Harnessing the power of algal-bacterial structures to convert wastes to value-added products

利用藻类细菌结构的力量将废物转化为增值产品

• 批准号: RGPIN-2016-05524
• 负责人: Allen, DGrant
• 金额: $ 2.77万
• 依托单位: University of Toronto
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2019
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2019-01-01 至 2020-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=687128
• 关键词: Harnessing; power; algal; bacterial; structures

To develop sustainable processes and mitigate global warming, it is critical that we develop technologies that fix carbon dioxide and convert it into useful products. Microalgae hold tremendous promise since they can grow much faster than plants, utilize wastewaters and do not take up arable land. Harnessing these advantages requires reliable processes that operate under non-sterile conditions, and which have been optimized for use with mixed communities of algae and bacteria in structures such as biofilms and/or bioflocs. ******Our research program focuses on using mixed microbial communities operating in engineered environments to enhance bioprocesses that treat wastes and convert them to value-added products. We have expanded from bacterial-based processes to systems that incorporate algae and derive their carbon from carbon dioxide and energy from light. This proposal will support identifying and ultimately exploiting the fundamental kinetic, physico-chemical, and biological mechanisms that underpin bioprocesses that utilize algae and bacteria within biofilm structures. The specific objectives are: i) To explore the role of various physiochemical factors in enhancing microalgal system performance for treating waste water, while producing value-added bioproducts; ii) To investigate how elements of algae-bacteria biofilms, such as biomass growth dynamics, nutrient uptake, and composition increase algal productivity; iii) To quantify the influence of physiochemical factors on mixed microbial populations and the reproducibility of commodity-scale bioreactors through community analysis; iv) To investigate the effect of harvesting/re-growth of algae on various support materials for algae productivity and system optimization; v) To utilize microalgae to enhance waste treatment; vi) To develop a novel photobioreactor that maximizes biomass productivity and nutrient uptake that can be deployed at the field scale. The research will make excellent use of the unique capabilities of BioZone, an innovative collaborative bioengineering research facility at the University of Toronto. The results will be used to model the biofilm and develop an optimal design for a bioreactor and associated bioprocess for real world applications. ******This innovative work will enable us to more fully exploit the advantages of microalgae by recognizing that algal/bacterial structures are critical to all large-scale algae systems. We will develop and utilize new tools for understanding the behaviour, structure, and dynamics of these diverse and complex communities, characteristics that are not only important for optimizing their use but also for situations in which the focus is on minimizing their formation. HQP involved in this program will develop a deep understanding of modern bioprocess engineering and biotechnology, environmental engineering and sustainable processes.

为了开发可持续的流程和减缓全球变暖，我们必须开发出能够固定二氧化碳并将其转化为有用产品的技术。微藻有着巨大的前景，因为它们比植物生长得快得多，利用废水，不占用耕地。利用这些优势需要在非无菌条件下运行的可靠工艺，并且这些工艺已经过优化，可用于生物膜和/或生物絮团等结构中的藻类和细菌混合群落。******我们的研究项目侧重于在工程环境中使用混合微生物群落来增强处理废物并将其转化为增值产品的生物过程。我们已经从以细菌为基础的过程扩展到结合藻类的系统，从二氧化碳中提取碳，从光中获取能量。该提案将支持识别并最终开发基本的动力学，物理化学和生物学机制，这些机制支持生物膜结构内利用藻类和细菌的生物过程。具体目标是：1)探索各种理化因素在提高微藻系统处理废水性能，同时生产增值生物产品方面的作用；ii)研究藻类-细菌生物膜的要素，如生物量生长动态、营养吸收和组成如何提高藻类生产力；（三）通过群落分析，量化理化因素对混合微生物种群的影响以及商品规模生物反应器的可重复性；iv)研究藻类的收获/再生对各种支持材料对藻类生产力和系统优化的影响；v)利用微藻加强废物处理；vi)开发一种新型光生物反应器，最大限度地提高生物质生产力和营养吸收，可在野外规模上部署。这项研究将充分利用BioZone的独特能力，BioZone是多伦多大学的一个创新的生物工程合作研究机构。研究结果将用于模拟生物膜，并为生物反应器和相关生物过程开发最佳设计，以用于现实世界的应用。******这项创新工作将使我们认识到藻类/细菌结构对所有大规模藻类系统至关重要，从而使我们能够更充分地利用微藻的优势。我们将开发和利用新的工具来理解这些多样而复杂的群落的行为、结构和动态，这些特征不仅对优化它们的使用很重要，而且对最小化它们形成的情况也很重要。参与本课程的HQP将深入了解现代生物工艺工程和生物技术，环境工程和可持续过程。