CAREER: Algal Biofilm Cultivation for Sustainable Biofuel Production

职业：藻类生物膜培养以实现可持续生物燃料生产

• 批准号: 1254968
• 负责人: Halil Berberoglu
• 金额: $ 41.8万
• 依托单位: University of Texas at Austin
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2013
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2013-06-01 至 2018-05-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1254968&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: CAREER; Algal; Biofilm; Cultivation; Sustainable

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.

毕业院校：德克萨斯大学奥斯汀分校职务：职业：可持续生物燃料生产的藻类生物膜培养这个CAREER项目的目标是：(i)通过高细胞密度的藻类生物膜培养，实现藻类生物燃料的能源和环境可持续生产；（ii）整合跨学科的研究工作，教育和激励学生，特别是代表性不足的群体，从事科学和工程方面的职业。知识价值：藻类的培养被认为是一种很有前途的方法，可以生产用于生物燃料生产的碳中性烃原料。然而，传统技术，如开放池塘和封闭光生物反应器，由于培养浓度较低的生物量，证明在能源、经济和环境上都不可行。这就需要(i)在培养过程中使用大量的水，（ii）高能量泵送稀释的藻类悬浮液，（iii）高能量脱水和浓缩藻类。一种很有前途的培养藻类的方法是以生物膜的形式，其净能源投资回报率可高达6倍。基于高细胞密度系统的新型藻类培养方法的发展可以改变以藻类为基础的生物燃料生产技术。该项目将(a)通过系统设计来描述和减少藻类生物膜培养的光抑制、质量运输限制和热管理问题，(b)评估利用废水资源培养藻类生物膜以供应和循环氮和磷等营养物质的可行性，以及(c)对拟议过程进行生命周期分析，以评估其能源、经济和环境可持续性。更广泛的影响：拟议的活动将促进对生物燃料和生物产品生产的可持续藻类培养的理解和技术应用，同时为学生提供跨学科的教育和研究机会。研究结果将为藻类生物燃料和废水资源耦合的高速率、高细胞密度藻类培养相关制造机器和设备的设计和使用提供参考。该职业项目的教育和外联部分将扩大妇女和少数民族对工程的参与，并将侧重于可再生能源技术和生物燃料。这些活动将包括(i)每年有100多名少数民族高中高年级学生参加的“我的工程介绍”夏令营，（ii）每年有70名7至10岁的女孩参加的“女孩探索科学”夏令营，（iii）克罗克特高中科学研究项目为5名少数民族高中高年级学生提供研究机会，鼓励她们上大学。（iv）德克萨斯研究经验（TREX）项目，招募5名少数族裔本科生研究人员，鼓励他们留校、读研并最终攻读工程博士学位。