Developing biofilm-based microalgal bioreactors for the efficient production of fuels, chemicals and clean water

开发基于生物膜的微藻生物反应器，用于高效生产燃料、化学品和清洁水

• 批准号: 463037-2014
• 负责人: Allen, Grant
• 金额: $ 12.33万
• 依托单位: University of Toronto
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Strategic Projects - Group
• 财政年份: 2017
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2017-01-01 至 2018-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=641908
• 关键词: Developing; biofilm; based; microalgal; bioreactors

Using microalgae to convert carbon to biomass is one of the most promising technologies for developing renewable fuels. Algae produces more biomass than conventional crops such as corn and sugar beet, can be used to capture carbon and can be used in water treatment processes. Despite these advantages, biodiesel produced using current microalgal cultivation and processing technology is not economic. Our recent research has focused on the growth of algae as a biofilm as a method of reducing harvesting and downstream processing costs. However, bioreactor design, especially the uniform delivery of light throughout the reactor, remains a challenge. To address this issue we are proposing the growth of algae on a tapered waveguide, which is designed to evenly distribute light throughout the reactor. In parallel, we will incorporate a membrane onto the waveguide, to allow for diffusion of carbon dioxide through the reactor and hence utilize carbon dioxide emissions directly from source. This novel biofilm bioreactor will be tested for three specific applications of algae: 1) the production of lipids for biofuel; 2) production and isolation of a high-value products secreted by the algae in the reactor; and, 3) the extraction of heavy metals pollutants from water. With the combined advantage of uniform light distribution, and ability to diffuse carbon dioxide, this technology holds great promise in enhancing the economics of renewable fuel production by algae, as well as, providing an efficient means of carbon capture through algae.

利用微藻将碳转化为生物质是开发可再生燃料最有前途的技术之一。藻类比玉米和甜菜等传统作物产生更多的生物质，可用于捕获碳，并可用于水处理过程。尽管有这些优点，但使用目前的微藻培养和加工技术生产的生物柴油并不经济。我们最近的研究集中在藻类作为生物膜的生长上，作为减少收获和下游加工成本的方法。然而，生物反应器的设计，特别是整个反应器中光的均匀输送，仍然是一个挑战。为了解决这个问题，我们建议在锥形波导上生长藻类，该波导旨在将光均匀地分布在整个反应器中。同时，我们将在波导上加入一个膜，以允许二氧化碳通过反应器扩散，从而直接利用来自源头的二氧化碳排放。这种新型生物膜生物反应器将测试藻类的三种具体应用：1）生产生物燃料的脂质; 2）生产和分离反应器中藻类分泌的高价值产品; 3）从水中提取重金属污染物。凭借均匀的光分布和扩散二氧化碳的能力的综合优势，该技术在提高藻类生产可再生燃料的经济性方面具有很大的前景，并且提供了一种通过藻类进行碳捕获的有效手段。