CAREER: Algal Biofilm Cultivation for Sustainable Biofuel Production

主要研究者：Berberoglu，Halil机构：德克萨斯大学奥斯汀分校可持续生物燃料生产的藻类生物膜培养这个职业生涯项目的目标是（i）通过藻类作为生物膜的高细胞密度培养，实现藻类生物燃料的能量和环境可持续生产，（ii）整合这一跨学科的研究工作，教育和激励学生，特别是代表性不足的群体，知识专长：藻类的培养被认为是一种很有前途的生产碳中性烃原料的方法，用于生产生物燃料。然而，由于生物量的浓度很低，传统技术，如开放式池塘和封闭式光生物反应器，在能源、经济和环境方面都不可行。这需要使用（i）在培养期间大量的水，（ii）用于泵送稀释的藻类悬浮液的高能量，和（iii）用于脱水和浓缩藻类的高能量。 培养藻类的一种有前途的方法是生物膜的形式，其投资的净能源回报率可高达6倍。基于高细胞密度系统的新型藻类培养方法的开发可以改变基于藻类的生物燃料生产技术。 该项目将（a）通过系统设计表征和最小化藻类生物膜培养的光抑制、质量传输限制和热管理问题，（B）评估利用废水资源进行藻类生物膜培养以供应和再循环营养物（如氮和磷）的可行性，以及（c）对所提议的过程进行生命周期分析以评估其能量、经济、更广泛的影响：拟议的活动将促进对可持续藻类种植的理解和技术应用，以生产生物燃料和生物产品，同时为学生提供跨学科的教育和研究机会。 研究结果将有助于藻类生物燃料和废水资源化耦合高密度藻类高效培养相关机械设备的设计和使用。这个职业项目的教育和推广部分将扩大妇女和少数民族对工程的参与，并将重点放在可再生能源技术和生物燃料上。这些活动将包括：㈠每年为100多名少数民族高中高年级学生举办“我的工程学入门”夏令营; ㈡每年为70名7至10岁的女孩举办“女孩探索科学”夏令营; ㈢克罗克特高中科学研究方案，为5名少数民族高中高年级学生提供研究机会，鼓励他们进入大学;及（iv）Texas Research Experience（TREX）计划招募5名少数民族本科研究员，以鼓励他们保留研究生院，并最终寻求博士学位。工程学学位。

PI: Berberoglu, HalilInstitution: University of Texas at AustinTitle: CAREER: Algal Biofilm Cultivation for Sustainable Biofuel ProductionThe objectives of this CAREER project are (i) achieving energetically and environmentally sustainable production of algal biofuels through high cell density cultivation of algae as biofilms and (ii) integrating this interdisciplinary research effort to educate and inspire students, in particular of underrepresented groups, to pursue careers in science and engineering.Intellectual Merit: Cultivation of algae has been considered as a promising method for producing carbon neutral hydrocarbon feedstock for biofuel production. However, conventional technologies, such as open ponds and closed photo-bioreactors, prove to be energetically, economically and environmentally unfeasible owing to cultivation of dilute concentration of biomass. This necessitates the use of (i) large volumes of water during cultivation, (ii) high energy for pumping the dilute algae suspension, and (iii) high energy for dewatering and concentrating algae. A promising method to cultivate algae is in the form of a biofilm for which the net energy return on investment could be as high as 6 fold. Development of novel algae cultivation methods based on high cell density systems can transform the algae based biofuel production technologies. This project will (a) characterize and minimize photo-inhibition, mass transport limitation, and thermal management issues of algal biofilm cultivation through system design, (b) evaluate the feasibility of algae biofilm cultivation with wastewater resources to supply and recycle nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus, and (c) conduct a life cycle analysis on the proposed process to assess its energetic, economic, and environmental sustainability.Broader Impacts: The proposed activity will advance the understanding and technological applications of sustainable algae cultivation for biofuel and bioproduct generation while providing interdisciplinary education and research opportunities for students. The research results will be useful for design and use of manufacturing machines and equipment related to algae biofuel and wastewater resource coupled high rate high cell density algae cultivation. The educational and outreach components of this CAREER project will expand the participation of females and minorities in engineering and will focus on renewable energy technologies and biofuels. These activities will include (i) My Introduction to Engineering (MITE) summer camp reaching over 100 minority high school seniors per year, (ii) Girls Exploring Science summer camp reaching 70 girls per year between the ages of 7 and 10, (iii) the Crockett High School Science Research Program providing research opportunities for 5 minority high schools seniors encouraging their enrollment in college, and (iv) Texas Research Experience (TREX) program recruiting 5 minority undergraduate researchers for encouraging their retention, enrolment in graduate school and ultimately for seeking Ph.D. degrees in engineering.