SBIR Phase I: Proof -Of-Concept for Large-Scale and Low-Cost Biomass Production Using an Innovative Open Aquatic Algae Cultivation System (OAACS)

小企业创新研究(SBIR)第一阶段项目的更广泛影响是建立使用创新的开放式水生藻类培养系统(OAACS)的概念验证，以克服目前大型藻类生产系统(如跑道池塘)的规模和成本限制。从OAAC的生物质中提取的替代生物燃料的预计最低燃料销售价格为2.53美元/汽油加仑当量，与化石燃料相比具有竞争力，潜在生产规模超过当前全球化石燃料使用量。OAAC的成功商业化可以带来新的可持续能源，显著取代化石燃料的使用，并随之而来的是减少未来全球气候变化的环境和社会影响。如果成功，OAACS还可以为其他生物产品的可持续、有竞争力和有意义的大规模生产铺平道路，如化肥和高蛋白饲料。拟议的项目旨在利用创新的强制组装共挤出和二维倍增技术为OAACS制造坚固的衬垫，然后在OAACS实验室光生物反应器中展示它们的性能。最低的成功标准是生产支持持续藻类航空产量15克无灰干重/m2/天的班轮，持续数周或数月，而不需要班轮清洁或二氧化碳补充。这将确立OAAC实现生产规模和成本目标的可行性。任务包括：1.使用先前演示的技术制造和物理表征衬垫，然后将结果扩展到具有孔径梯度和表面改性纳米纤维的衬垫；2.展示通过衬垫的高溶解无机碳转移率；以及3.展示衬垫在实验室光生物反应器中连续培养期间的强劲性能。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The broader impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is to establish the proof-of-concept of using an innovative open aquatic algae cultivation system (OAACS) to overcome scale and cost constraints of current large-scale algal biomass production systems like raceway ponds. Drop-in biofuels derived from OAACS’ biomass have a projected minimum fuel selling price of $2.53/gasoline gallon equivalent, which is competitive with fossil fuels, and have potential production scales that exceed current global fossil fuel usage. Successful commercialization of OAACS can lead to new sustainable energy sources, significant displacement of fossil fuel use, and concomitant reductions in the future environmental and societal impacts of global climate change. If successful, OAACS can also pave the way for sustainable, competitive, and meaningfully large-scale production of other bioproducts like fertilizers and high protein feeds.The proposed project aims to fabricate robust liners for OAACS using an innovative forced assembly co-extrusion and two-dimensional multiplication technique and then demonstrate their performance in OAACS scale-down laboratory photobioreactors. The minimum success criterion is production of liners that support sustained algal aerial yields 15 g ash free dry weight/m2/day for weeks or months without the need for liner cleaning or CO2 supplementation. This will establish feasibility that OAACS can meet production scale- and cost-targets. Tasks include: 1. Fabrication and physical characterization of base case liners using previously demonstrated techniques and then extending results to liners with pore size gradients and surface modified nanofibers; 2. Demonstrating high dissolved inorganic carbon transfer rates through the liners; and 3. Demonstrating robust performance of the liners during continuous culturing in laboratory photobioreactors.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.