CAREER: Algal Biofilm Cultivation for Sustainable Biofuel Production

PI：Berberoglu，Halil Institution：德克萨斯大学奥斯汀分校标题：CARAPE：藻类生物膜培养用于可持续生物燃料生产这个CARICE项目的目标是(I)通过高细胞密度的藻类生物膜培养实现能源和环境可持续的藻类生物燃料生产，以及(Ii)整合这一跨学科研究努力，教育和激励学生，特别是未被充分代表的群体的学生，追求科学和工程方面的职业。然而，传统技术，如开放式池塘和封闭式光生物反应器，由于种植稀释浓度的生物质，在能源、经济和环境上都是不可行的。这就需要使用(I)养殖过程中的大量水，(Ii)用于泵送稀释藻类悬浮液的高能量，以及(Iii)用于脱水和浓缩藻类的高能量。培养藻类的一种很有前途的方法是生物膜的形式，其投资的净能源回报可能高达6倍。开发基于高细胞密度系统的新型藻类培养方法可以改变藻类生物燃料生产技术。该项目将(A)通过系统设计来表征和最小化藻类生物膜培养的光抑制、物质传输限制和热管理问题，(B)评估利用废水资源来供应和循环营养物质(如氮和磷)的藻类生物膜培养的可行性，以及(C)对拟议过程进行生命周期分析，以评估其能量、经济和环境可持续性。广泛影响：拟议活动将促进可持续藻类培养用于生物燃料和生物产品生产的理解和技术应用，同时为学生提供跨学科的教育和研究机会。研究成果将对藻类生物燃料与废水资源化高效高密度藻类培养相关制造设备的设计和使用具有一定的参考价值。这一职业项目的教育和宣传部分将扩大妇女和少数群体对工程学的参与，并将侧重于可再生能源技术和生物燃料。这些活动将包括(I)我的工程导论(MITE)夏令营，每年为100多名少数族裔高中高年级学生参加；(Ii)女孩探索科学夏令营，每年为70名7-10岁的女孩参加；(Iii)克罗基特高中科学研究计划，为5名少数族裔高中高年级学生提供研究机会，鼓励他们进入大学就读；(Iv)德克萨斯州研究经验(TREX)计划，招募5名少数族裔本科生研究人员，以鼓励他们保留、就读研究生院，并最终攻读工程学博士学位。

PI: Berberoglu, HalilInstitution: University of Texas at AustinTitle: CAREER: Algal Biofilm Cultivation for Sustainable Biofuel ProductionThe objectives of this CAREER project are (i) achieving energetically and environmentally sustainable production of algal biofuels through high cell density cultivation of algae as biofilms and (ii) integrating this interdisciplinary research effort to educate and inspire students, in particular of underrepresented groups, to pursue careers in science and engineering.Intellectual Merit: Cultivation of algae has been considered as a promising method for producing carbon neutral hydrocarbon feedstock for biofuel production. However, conventional technologies, such as open ponds and closed photo-bioreactors, prove to be energetically, economically and environmentally unfeasible owing to cultivation of dilute concentration of biomass. This necessitates the use of (i) large volumes of water during cultivation, (ii) high energy for pumping the dilute algae suspension, and (iii) high energy for dewatering and concentrating algae. A promising method to cultivate algae is in the form of a biofilm for which the net energy return on investment could be as high as 6 fold. Development of novel algae cultivation methods based on high cell density systems can transform the algae based biofuel production technologies. This project will (a) characterize and minimize photo-inhibition, mass transport limitation, and thermal management issues of algal biofilm cultivation through system design, (b) evaluate the feasibility of algae biofilm cultivation with wastewater resources to supply and recycle nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus, and (c) conduct a life cycle analysis on the proposed process to assess its energetic, economic, and environmental sustainability.Broader Impacts: The proposed activity will advance the understanding and technological applications of sustainable algae cultivation for biofuel and bioproduct generation while providing interdisciplinary education and research opportunities for students. The research results will be useful for design and use of manufacturing machines and equipment related to algae biofuel and wastewater resource coupled high rate high cell density algae cultivation. The educational and outreach components of this CAREER project will expand the participation of females and minorities in engineering and will focus on renewable energy technologies and biofuels. These activities will include (i) My Introduction to Engineering (MITE) summer camp reaching over 100 minority high school seniors per year, (ii) Girls Exploring Science summer camp reaching 70 girls per year between the ages of 7 and 10, (iii) the Crockett High School Science Research Program providing research opportunities for 5 minority high schools seniors encouraging their enrollment in college, and (iv) Texas Research Experience (TREX) program recruiting 5 minority undergraduate researchers for encouraging their retention, enrolment in graduate school and ultimately for seeking Ph.D. degrees in engineering.