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

1351413 Kumar在这个职业研究/教育项目中，PI将利用亚临界水提取富含能量的大分子和回收矿物质。该项目预计将解决藻类生物燃料目前面临的两个挑战。在第一步中，PI将利用快速水解（FH）来回收蛋白质，碳水化合物，脂质。 在第二步中，PI将利用热液矿化（HTM）来回收无机营养物以进行再循环。所提出的工艺具有使用仿地沉淀法回收超过三分之二的常量营养素的潜力，同时产生生物燃料中间物种。 这些营养素包括P、N和无机固体。 FH方法具有能够破坏藻类细胞壁而不改变细胞组分如脂质的功能性的优点。 回收的养分将作为藻类养殖的缓释肥料。一系列的表征方法将用于了解藻类生产力的影响，以及回收的营养物质的功效。在几秒钟内不使用任何添加的化学品对藻类蛋白进行选择性FH是一个新概念。 该项目将研究模型蛋白质的FH，以获得对快速反应条件下的反应途径，中间化合物和大分子相互作用的基本理解。 这将扩大我们对热液介质中有机质转化的认识。 所提出的使用HTM的营养物回收模拟了矿物在水介质中沉淀的自然地质过程。 考虑到不需要额外的加热或加压，HTM与FH的集成是一个新概念。 通过研究热液介质中溶解的离子物种（在FH期间从藻类中提取）的矿化和沉淀以回收营养物，将开发新的知识。 除了教育研究生和本科生外，该项目还要求K-12和社区外联以及代表性不足/少数群体的参与。 实验室经验补充和加强了推广计划。 PI还旨在引入环境可持续性的新生课程，让学生了解这一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.