SBIR Phase II: Large Scale Cultivation of Phytoplankton via Novel Photo-Bioreactor Technology

小型企业创新研究(SBIR)第二阶段项目的更广泛影响/商业潜力是为大规模生产微型藻类生物质提供一种可持续、低成本和可复制的方法。微藻生产是一种水产养殖形式，能够生产有价值的产品，包括：营养食品、特种化学品、药品、鱼类、贝类和牲畜的饲料，以及人类消费的食物。此外，微藻可以作为生物燃料的原料，同时从环境中去除二氧化碳。然而，为了使新生的藻类养殖业充分发挥其商业潜力，必须改进技术。虽然典型的藻类养殖依赖于高密度细胞生长，但该项目将专注于低密度藻类养殖的科学，以实现高生产率，同时将补充能源和浓缩二氧化碳的工艺要求降至最低。此外，注重低成本和模块化设计的封闭式光生物反应器的开发将使这一过程能够很容易地在其他边际价值的各种土地上复制。因此，该系统可以成为强大的水产养殖业和生物燃料产业的基础，导致边缘社区更大的经济发展，并为不断增长的世界人口提供可持续产品。SBIR第二阶段项目建议进一步优化在第一阶段项目期间开发的大规模藻类生产系统的设计，以应对藻类养殖中的关键挑战，包括频繁的污染、低生产率以及由于水和能源的低效利用而导致的运营成本增加。研究活动将集中于四个主要目标：1)敲定反应堆几何形状、建筑材料和系统组件的关键设计规范，以最大限度地提高生产率和最大限度地降低资本成本；2)优化收获设备设计和生物质浓缩程序，以进一步降低用水量；3)开发新的介质配方，以实现稳定的pH控制，而不需要浓缩二氧化碳；以及4)改进反应堆气囊的制造，以确保无菌、耐用和产品一致性。除了第一阶段采用的基本藻类培养技术外，第二阶段将更多地利用工程/计算分析来实现最佳设计。该项目的目标成果是一个120,000 L的封闭式光生物反应器，能够维持雨生红藻的产量高于9g/m2/d，持续至少4个月，而不会造成有害污染。此外，该系统还将显著减少能源、水和浓缩二氧化碳的消耗。

The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is to provide a sustainable, low-cost, and replicable method for large-scale production of micro-algal biomass. Microalgae production is a form of aquaculture capable of producing valuable products including: Nutraceuticals, specialty chemicals, pharmaceuticals, feed for finfish, shellfish, and livestock, as well as food for human consumption. Moreover, microalgae can be used as a feedstock for biofuels while simultaneously removing CO2 from the environment. However, for the nascent algae cultivation industry to achieve its full commercial potential, the technology must be improved. While typical algal cultivation relies on high-density cell growth, this project will focus on the science of low-density algal cultivation to achieve high productivity, while minimizing process requirements for supplemental energy and concentrated CO2. In addition, the development of a closed-system photo-bioreactor with emphasis on low cost and modular design will allow the process to be easily replicated on a variety of lands with otherwise marginal value. As such, the system can become the basis for a robust aquaculture and biofuels industry, leading to greater economic development in marginal communities and a source of sustainable products for the growing world population. This SBIR Phase II project proposes to further optimize the design of the large-scale algal production system developed during the Phase I project to address key challenges in algae cultivation including frequent contamination, low productivity, and increased operating costs due to inefficient use of water and energy. Research activities will focus on four main objectives: 1) Finalize key design specifications for reactor geometry, materials of construction, and system components in order to maximize productivity and minimize capital costs; 2) optimize harvest apparatus design and biomass concentration procedure to further reduce water consumption; 3) develop a new media formulation to allow for stable pH control without the need for concentrated CO2; and 4) refine manufacturing of the reactor bladder to ensure sterility, durability, and product consistency. In addition to the basic algae cultivation techniques employed in Phase I, Phase II will make greater use of engineering /computational analyses to arrive at optimal designs. The target outcome of the project is a 120,000-L closed photo-bioreactor capable of sustaining H. pluvialis algae production rates of greater than 9 g/m2/d for a minimum of 4 months without detrimental contamination. In addition, the system will provide significant reductions in consumption of energy, water, and concentrated CO2.