CAREER:Nutrients and Energy-rich Macromolecules Recovery from Microalgae using Subcritical Water

1351413在这个职业研究/教育项目中，PI将利用亚临界水来提取富含能量的大分子和回收矿物质。该项目有望解决藻类生物燃料目前面临的两个挑战。在第一步，PI将利用闪光水解（FH）来回收蛋白质，碳水化合物，脂质。第二步，PI将利用热液矿化（HTM）回收无机营养物质进行循环利用。该工艺具有利用拟地沉淀法回收超过三分之二的宏量营养素的潜力，同时生产生物燃料中间种。这些营养物质包括磷、氮和无机固体。FH过程的优点是能够破坏藻类细胞壁，而不会改变细胞成分（如脂质）的功能。回收的养分将作为海藻养殖的缓释肥料。一系列的表征方法将用于了解藻类生产力的影响，以及循环养分的功效。在不使用任何添加化学物质的情况下，在几秒钟内对藻类蛋白质进行选择性FH是一个新概念。该项目将检查模型蛋白的FH，以获得对快速反应条件下反应途径、中间化合物和大分子相互作用的基本理解。这将扩展我们对热液介质中有机质转化的认识。所提出的利用HTM回收营养物的方法模拟了水介质中矿物沉淀的自然地质过程。考虑到不需要额外的加热或加压，热媒与FH的集成是一个新颖的概念。通过研究水热介质中溶解离子的矿化和沉淀（在FH过程中从藻类中提取）来回收营养物质，将开发新的知识。额外的好处包括生产生物燃料中间体，同时减少氮氧化物排放。除了教育研究生和本科生外，该项目还要求K-12和社区外展以及代表性不足/少数群体的参与。外展计划由实验室经验补充和加强。PI还旨在引入一门新生水平的环境可持续性课程，使学生了解该主题领域的重要性和职业可能性。

1351413KumarIn this CAREER research/educational project, the PI will utilize subcritical water for both extracting the energy-rich macromolecules and for recovering the minerals. The project is expected the address both of the challenges currently faced by algae biofuels. In the first step, PI will utilize flash hydrolysis (FH) to recover proteins, carbohydrates, lipids. In the second step, the PI will utilize hydrothermal mineralization (HTM) to recover inorganic nutrients for recycling. The proposed process has potential of recovering more than two-thirds of macronutrients using geo-mimetic precipitation method, while producing biofuel intermediate species. These nutrients include P, N, and inorganic solids. The FH process has the advantage of being able to disrupt algal cell walls without changing the functionality of the cell components such as lipids. The recovered nutrients will be utilized as slow-release fertilizer for algae cultivation. An array of characterization methods will be utilized for understanding the effects of algae productivity, and the efficacy of the recycled nutrients. Selective FH of algae proteins within a few seconds without the use of any added chemicals is a new concept. The project will examine FH of model proteins to derive a fundamental understanding of reaction pathways, intermediate compounds, and interactions of macromolecules under fast reaction conditions. This will extend our knowledge of conversion of organic matters in hydrothermal medium. The proposed nutrients recovery using HTM mimics natural geological process of minerals precipitation in aqueous medium. The integration of HTM with FH is a novel concept considering that no additional heating or pressurization will be required. A new knowledge will be developed by studying the mineralization and precipitation of dissolved ionic species (extracted from algae during FH) in hydrothermal medium to recover nutrients. The additional benefits include production of biofuel intermediates while reducing NOx emissions.In addition to educating graduate and undergraduate students, the project calls for K-12 and community outreach and involvement of underrepresented/minority groups. The outreach program is supplemented and enhanced by laboratory experiences. The PI also aims to introduce a freshman level class of environmental sustainability, exposing students to the importance and career possibilities in this topic area.