SBIR Phase I: Proof -Of-Concept for Large-Scale and Low-Cost Biomass Production Using an Innovative Open Aquatic Algae Cultivation System (OAACS)

SBIR 第一阶段：使用创新的开放式水藻培养系统 (OAACS) 进行大规模、低成本生物质生产的概念验证

• 批准号: 2213114
• 负责人: Stuart Bussell
• 金额: $ 25.6万
• 依托单位: VERPOND, INC.
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2022
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2022-09-15 至 2024-09-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2213114&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: SBIR; Phase; Proof; Concept; Large

The broader impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is to establish the proof-of-concept of using an innovative open aquatic algae cultivation system (OAACS) to overcome scale and cost constraints of current large-scale algal biomass production systems like raceway ponds. Drop-in biofuels derived from OAACS’ biomass have a projected minimum fuel selling price of $2.53/gasoline gallon equivalent, which is competitive with fossil fuels, and have potential production scales that exceed current global fossil fuel usage. Successful commercialization of OAACS can lead to new sustainable energy sources, significant displacement of fossil fuel use, and concomitant reductions in the future environmental and societal impacts of global climate change. If successful, OAACS can also pave the way for sustainable, competitive, and meaningfully large-scale production of other bioproducts like fertilizers and high protein feeds.The proposed project aims to fabricate robust liners for OAACS using an innovative forced assembly co-extrusion and two-dimensional multiplication technique and then demonstrate their performance in OAACS scale-down laboratory photobioreactors. The minimum success criterion is production of liners that support sustained algal aerial yields 15 g ash free dry weight/m2/day for weeks or months without the need for liner cleaning or CO2 supplementation. This will establish feasibility that OAACS can meet production scale- and cost-targets. Tasks include: 1. Fabrication and physical characterization of base case liners using previously demonstrated techniques and then extending results to liners with pore size gradients and surface modified nanofibers; 2. Demonstrating high dissolved inorganic carbon transfer rates through the liners; and 3. Demonstrating robust performance of the liners during continuous culturing in laboratory photobioreactors.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

这个小企业创新研究（SBIR）第一阶段项目的更广泛影响是建立使用创新开放式水生藻类培养系统（OAACS）的概念验证，以克服目前大型藻类生物质生产系统（如跑道池塘）的规模和成本限制。从OAACS的生物质中提取的生物燃料预计最低燃料销售价格为2.53美元/汽油加仑当量，与化石燃料具有竞争力，并且具有超过目前全球化石燃料使用量的潜在生产规模。OAACS的成功商业化可以带来新的可持续能源，大大取代化石燃料的使用，并伴随减少未来全球气候变化对环境和社会的影响。如果取得成功，OAACS还可以为化肥和高蛋白饲料等其他生物产品的可持续、有竞争力和有意义的大规模生产铺平道路。该项目旨在利用创新的强制组装共挤压和二维倍增技术为OAACS制造坚固的衬垫，然后在OAACS缩小的实验室光生物反应器中展示其性能。最低成功标准是生产的衬垫能够支持持续数周或数月的藻类空气产量15 g无灰干重/m2/天，而无需清洗衬垫或补充二氧化碳。这将确定OAACS能够满足生产规模和成本目标的可行性。具体任务包括：1。使用先前演示的技术制作和物理表征基本衬垫，然后将结果扩展到具有孔径梯度和表面改性纳米纤维的衬垫；2. 显示高溶解无机碳通过衬垫转移速率；和3。在实验室光生物反应器连续培养过程中，展示了衬里的稳健性能。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。