EFRI-HyBi: The Science and Engineering of Microalgae Hydrothermal Processing

Pi名称：Phillip SavageInstitution：密歇根大学提案编号：0937992EFRI-HYBI：微藻热液处理科学与工程该奖项由2009年美国复苏和再投资法案(公共法律111-5)资助智力价值大规模将微藻转化为液体燃料的传统方法中的两个主要障碍是需要培养高含油量的藻类，以及需要干燥藻类和提取石油成分。私人投资机构建议发展所需的科学和工程知识，以实施一种打破这两种障碍的不同方法。这种方法包括水热-催化-微生物综合处理。水热(压力和温度升高，水相)过程不仅限于转化高含油量的藻类。它还可以将生物质碳水化合物和蛋白质转化为生物油。不需要含油量高的藻类。其次，这种水热过程不需要藻类干燥或提油。生物质在其高水分状态下作为一个整体进行处理。这项研究包含四个主要目标。PI将确定在微藻水热转化为构成原油生物油的分子过程中的反应产物、途径、动力学和机制。这项任务将包括使用拉曼光谱对这些化学变化进行首次现场分析。他们将在分子水平上开发和设计用于设计液态碳氢化合物分子组成的多相催化剂。因此，将多相催化用于水热条件下的石油改质将取得重大进展。PIS还将在利用微生物途径利用水热处理的固体和水相副产品方面取得科学进展。最后，他们将始终保持系统的观点，并将化学工艺设计、经济评估和生命周期评估结合起来，以筛选替代工艺配置并指导研究。将通过上游藻类生产和下游生物固体以及废水处理/利用的生命周期模型，研究水热处理备选办法更广泛的可持续性表现。这项拟议的研究可能会克服藻类转化为碳氢化合物领域的关键障碍，并有可能改变这一前景广阔的生物质原料的商业化前景。广泛影响利用微藻生产一次性可再生运输燃料的新技术方法可能是这项研究的成果。该策略也可用于加工其他类型的高水分生物质。因此，这项研究可以在我们向能源独立的过渡和减少能源部门的二氧化碳排放方面发挥重要作用。五名博士生将接受一个跨学科团队的培训，该团队致力于一个国际上高度感兴趣的主题的前沿研究。这些学生将参与实验室轮换，以确保他们的培训将是跨学科的。毕业后，他们将为在工业、政府或学术界担任领导职务做好充分准备。S硕士研究生将看到这项研究的方方面面被整合到工程学院和自然资源与环境学院的工程可持续系统双学位项目的课程中。可持续发展和工业生态学研究生选修课(由两个私人投资机构教授)的学生将从事与研究相关的项目。此外，每个PI将包括其实验室中的本科生。他们将邀请本科生参与研究，他们将参加S大学的UROP和WISE项目，这两个项目分别为代表不足的少数民族和女性学生提供指导和研究经验。他们还将参加工程学院在当地一所高中面向科学和数学学生的外联活动，那里有很高比例的代表不足的少数民族学生和社会经济弱势学生。因此，该项目集研究和教学于一体，为人力资源开发做出了贡献。研究成果将通过项目人员参加会议和在学术期刊上发表出版物来传播。

AbstractPI Name: Phillip SavageInstitution: University of MichiganProposal Number: 0937992EFRI-HyBi: The Science and Engineering of Microalgae Hydrothermal ProcessingThis award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5)Intellectual MeritTwo major barriers in conventional approaches for converting microalgae to liquid fuels on a large scale are the needs to cultivate algae with high oil content and to dry the algae and extract the oil components. The PIs propose to develop the scientific and engineering knowledge needed to implement a different approach that shatters both barriers. This approach involves integrated hydrothermal-catalytic-microbial processing. The hydrothermal (elevated pressure and temperature, aqueous phase) process is not limited to converting only algae with high oil content. It can also convert the biomass carbohydrates and proteins into bio-oil. Algae with high oil content are not required. Secondly, with this hydrothermal process, no algae drying or oil extraction is needed. The biomass is processed as a whole in its high-moisture state. The research contains four broad objectives. The PIs will determine the reaction products, pathways, kinetics, and mechanisms operative during hydrothermal conversion of microalgae to molecules that constitute a crude bio-oil. This task will include the use of Raman spectroscopy for the first in situ analysis of these chemical changes. They will work at the molecular level to develop and design heterogeneous catalysts for engineering the molecular composition of the liquid hydrocarbons. Thus, significant progress will be made in adapting heterogeneous catalysis for oil upgrading under hydrothermal conditions. The PIs will also make scientific advances in the use of microbial pathways for utilization of solid and aqueous-phase byproducts from hydrothermal processing. Finally, they will maintain a systems perspective throughout and couple chemical process design, economic evaluation, and life cycle assessment to screen alternate process configurations and guide the research. The broader sustainability performance of hydrothermal processing options will be studied through life cycle modeling of upstream algae production and downstream biosolids and wastewater processing/utilization. The proposed research could overcome key barriers in the algae-to-hydrocarbons field and potentially transform the landscape for commercialization of this promising biomass feedstock.Broader ImpactsA new technological approach for producing drop-in renewable transportation fuels from microalgae could be an outcome of this research. The strategy could also be used for processing other types of high-moisture biomass. Thus, the research could play a major role in our transition toward energy independence and reduced CO2 emissions from the energy sector. Five PhD students will be trained by an interdisciplinary team working on cutting edge research on a topic of intense international interest. These students will be involved in lab rotations to ensure their training will be interdisciplinary. Upon graduation, they will be well prepared for leadership positions in industry, government, or academia. Master?s students will see aspects of this research integrated into the curriculum of the Engineering Sustainable Systems dual degree program between the College of Engineering and the School of Natural Resources and Environment. Students in graduate elective courses in sustainability and in industrial ecology (which are taught by two of the PIs) will work on projects related to the research. Moreover, each PI will include undergraduate students in their laboratories. They will engage undergraduates in the research, and they will participate in the University?s UROP and WISE programs, which provide mentoring and research experiences for underrepresented minorities and women students, respectively. They will also participate in the College of Engineering outreach to science and math students in a local high school that has a high percentage of underrepresented minority and socio-economically disadvantaged students. Thus, the project integrates research and teaching and contributes to human resource development. The results obtained from the research will be disseminated via participation of project personnel in conferences and via publications in scholarly journals.