JP7650426B2 - Seaweed resource recovery system and seaweed resource recovery method - Google Patents

Description

This disclosure relates to a seaweed resource processing system and a seaweed resource processing method.

Patent Document 1 discloses a system that cultivates seaweed, captures carbon dioxide from the air, and uses the seaweed to produce, separate, and recover methanol, hydrogen, and carbon dioxide.

JP 2005-035967 A

Meanwhile, the inventors are considering a seaweed resource utilization system that includes a carbonization device that heats seaweed in a low-oxygen atmosphere, for example to about 300°C, to produce biochar, and a fermentation device that ferments the seaweed using yeast to produce methane, ethanol, etc.
When seaweed is fermented, the yeast emits carbon dioxide. In other words, carbon dioxide is generated in the fermentation device, and it is desirable to utilize this carbon dioxide effectively.

The present disclosure has been made in consideration of these circumstances, and provides a seaweed resource production system and seaweed resource production method that can effectively utilize the carbon dioxide generated in the fermentation device.

A seaweed resource production system according to one embodiment of the present disclosure includes:
A carbonization device that heats seaweed collected from the ocean in a low-oxygen atmosphere with an oxygen concentration lower than that of the atmosphere to produce biochar;
A seaweed resource recovery system comprising: a fermentation device for fermenting other seaweed collected from the sea with yeast;
Carbon dioxide generated in the fermentation apparatus is introduced into the carbonization apparatus to generate the low-oxygen atmosphere.

In one aspect of the present disclosure, the carbon dioxide generated in the fermentation device is introduced into the carbonization device to generate the low-oxygen atmosphere. This allows for effective use of the carbon dioxide generated in the fermentation device.

The apparatus further includes a seaweed component measuring device that measures the concentration of the heat-resistant decomposition components in the seaweed that do not decompose at 250°C, and a sorting device that sorts the seaweed based on the concentration of the heat-resistant decomposition components measured by the seaweed component measuring device, and the sorting device may sort seaweed whose concentration of the heat-resistant decomposition components exceeds a predetermined standard value to the carbonization device, and sort seaweed whose concentration of the heat-resistant decomposition components is below the predetermined standard value to the fermentation device. This configuration suppresses thermal decomposition of the seaweed in the carbonization device, improving the efficiency of biochar production.

In the fermentation apparatus, the other seaweed may be hydrolyzed before being fermented. By hydrolyzing the seaweed in advance, the seaweed can be fermented efficiently.

A method for producing seaweed resources according to one embodiment of the present disclosure includes:
A carbonization process in which seaweed collected from the ocean is heated in a low-oxygen atmosphere to produce biochar;
A seaweed resource production method comprising: a fermentation step of fermenting other seaweed collected from the sea with yeast,
The carbon dioxide generated in the fermentation process is introduced into the carbonization process to generate the low-oxygen atmosphere.

In one aspect of the present disclosure, the carbon dioxide generated in the fermentation process is introduced into the carbonization process to generate the low-oxygen atmosphere. This allows for effective use of the carbon dioxide generated in the fermentation process.

This disclosure provides a seaweed resource processing system and a seaweed resource processing method that can effectively utilize the carbon dioxide generated in the fermentation device.

1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a seaweed resource conversion system according to a first embodiment. FIG. A block diagram showing the configuration of a seaweed resource production system according to a second embodiment.

Specific embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. However, the present disclosure is not limited to the following embodiments. In addition, the following descriptions and drawings have been simplified as appropriate for clarity of explanation.

First Embodiment
<Configuration of seaweed resource recovery system>
First, the configuration of a seaweed resource production system according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 1. Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a seaweed resource production system according to the first embodiment.
As shown in Fig. 1, the seaweed resource recovery system according to this embodiment includes a fermentation device 10 and a carbonization device 20. In Fig. 1, thick arrows indicate the flow of seaweed.

The fermentation apparatus 10 ferments seaweed with yeast to produce methane. In the fermentation apparatus 10, the seaweed is hydrolyzed and then fermented into methane. By hydrolyzing the seaweed in advance, the seaweed can be fermented efficiently.
On the other hand, in the fermentation apparatus 10, the yeast emits carbon dioxide when fermenting the seaweed. That is, carbon dioxide is generated in the fermentation apparatus 10.

In addition, in the fermentation device 10, seaweed may be fermented into alcohol using yeast other than methane fermentation, and then distilled to produce alcohol such as ethanol. In this case, carbon dioxide is also generated in the fermentation device 10.

The carbonization device 20 heats the dried and cut seaweed to about 300°C in a low-oxygen atmosphere to produce biochar. A low-oxygen atmosphere is an atmosphere with a lower oxygen concentration than the atmosphere. Specifically, a low-oxygen atmosphere is an atmosphere with an oxygen concentration of, for example, 1% by volume or less.

As shown in FIG. 1, carbon dioxide generated in the fermentation device 10 is introduced into the carbonization device 20 to generate a low-oxygen atmosphere. The carbon dioxide generated in the fermentation device 10 is introduced from the fermentation device 10 to the carbonization device 20, for example, via a pipe (not shown) that connects the fermentation device 10 and the carbonization device 20. Therefore, the carbon dioxide generated in the fermentation device 10 can be effectively used.

On the other hand, the seaweed may be allocated to the fermentation device 10 and the carbonization device 20 based on the concentration of heat-resistant decomposition components in the seaweed that do not decompose at 250°C. For example, seaweed whose concentration of heat-resistant decomposition components is below a predetermined standard value (e.g., about 30% by mass) may be allocated to the fermentation device 10, and seaweed whose concentration exceeds the standard value may be allocated to the carbonization device 20. This suppresses the thermal decomposition of the seaweed in the carbonization device 20, improving the efficiency of biochar production.

As described above, in the seaweed resource conversion system according to this embodiment, the carbon dioxide generated in the fermentation device 10 is introduced into the carbonization device 20 to generate a low-oxygen atmosphere. This allows the carbon dioxide generated in the fermentation device 10 to be effectively utilized.

In this embodiment, the seaweed to be fermented in the fermentation device 10 and the seaweed to be carbonized in the carbonization device 20 are randomly assigned to each other. On the other hand, as described below, the seaweed may be assigned to the fermentation device 10 and the carbonization device 20 based on the concentration of components that are difficult to decompose due to heat, for example.

<Seaweed resource recovery method>
Next, a seaweed resource production method according to a first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
The seaweed resource production method according to this embodiment includes a carbonization process in which seaweed collected from the ocean is heated in a low-oxygen atmosphere with an oxygen concentration lower than that of the atmosphere to produce biochar, and a fermentation process in which other seaweed collected from the ocean is fermented using yeast.
The fermentation process is carried out in the fermentation apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 1, and the carbonization process is carried out in the carbonization apparatus 20.

As shown in FIG. 1, the carbon dioxide generated in the fermentation device 10 is introduced into the carbonization device 20 to generate a low-oxygen atmosphere. That is, the carbon dioxide generated in the fermentation process is introduced into the carbonization process to generate a low-oxygen atmosphere. Therefore, the carbon dioxide generated in the fermentation device 10 can be effectively used.

As described above, in the seaweed resource production method according to this embodiment, the carbon dioxide generated in the fermentation process is introduced into the carbonization process to generate a low-oxygen atmosphere. This allows for effective use of the carbon dioxide generated in the fermentation process.

Second Embodiment
Next, the configuration of a seaweed resource-producing system according to a second embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a seaweed resource-producing system according to the second embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 2, the seaweed resource recovery system according to this embodiment includes a component measuring device 30 and a sorting device 40 in addition to the fermentation device 10 and carbonization device 20 shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 2, the component measuring device 30 measures the concentration of heat-resistant components that do not decompose at 250°C in seaweed collected from the ocean. In other words, the component measuring device 30 has a thermogravimetric analysis function. The heat-resistant component concentrations measured by the component measuring device 30 are output to the sorting device 40.

The sorting device 40 sorts the seaweed collected from the sea into the fermentation device 10 and the carbonization device 20 based on the concentration of components that are difficult to decompose due to pyrolysis measured by the component measuring device 30.
Specifically, the sorting device 40 sorts seaweed whose concentration of components that are resistant to pyrolysis is below a predetermined reference value (e.g., about 30% by mass) to the fermentation device 10, and sorts seaweed whose concentration of components that are resistant to pyrolysis exceeds the reference value to the carbonization device 20. This suppresses thermal decomposition of seaweed in the carbonization device 20, improving the efficiency of biochar production.
When the concentration of the hardly pyrolyzable components is equal to the above-mentioned reference value, the seaweed may be distributed to either the fermentation device 10 or the carbonization device 20, as long as it is determined in advance.

Although not shown, the sorting device 40 includes a calculation unit such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and a storage unit such as a RAM (Random Access Memory) or a ROM (Read Only Memory) in which various programs and data are stored. In other words, the sorting device 40 functions as a computer and executes sorting processing based on the various programs and the like.

As described above, the seaweed resource recovery system according to this embodiment includes a component measuring device 30 that measures the concentration of components that are difficult to decompose due to pyrolysis in the seaweed, and a sorting device 40 that sorts the seaweed based on the concentration of components that are difficult to decompose due to pyrolysis measured by the component measuring device 30.

Here, the sorting device 40 sorts seaweed whose concentration of hardly pyrolyzable components is below a predetermined reference value to the fermentation device 10, and sorts seaweed whose concentration of hardly pyrolyzable components exceeds the reference value to the carbonization device 20. Therefore, the thermal decomposition of seaweed in the carbonization device 20 is suppressed, and the efficiency of biochar production is improved.
The other configurations are similar to those of the first embodiment, and therefore will not be described.

The present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be modified as appropriate without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.
In addition, the present disclosure will promote the use of blue carbon (seaweed) and contribute to carbon neutrality, decarbonization, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

10 Fermentation device 20 Carbonization device 30 Component measuring device 40 Distributor

Claims (4)

A carbonization device that heats seaweed collected from the ocean in a low-oxygen atmosphere with an oxygen concentration lower than that of the atmosphere to produce biochar;
A seaweed resource recovery system comprising: a fermentation device for fermenting other seaweed collected from the sea with yeast;
The carbon dioxide generated in the fermentation apparatus is introduced into the carbonization apparatus to generate the low-oxygen atmosphere.
Seaweed resource utilization system. A seaweed component measuring device for measuring the concentration of a hardly pyrolyzable component in the seaweed that does not decompose at 250 ° C.;
A sorting device that sorts the seaweed based on the concentration of the hardly pyrolyzable components measured by the seaweed component measuring device,
The sorting device sorts seaweed having a concentration of the hardly-pyrolyzable components that exceeds a predetermined standard value to the carbonization device, and sorts seaweed having a concentration of the hardly-pyrolyzable components that is below the predetermined standard value to the fermentation device.
The seaweed resource production system according to claim 1. In the fermentation apparatus, the other seaweed is hydrolyzed before the other seaweed is fermented.
The seaweed resource production system according to claim 1. A carbonization process in which seaweed collected from the ocean is heated in a low-oxygen atmosphere with an oxygen concentration lower than that of the atmosphere to produce biochar;
A seaweed resource production method comprising: a fermentation step of fermenting other seaweed collected from the sea with yeast,
The carbon dioxide generated in the fermentation process is introduced into the carbonization process to generate the low-oxygen atmosphere.
Methods for turning seaweed into resources.

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