SGER: Exploratory Research on Solid Carriers for Manufacturing Algae Biofuels in the Ocean

这项探索性研究小额资助（SGER）项目的目标是确定藻类的属性和载体材料的特性，使某些藻类物种能够在固体载体上生长，以获得设计主要设备的关键知识，包括固体载体、海洋藻类收获设备和石油提取机，用于在海洋中制造藻类生物燃料。这项研究将分两步进行。(1)将选定的藻类在模拟海洋环境的固体载体上生长，并根据其附着在固体载体上和在海水中生长的能力、生物量生产力和含油量进行评估。将确定高排名藻类物种的属性。(2)选取第一步中排名前几位的菌种，在与第一步评价参数相同的条件下，对天然有机、合成有机、无机等几种载体材料进行性能测试。高阶固体载体材料的性质将被分析。这项研究旨在开发一种经济有效的方法，在海洋固体载体上种植藻类，用于生物燃料的制造。如果成功，它将极大地有利于美国的经济和能源安全，以及整个社会。通过将研究生和本科生纳入跨学科研究团队，并将研究成果纳入PI的课程，本研究将对堪萨斯州立大学的工程教育产生积极影响。

The objective of this Small Grant for Exploratory Research (SGER) project is to identify attributes of algae and properties of carrier materials that enable growth of certain algae species on solid carriers, in order to gain knowledge critical to the design of major equipment, including solid carriers, in-the-ocean algae harvesting equipment, and oil extraction machines, for manufacturing algae biofuels in the ocean. The research will be conducted with a two-step approach. (1) Selected algae species will be grown on solid carriers in a simulated ocean environment and be evaluated in terms of their ability to attach to solid carriers and grow in seawater, biomass productivity, and oil content. Attributes of highly ranked algae species will be identified. (2) Top-ranked species in step one will be selected to test the performance of several carrier materials including natural organic, synthetic organic, and inorganic materials with the same evaluation parameters as in step one. Properties of highly ranked solid carrier materials will be analyzed. This research aims to develop a cost-effective process for growing algae on solid carriers in the ocean for biofuel manufacturing. If successful, it will greatly benefit the economy and energy security of the United States, as well as society in general. This research will have a positive impact on the engineering education at Kansas State University by involving graduate and undergraduate students in the interdisciplinary research team and incorporating the research results into the PI's courses.