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

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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.