SBIR Phase I: A Carbon Capture System for Algae Cultivation and Biochemicals Production using Hybrid Solar Lighting

这个小企业创新研究（SBIR）第一阶段项目的更广泛/商业影响是通过开发一种具有成本效益的碳捕获技术，使用混合太阳能藻类培养系统，减少点源向大气中的CO2（二氧化碳）排放。 该团队试图开发一种利用藻类生产生物化学品和生物燃料的方法。藻类培养系统将利用在受控环境条件下操作的深层光生物反应器，以便在低土地足迹下获得高面积生物质生产率。藻类生物精炼方法将用于从碳水化合物部分生产有机化学品，从脂质部分生产生物柴油，并最终使用残留物。 二氧化碳积累的不利影响包括野火、洪水、强烈飓风和海洋环境酸化的频繁发生。仅在美国，每年野火对人类健康和生态系统造成的损失估计就在710亿至3480亿美元之间。藻类的生长速度和吸收二氧化碳的能力是陆地植物的十倍左右。该项目将提供一种可持续的碳捕获技术，因为它主要依靠太阳能捕获二氧化碳并生产高价值的生物产品。这项技术的实施还将在不同领域提供重要的就业机会。该项目将在光生物反应器内开发太阳能/发光二极管混合照明系统，以获得高藻类生产力和从点排放源捕获二氧化碳。新型混合太阳能照明系统将在最佳强度和温度条件下提供内部照明，以最大限度地提高碳水化合物的生产率。藻类的碳水化合物部分将使用专有的低pH发酵工艺进行处理，以获得高价值的平台有机酸。该项目的目标是获得光生物反应器设计的概念验证，该设计将最大化每单位表面积的体积，从而以小的土地面积足迹和低的外部能量输入获得高的面积碳水化合物生产率。光纤照明将用于提供内部照明。该项目的范围还包括通过酸水解将藻类转化为糖以及随后将这些糖发酵为高价值有机酸的可行性。该奖项反映了NSF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。

The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is to mitigate CO2 (carbon dioxide) emissions into the atmosphere from point sources by developing a cost-effective carbon capture technology using a hybrid solar algae cultivation system. The team seeks to develop a method to use algae to produce biochemicals and biofuels. The algae cultivation system will utilize deep photobioreactors operated under controlled environmental conditions so as to obtain high area biomass productivities at a low land footprint. An algal biorefinery approach will be used to produce organic chemicals from the carbohydrate fraction, biodiesel from the lipids fraction, and end use for the residue. The adverse effects of CO2 accumulation include the frequent incidences of wildfires, flooding, intense hurricanes, and the acidification of the marine environment. The annual cost of wildfires alone in the U.S. in terms of damage to human health and the ecosystems is estimated to range from $71 to $348 billion. Growth rates of algae and the ability to absorb CO2 are about ten times that of terrestrial plants. This project will provide a sustainable carbon capture technology as it primarily relies on solar energy to capture CO2 and produce high value bioproduct. Implementation of this technology would also provide significant employment opportunities in diverse areas. The project will develop a hybrid solar/Light Emitting Diode (LED) lighting system within a photobioreactor to obtain high algal productivity and carbon dioxide capture from point emission sources. The novel hybrid solar lighting system will provide internal illumination at optimal intensity and temperature conditions to maximize carbohydrate productivity. The carbohydrate fraction of the algae will be processed to obtain high value platform organic acids using a proprietary low pH fermentation process. The goal of this project is to a obtain proof-of-concept for a photobioreactor design that will maximize volume per unit surface area so as to obtain high areal carbohydrate productivity with a small land area footprint and low external energy input. Fiber optic lighting will be used to provide internal illumination. The project scope also includes the feasibility of converting algae via acid hydrolysis to sugars and subsequent fermentation of these sugars to high value organic acids.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.