ES2618843B2 - Improvements in CO2 injection system for ecotoxicological studies, adaptation for use with microorganisms - Google Patents

Abstract

Addition to patent ES2438090, "CO injection system {sub, 2} for ecotoxicological studies", adaptation for use with microorganisms. # The purpose is to carry out microbiological tests related to carbon dioxide toxicity due to possible leaks in the marine environment from storage areas in CCS (Carbon Capture and Storage) technique for subsequent evaluation of environmental risks associated with this methodology and monitoring of the implementation of the technique using benthic microorganisms as a tool (monitoring). # This model of Integration of insulating chamber and CO injection system {sub, 2} is designed to keep the temperature controlled during the tests by means of a conditioner and ensure an aseptic environment, both of the CO injection equipment {sub, 2} by introducing autoclavable materials and filters, such as the use of specific footwear and gown to work inside.

Description

ADDICTION TO PATENT ES2438090, "CO INJECTION SYSTEM, FOR ECOTOXICOLOGICAL STUDIES", ADAPTATION FOR USE WITH MICROORGANISMS.

SECTOR OF THE TECHNIQUE

Carrying out microbiological tests related to the toxicity of carbon dioxide due to possible leaks in the marine environment from storage areas in ces technique (Carbon Capture and Storage) for its subsequent evaluation of environmental risks associated with this methodology and implementation monitoring of technique

GENERALITIES

Activities of anthropogenic origin, especially those derived from the use of fossil fuels, are causing the concentration of COz in the atmosphere to increase significantly, contributing to the planet's climate change, and, consequently, to warming it. These greenhouse gas emissions directly or indirectly cause negative effects on the environment; and in some cases unprecedented impacts (Bruant, R., Guswa, A., Celia, M, Pelers, c., (2002) Sale storage olC01 in deep saline aquifers. Environ Sci Technol, 36, JI, 240-245A) . Therefore, there is an urgent need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to mitigate climate change and, consequently, preserve the health of our planet and its natural resources. This fact has influenced the decision-making related to the global strategies of the reduction of greenhouse gases at the planetary level. The stabilization and reduction of CO2 emissions is accompanied by a great socio-economic vision where the common objective is the optimization of the use and development of new energy free of greenhouse gas emissions; and that in parallel the whole society does not affect its welfare state. In short, the strategies adopted must be combined with

an adequate form where the political will. International research and cooperation are key in this regard.

In this context, various options have been studied to reduce CO2 concentrations in the atmosphere considerably, however the scientific community considers that the capture and storage of CO2 in stable underground geological formations (CeS), which once housed oil or gas is one of the most viable techniques (IPPC (2013) Climate Change 2013: The Physical Science Basis. Contribution or [Working Group 1 fo (he Fifth Assessment Report 01 Ihe Intergovernmental Panel on Climate / e Change. In / ergov. Panel Clim. Chango Work. Gr. I With / ribo / 0 IPCC Fifih Assess. Rep. (AR5) (Cambridge Univ Press. New Yorl9 1535; DOE, (2010), DOElNETL Advanced Carbon Dioxide Capture R&D Program: Technology

Update US DOE, 257, Rubin E., (2010), The ou / look for advanced CCS / echnology. CAPD Energy Syslems Iniliative Seminar. CMU Pittsburgh USES). In fact, many countries have already been interested in these carbon sequestration and storage technologies, where some projects have been proposed and others in operation. In Spain, eleven different areas have also been specifically proposed for this type of technique (BOE, (2008) Resolution of November 28, 2007, of the General Directorate of Energy and Mining Policy, of the Ministry of Industry, Tourism and Commerce for the that the inscription of the provisional reserve proposal in favor of the State for resources of section Bj, underground structures capable of being an effective storage of carbon dioxide in various areas (10 Warehouses), BOE 34 of 8 February 2008, pp. 7099-7102). Although the use of this type of technologies has obtained the support and consensus of the scientific community about its economic, social and environmental potential; It is considered as a complex process as a whole with a high degree of uncertainty and possible associated risks (Damen, K., Faay ', A., & Turkenburg, w: (2006).

Health, safety and environmental risks or [underground C01 storage-overview or [

mechanisms and currenl knowledge. Climalic Change 74 (1-3), 289-318). One of

the risks associated with this new technique is the possible escape of C02 from the

storage area 80% of ces locations are located on marine platforms. And in case of leakage it would cause a reduction in the pH associated with the awning of the concentration of COz. And therefore, physicochemical changes of the environment that will have a very direct impact on the ecosystem and the organisms in the area. These organizations could be exposed to sudden changes where the socioeconomic stability of natural fisheries and / or maritime resources could be compromised.

STATE OF THE TECHNIQUE

The assessment of risks associated with the toxicity of COz due to leaks has been carried out in recent years using various methodologies and techniques. In general, toxicity tests fall into two categories: studies with the use of microcosmoslmesocosmos under controlled laboratory conditions or in situ. Working in situ requires a lot of time to prepare material, high technical knowledge and, above all, an enormous economic effort, either by the public administrations or by the research institutes themselves, and therefore in many cases they are impossible to address . However, working with mesocosmos / microcosm allows to obtain very reliable results of low economic cost even if they are on a smaller scale. This strategy is valued by the "Guide to best practices for ocean acidification research and data reporting of the European Commission" (Riebesell, U., Fabry, VJ, Hansson, L., Gattuso, J.-P., (2010) Guide 10 Besl Practices in Ocean Acidification Research and Data Reporting, Report of international research workshop on best practices for ocean acidification research (19-21 November 2008 in Kiel, Germany) .do: IO.2777 / 58454) where it indicates good results using a C02 injection kit. Today. The Ecosystem Pollution group of the Department of Physical Chemistry of the Faculty of Marine Sciences of Puerto Real (Cádiz) has developed a system that simulates the escape of C02 which uses macrofauna (mussels, polychaetes, fish larvae, clams, amphipods , microalgae, crabs, etc.) as a tool to assess the toxicity of carbon dioxide and possible risks associated with the mobility of metals (patent granted, Ref: ES2438090) using mesocosmoslmicrocosmos. However, until now a new strategy had not been developed where sediment microorganisms served as an evaluation and / or monitoring tool once the ces technique was implemented.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Unlike the use of macro fauna. the changes in the communities of the microgarusms before an episode of escape of COl are made more quickly due to their genetic and adaptive characteristics, so it is possible to obtain reliable results that result in low economic cost and that allows a rapid accurate evaluation

Therefore, based on the patent with Ref (ES2438090), to be able to carry out toxicity tests with microorganisms, such novelties have been introduced as an insulating chamber with a pennite air conditioner, not only that it maintains the desired constant temperature, but cannot guarantee sterility conditions with easy access for daily sample collection. Filters of 0.2 ~ pore have also been incorporated in each outlet of the two pipes coming from the manometers that directs the gas to the aquariums, This further minimizes the possible errors in the final data caused by dust, other microorganisms

or external agents retained in the tube that carries CO2 from the bottle to the aquariums. 80% of the equipment material can be sterilized in an autoclave or in an oven at 80 ° C for the necessary time. FBS valves have also been incorporated in each injector towards the aquarium that act as a C02 flow regulator and thus be able to better manipulate the bubbling in the aquariums since very small volumes will be used depending on the objective and thus avoiding excessive turbulence that affects the final results by cell breakage etc. In addition, stirrers with thermostat have been incorporated so that bacterial cells or microalgae that need light receive the same amount. Unlike the other equipment for tests with microalgae, the agitation must be done manually, and the light cannot reach all the cells of the crop, which may be a limiting factor in growth, and therefore affecting the final results. The thermostat associated with the agitator may be used if it is intended to maintain a temperature inside the aquarium different from that of the chamber. On the other hand, aotomo return valves have been incorporated so that water from the crops does not interfere with the capillary injection system and can affect or damage the solenoid valves. And finally, a timer has been added to the camera that simulates day-night cycles to study solar variations.

In short, the strategy of integrating the CO2 system into the heated chamber of aseptic environment has a versatility in its use that would not only allow microbiological tests related to CO2 leaks • but also experiments associated with the risks of oceanic acidification in the water column due to atmosphere-ocean exchanges of carbon dioxide. Even the characteristics of the chamber allows toxicity tests with microorganisms of a general nature to be carried out since the chamber is characterized by a working area under a sterile environment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE CONTENT OF THE FIGURES

Figure 1 corresponds to the dimensions 350X150x240 cm and seen from a lateml. It includes the following elements:

one.

CO bottles,

2.

Camera access door with aistalera and key

3.

Picture window

Four.

Wiring the air conditioner into the chamber

5.

Semiautomatic central supply of Ca,

6.

Location of the heater inside the camera

7.

Gas bottle for bunsen burner. It could be located inside the camera.

Figure 2 corresponds to the camera seen from outside where you can see the following elements:

and in figure J all the elements inside the heated chamber are represented:

8.

Computer with software installed where the desired pH is controlled.

9.

Safio thermostatized-stirrer.

10.

C02 exhaust sensor in case of excessive leakage.

eleven.

Solenoid valves

12.

Sample treatment table provided with bunsen burner.

13.

Erlenmeyer with aquarium function.

14.

Extension strip of plugs and USB connections where the pH sensors and solenoid valves are connected.

fifteen.

PH sensors.

16.

Electronic pH controller Connect the computer with the injection equipment.

17.

Fluorescent light emitter with the possibility of regulation for simulation of day-night cycles.

18.

Pipe that distributes pure gas.

19.

Silicone tubes that serve as COz injectors in aquariums. Autoclavable

twenty.

FBS CO flow regulating valves ,.

2 1. Yearbooks with doors to store reagents and keep all material clean and sterile without leaving the chamber.

22. Pressure gauges that regulate the output pressure of CO. The filters are located at the exit of each manometer

EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

The size of the invention may be conditioned by the characteristics of the place where we want to place it, by the number of aquariums and treatments we want to test. (Figure 1,2 and 3). This injection system is controlled by software connected to a computer (Figure 3, 8), which controls the addiction of gas. The equipment consists of pH sensors (figure 3.15) and independent solenoid valves (figure 3.11) for each aquarium connected to the software (figure 3, 16). Acid ranges can range from values of 8 to values of 5.0 simulating the most extreme scenarios possible. With the help of the software, C02 or not will be injected through the opening or closing of said solenoid valves. By means of the FBS valves (Figure 3, 20) the flow can be regulated according to the needs of bubbling. When the pH sensors detect a higher pH than the one chosen in the software, the equipment will be ordered to automatically open the solenoid valves and let the gas pass. These types of tests are carried out with the use of closed crops that grant greater independence to the technician and / or researcher responsible for the experiment, being able to devote themselves completely to daily collection and data processing, since it does not need nutritional control once the trial has been proposed. . In addition, for population-level studies, working with closed crops naturally achieves the exponential phase of growth, thus obtaining data such as growth rate (Jl), maximum number of cells, concentration of dissolved exopolysaccharides, the ratio of inhibition (RIc02) derived by the exposure of CO, and the proportion of population inhibited, that with equipment of other characteristics where semicontinuous cultures are used would not be achieved. The size of the aquariums will be determined by our objective and the volume of sample that we have to analyze.

Depending on the objectives we set, two different routes of exposure may be used:

51. CO injection? in seawater: pure CO2 will be injected directly into the water that you want to analyze in order to assess the direct effect of pH changes caused by CO2 leaks both at the population level. communities and / or symbiosis between microorganisms. This route would not only serve to assess the risk of CO2 leaks, but could also be used for the purpose of

10 ocean acidification in the water column. Example 1: evaluation of effeclos in the communities of microorganisms of the water column due to changes of pH by exchange of the atmosphere. In this type of tests the response of the group of microorganisms is evaluated

15 typical of the water column sample. To simulate different conditions, the thermostated bath is programmed to mimic ocean temperatures (inside the aquarium) and the chamber chmatizer is programmed to obtain atmospheric temperature scenarios (temperature inside the chamber). This pennite temperature change strategy simulate so many

20 climate change scenarios as desired. The agitator associated with the bath with the thermostat allows movement of the body of water to prevent sedimentation of the cells and imitate the movement that may exist in the water column due to the tides and waves. The integration of the equipment with the camera, in addition, allows the processing of samples almost at the time of taking the water sample

25 thus avoiding contamination and / or sudden changes in temperature. The water column community will be studied with species group identification techniques, which will provide information on how the community changes depending on the different pH treatments, together with relevant physico-chemical data. The results are compared with those aquariums that have not had injection of

30 CO ,.

Example 2: evaluation of responses of a specific population of microorganisms, whether bacteria, viruses or mieroa / gas due to pH changes due to the exchange of atmosphere-ocean CO and / or C02 leaks

In this case, the effects on a given population are studied, either characteristic of sediment (for studies of CO2 leaks) or of the water column (atmosphere-ocean exchange). Once the population to be studied is chosen (for example: a specific species typical of the sediment. Or a typical species of the water column), a known cell concentration is inoculated in water or culture medium filtered by a pore 0.2 ~ m and autoc1avada to avoid any contamination and are subjected to the different concentrations of CO2 to be tested. In this type of test results will be obtained on acclimatization periods, growth rates, inhibitory effects of C02, maximum number of cells, etc., which will provide information on how a population of a particular species is affected by different concentrations of CO2 • The results are also compared with those obtained in aquariums where there is no CO2 injection. Injection of CO, through sediment: it will be used when the objective is to study in an integrated way the effect that could exist in the microbiological community (bacteria, viruses and benthic microalgae) when the sediment in question is under analysis and there is an acidification of it due to the escape of CO. Example: Sterile silicone tubes with small openings are placed in a spiral shape on the aquarium floor, the sediment under study will be placed on top once screened and then clean and sterile seawater so that it does not interfere with the native community itself of sediment Once the aquariums are prepared and placed, they will undergo the different concentrations of CO2 that they want to study. The sediment community will be studied with techniques to identify groups of species that together with physical-chemical data (nutrient flows, alkalinity, etc.) will provide information on how the community changes based on the different pH treatments comparing the results. of those aquariums that have not been injected with CO2. Physical-chemical data (nutrient flows, pollutants, organic matter, etc.) will support a complete evaluation of the results.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICATION

5 The data resulting from this invention will be subject to application in the decision-making of legal institutions that work in the framework of climate change and its mitigation knowing reliably the potential effects that could happen in the short-medium due to a C02 escape using benthos microorganisms as an evaluation tool with

10 fast and reliable results. In case of an implantation of the injection technique in geologically stable structures in the marine subsoil, this invention will allow a control or moniloring using the communities of microorganisms of the benthos as a tool to diagnose possible CO leaks,

Claims (4)

1. Addition to patent ES2438090. "C02 injection system for ecotoxicological studies", adaptation for use with microorganisms. In addition to the basic components of the system includes:

-

An insulating chamber with climate control that allows, not only to maintain

the desired constant temperature, if not able to guarantee conditions of Sterility with easy access for daily sample collection.

-

0.2 ~ m pore filters at each outlet of the two pipes coming from the manometers that directs the gas to the aquariums.

-

FBS valves on each injector to the aquarium, which act as a regulator of CO2 flow • to improve bubbling in the aquariums.

or Stirrers with thermostat so that bacterial cells or microalgae that need light receive the same amount and can set the temperature inside the aquarium different from that of the chamber.

-

Non-return valves so that crop water does not interfere with the

capillarity injection system and may affect or damage the Solenoid valves.

-

A timer in the camera that simulates day-night cycles to study solar variations.

2.

Use of the system, according to claim 1, in experiments associated with the risks of possible CO2 leaks derived from ces techniques.

3.

Use of the system according to claim 1, in experiments associated with the risks of oceanic acidification in the water column due to atmosphere-ocean exchanges of carbon dioxide.

4. Use of the system, according to claim 1, of toxicity tests with microorganisms of a general nature, since the chamber provides a working area under sterile environment.