other minerals and elements. The utilization of processes similar to those exhibited by 20 the structural mechanisms of living organisms and in non- living environments, such as caverns, provides a mineral accretion technology which involves the deposition and calcification of minerals in solution for organic growth by the method of the invention.
Although the present invention is not limited by any theory, the inventors believe that the organisms grow their limestone skeletons at an elevated rate when attached to or purposes. That is, through electrolytic processes (diagen- esis) and subsequent biological phasing (biogenesis), mate- rials are electrodeposited onto conductive forms and are settled by biological organisms which are recruited from the environment or imported. Typical mineral phases deposited are calcite, aragonite, and brucite, and may also include high-magnesian calcite, dolomite, nesquehonite, hydromagnesite, huntite, and amor- phous phases of the aforesaid minerals, as many of these may be meta-stable under the conditions applied. B. Electric fields and chemical changes in the electrolyte promote growth of the organisms. The cathodic form defines the initial shape of all struc- tures and is the scaffolding on which, and in whose vicinity, accelerated growth of organisms takes place. When required, it is designed, anticipating certain electrodeposi- tion rates of minerals and growth of organisms, to withstand wave and ocean current forces. Howsver, it is the electrical current applied which causes accelerated growth of organisms, mainly by changing the chemical composition of the electrolyte. The process of electrodeposition, through electrolysis, generates high pH (alkaline) and high electron (reducing) conditions at the cathode, causing chemical deposition of calcareous material on the cathode and providing the natural mineral substrate for settlement and growth of organisms which grow skel- etons and shells made of limestone, or parts of limestone. These organisms include mobile fauna, sessile fauna and sessile-flora, among others: Attached organisms such as all the stony corals (coelenterates including scleractinian hexacorallia, hydrozoans, and octocorallia), the articulated and encrusting calcareous algae (including chlorphyceae and rhodophyceae), bivalves (pelecyopoda), calcareous worms (serpulid and sebellid polychaeta), protozoans (foraminifera), and sponges (calcispongiae). Crawling organisms including snails (gastropoda), and all classes of echinoderms (echinoidea, holothuroideae, asteroideae, ophiuroideae, and crinoideae). The method of the invention preferably elevates the pH in the electrolyte medium adjacent to the cathode to a level at least 0.1 pH units or more above that value at which calcite is in equilibrium with the electrolyte in the absence of 25 in the vicinity of the cathode because alkaline conditions convert dissolved sea water bicarbonate ions into carbonate ions, causing supersaturation of calcium carbonate, resulting in the deposition of limestone materials (aragonite and calcite, containing magnesium). 30 The inventors also consider that organisms in the vicinity of the cathode may be more efficient at uptake and internal transport of essential dissolved cations such as calcium, magnesium, and other dissolved elements because of the increased availability of electrons for co-transport or 35 counter-transport across cell membranes. Electron availabi- fifty or electron density is related to the reducing conditions at or in the vicinity of the cathode and is a function of the applied potential (voltage) and current (amperage) at the cathode. 40 Furthermore, the inventors believe that organisms in the vicinity of the cathode, both with and without limestone skeletons, may grow more rapidly because additional elec- trons are available to provide energy to cells through the biochemical electron transport chain, increasing their meta- 45 bolic efficiency since less organic matter needs to be oxi- dized in order to provide electrons to provide biochemical energy for adenosine triphosphate tải về 268.96 Kb. Chia sẻ với bạn bè của bạn:
|