FMSG: Eco: Microalgae-based Biomanufacturing of Methionine for Organic Poultry Diets

该项目探讨了开发未来制造工艺的可行性，将微藻可再生和有弹性地转化为化学产品，目前这些产品是通过传统的化学合成从化石资源中生产的。具体地说，该项目将解决供应生物基蛋氨酸(Met)的紧急和未得到满足的需求，Met是一种广泛用于家禽饲料的氨基酸。由于缺乏基于生物的替代品，MET是有机家禽饲料中唯一允许使用的化学合成氨基酸。该项目通过利用温室内的光生物反应器(PBR)，偏离了传统的(即开放池塘)微藻生产，从而扩大了通过替代能源和可再生生物来源在寒冷气候地区生产藻类衍生产品的机会。虽然探索性种子赠款项目侧重于蛋氨酸的生产，但它也包括基于温室的微藻培养和过程控制的新合成方法，这些方法可能适用于广泛的生物基产品。该项目还包括教育活动，使不同的学生和劳动力参与者掌握未来的制造技能，这些技能将促进经济和劳动力发展，并在多个层面上造福于环境和社会。种子项目的总体目标是开发高能效的氧平衡混合营养(OBM)微藻培养，并结合人工智能(AI)启用的系统优化和控制，以最大限度地降低在较冷气候环境下运营的成本潜力。为此，一个多学科专家团队将1)调查和操纵小球藻(UTEX 1230)的蛋氨酸产量；2)设计、组装和测试各种PBR设计和工艺配置；3)开发和集成用于工艺优化和控制的人工智能工具；以及4)进行技术经济分析。虽然最初的工作将集中在康涅狄格州的商业化潜力上，但预期的结果将为进一步研究奠定基础，使其能够在寒冷气候地区生产各种基于微藻的产品，实现节能、近零排放或负二氧化碳排放。SEED项目的教育和推广方面包括培训学生进行生物反应器设计和操作，为未来生物制造的人工智能应用开发和运营一个试点训练营，以及从代表不足的社区招募学生用于生物制造劳动力发展。这个未来制造奖得到了NSF化学(CHE)和化学、生物工程、环境和运输系统(CBET)部门的支持。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The project explores the feasibility of developing future manufacturing processes for renewable and resilient conversion of microalgae to chemical products that are currently produced from fossil resources through traditional chemical synthesis. Specifically, the project will address an urgent and unmet need for supplying bio-based Methionine (Met), an amino acid widely used in poultry diets. Met is the only chemically synthesized amino acid still allowed in organic poultry diets due to the absence of a bio-based alternative. The project deviates from traditional (i.e. open pond) microalgae production by utilizing photobioreactors (PBRs) within greenhouses, thus expanding opportunities to manufacture algae-derived products in cold-climate locations via alternative energy and renewable bio-sources. Although the exploratory seed grant project focuses on Met production, it also includes novel synthesis methods for greenhouse-based microalgae cultivation and process control that may be applicable to a wide range of bio-based products. The project also incorporates educational activities that will equip a diverse range of students and workforce participants with future manufacturing skills that will promote economic and workforce development as well as benefit the environment and society at many levels.The overall objective of the seed project is to develop energy-efficient oxygen-balanced mixotrophic (OBM) microalgae cultivation in combination with artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled system optimization and control to maximize the cost reduction potential of operating in colder-climate environments. To that end, a team of multidisciplinary experts will 1) investigate and manipulate Met yield within Chlorella sorokiniana (UTEX 1230); 2) design, assemble, and test various PBR designs and process configurations; 3) develop and integrate AI tools for process optimization and control; and 4) perform techno-economic analysis. Although the initial work will focus on the potential for commercialization in Connecticut, the anticipated results will set the stage for further research enabling energy-efficient, near-zero or negative CO2 emission manufacturing of a wide array of microalgae based products across cold-climate regions. Educational and outreach aspects of the seed project include training students in bioreactor design and operation, developing and running a pilot bootcamp for AI applications for future biomanufacturing, and recruiting students from underrepresented communities for biomanufacturing workforce development.This Future Manufacturing award was supported by the NSF divisions of Chemistry (CHE) and Chemical, Bioengineering, Environmental, and Transport Systems (CBET)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.