TH36699A - Synthetic structures for aquaculture - Google Patents

Abstract

DC60 (24/08/47) utilizes synthetic structures for simultaneous feeding, shelter, and breeding support for various aquatic species. Synthetic seagrass can be produced in the form of flexible sheets with numerous ribbons. The lower ends of the ribbons are fixed to the bottom of the pool, while the other ends are suspended in areas with light. Ribbons can also be produced economically as numerous thin layers extending together, with one layer providing buoyancy and others providing structure to enhance biological growth. This system can be customized for specific applications by selecting structure, surface area, ribbon spacing and density, and other parameters. The system can be used to remove nutrients and/or toxic materials from the water. This invention can be used to promote both aerobic and anaerobic reactions for water quality control. Synthetic structures are used for simultaneous feeding, shelter, and breeding support for various aquatic animals. Synthetic seagrass can be produced in the form of flexible sheets with numerous ribbons. The lower ends of the ribbons... The ribbon is anchored to the bottom of the pool, with the other end lifted to float in a lit area. The ribbon can be economically produced as many thin layers extended together, one layer providing buoyancy and others forming a structure to enhance bioavailability. This system can be customized for specific applications by selecting the structure, surface area, ribbon spacing and density, and other measures. It can be used to remove nutrients and/or toxic materials from water. This invention can also be used for simultaneous aerobic and anaerobic catalysis for water quality control.

Claims (36)

The rights claimed are: 1. A synthetic structure consisting of: a buoyant material; and a high surface area structure for accelerating biogenesis. 2. Synthetic structures of claim 1. Here, the high surface area structures referred to include open-cell foams. 3. Synthetic structure of claim 1. Here, the high surface area structure referred to includes spun polyester sheets. 4. The synthetic structure of claim 1 herein, the high surface area structure referred to includes granular, microporous particles. 5. Synthetic structure of claim 1. Herein, the buoyancy materials referred to include closed-cell foams. 6. The synthetic structure of claim 5 shall consist of at least one ribbon, the aforementioned high surface area structure in the form of a long strip supported by the aforementioned ribbon, and herein the closed-cell foam in the form of a long strip attached to the aforementioned high surface area structure. 7. The synthetic structure of claim number 6 consists of an adhesive material positioned between the aforementioned long strips. 8. The synthetic structure of claim number 1 is continued by a ribbon with a free upper end, and herein the floating material referred to is situated at that free upper end. 9. The photosynthetic structures of seagrasses provide food, shelter from predators, and enhance biodiversity for various species simultaneously. These seagrass photosynthetic structures consist of: numerous ribbons; and anchor structures for securing the ribbons to the bottom of the pond; and each ribbon includes (A) a thin, buoyant layer to allow the ribbon to extend upwards in illuminated areas and (B) a second, thin, structural layer to enhance biodiversity. 10. The synthetic structure of seagrass of claim 9, where the ribbons mentioned are arranged in rows. 11. The synthetic structure of seagrass under claim 9, where the rows mentioned are spaced approximately five to fifteen centimeters apart. 12. The synthetic structure of seagrass under claim 9 herein, the thin floating layer referred to includes closed photocells which are plastic polymers. 13. Synthetic structures of seagrass of claim 12 herein, closed-cell foams referred to include polyethylene. 14. Synthetic structures of seagrass of claim 12 herein, closed-cell foams mentioned include polyurethane. 15. Synthetic structures of seagrass of claim 12 herein, closed-cell foams mentioned include polypropylene. 16. The synthetic structure of the seagrass in claim 12 herein, the specific gravity of the thin, floating layer referred to is between approximately 0.05 and approximately 0.6 grams per cubic centimeter. 17. The synthetic structure of the seagrass of Claim 12, herein the ribbon referred to shall be between one and six centimeters wide and between one and four meters long. 18. The synthetic structure of the seagrass of claim 17 herein shall have a ribbon stiffness of 0.5 to 3.0 g/cm² as measured by ASTMD 5342. 19. The synthetic structure of seagrass of claim 12 herein, the second thin layer mentioned includes a plastic material which is an open-cell foam with cell sizes ranging from twenty to two thousand microns. 20. The synthetic structure of seagrass of claim 12 herein, the second thin layer mentioned includes continuous fine fibers that form a three-dimensional complex structure of a sheet with a surface area ranging from one to one hundred square meters per gram. 21. The synthetic structure of the seagrass of claim 12 herein, the second thin layer mentioned includes a granular porous material attached to the thin floating layer mentioned. 22. The synthetic structure of the seagrass of claim 21, which is further composed of nutrients for the enhancement of algal growth, is provided within the granular porous material mentioned. 23. The synthetic structure of the seagrass of claim 21, which is further composed of nutrients for the enhancement of bacterial growth, is provided within the granular porous material mentioned. 24. The synthetic structure of the seagrass under claim 21, which is further composed of nutrients to accelerate the growth of microorganisms for environmental cleaning, is provided within the granular porous material mentioned. 25. The synthetic structure of the seagrass under claim 21, which is further composed of microorganisms cultured in a high surface area structure. 26. Synthetic structures of seagrass under claim 25. Herein, the microorganisms referred to include bacteria. 27. Methods for controlling the aquatic environment. The methods described consist of the following steps: providing synthetic ribbons with a high surface area structure; making the top part of the synthetic ribbons float within the aquatic environment; and causing the water within the aquatic environment to come into contact with the high surface area structure. 28. The method of claim 27, which continues with the steps for selecting the high surface area structure mentioned, and here the steps for providing the synthetic ribbon mentioned occur following the steps for selecting the high surface area structure mentioned. 29. The method of claim under clause 27, which continues with the steps for removing nutrients from the aquatic environment as described. 30. The method of claim paragraph 27, which continues with the procedure for removing the metal from the aforementioned aquatic environment by biomass accumulation on the aforementioned synthetic ribbon, 31. A synthetic structure consisting of: a flotation material; and two primary high-surface-area structures for simultaneous aerobic and anaerobic catalysis in water. The aforementioned flotation material is positioned between the primary and secondary high-surface-area structures. 32. Synthetic Structure of Claim 31. Herein, the first and second high surface area structures referred to include coarse open-cell foams. 33. The synthetic structures of claim 31 herein include the first and second high surface area structures, as well as highly suspended, bonded spindle materials. 34. Synthetic structures of claim 31 herein, the second high surface area structure mentioned includes open-cell foams. 35. Synthetic structure of the claim, Clause 31. Herein, the second high surface area structure referred to includes dense felt. 36. Synthetic structures of claim 31. Here, the first and second high surface area structures mentioned are constructed with needle-stitched threads extending through the floating material mentioned, and here the second high surface area structure mentioned is thicker than the first high surface area structure mentioned. (Picture) (Clause 36, page 4, 7 pictures)