Progress 07/15/07 to 09/30/12
Outputs
OUTPUTS: For additional information, please contact John Cushman at 775-784-1918 or jcushman@unr.edu PARTICIPANTS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. TARGET AUDIENCES: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
For additional information, please contact John Cushman at 775-784-1918 or jcushman@unr.edu
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 01/01/11 to 12/31/11
Outputs
OUTPUTS: During the project reporting period, PI Cushman presented several invited lectures about the program including: EOL 407/607 Earth Resources and Energy: The End of Oil Reno, NV, March 31, 2011; EDAWN's Clean Energy Media Tour, Reno, NV. May 10, 2011; Squaw Valley Institute. University of Nevada, Reno, NV, June 17, 2011; and UNR Foundation Board of Directors. University of Nevada, Reno, NV, June 23, 2011. Graduate student Hathwaik presented a poster on the selection and evaluation of algae as biofuel feedstocks at the Nevada Agricultural Experiment Station, Ag Field Day, September 10, 2011. Reno, NV. Postdoctoral scholar Hiibel presented a poster on algal biofuel production using wastewater at the Nevada Agricultural Experiment Station, Ag Field Day, September 10, 2011. Reno, NV. Collaborator Vera Samburova presented a poster at the First International Conference on Algal Biomass, Biofuels and Bioproducts, July 17-20, 2011, St. Louis, MO. Reports on the Dunaliella salina (Ramos et al., 2011) and lipid and fatty acid extraction from algae (Samburova et al., 2012) have now been published or are in revision. PARTICIPANTS: To date, two graduate students (Mark Lemos and Leyla Hernandez-Gomez), one postdoctoral research associate (Dr. Sage Hiibel), and one visiting faculty member on a Fulbright Scholar (Dr. Nita Rukminasari) are being trained as independent scientists and participate in our regular meetings and conference calls. Each is receiving advising and mentoring from the project director about their various research activities and their career development goals. Two undergraduate students (Brian Kelly and Rob Cannon) have also been trained on the project. One lab manager has been trained on the project in a wide range of preparative and analytical techniques related to the specific requirement of the project: Rebecca Albion, Staff Research Associate II, University of Nevada, Reno (UNR). Research on the use of wastewater is being conducted in collaboration with Dr. Eric Marchand in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at UNR. Research on algal paste processing by hydrothermal combustion is being conducted in collaboration with Dr. Kent Hoekman in the Atmospheric Sciences Division at DRI. Dr. Juergen Polle of Brooklyn College, City University of New York collaborates with us on all aspects of Dunaliella genetics and molecular biology. Private sector partners were Alton Reich and Geoffrey Chew, Streamline Automation (http://streamlineautomation.biz/site/). TARGET AUDIENCES: The project results and outcomes were targeted to the scientific community at national and international scientific meetings, specifically to research scientists and undergraduate and graduate students and post-doctoral researchers conducting research on the development of algae as feedstocks for biofuel production. Outreach projects are also being targeted to the lay public through poster presentations at annual meetings of the Nevada Agricultural Experiment Station (Ag Field Days) at the University of Nevada, Reno, the Nevada Renewable Energy Consortium (NVREC) at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV, and research outcomes are being presented to scientific audiences through oral and poster presentations at regional, national and international meetings. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: None.
Impacts
Method development for the extraction and analysis of lipids (triacylglycerols) and free fatty acid content has been completed. Ultra-high pressure liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectroscopy (UHPLC-MS-MS) was used for the analysis of total fatty acids (FA) and lipid quantification and composition. The two methods were found to be in good agreement. Total lipids were extracted from the algae samples using the Accelerated Solvent Extraction (ASE) process along with a dichloromethane/hexane solvent system and the recoveries for TAGs and FFAs ranged from 80 to 125%. A total of 20 triacylglycerols were identified and quantified in the halophytic microalgae Dunaliella salina strains (Samburova et al., 2012). The most abundant TAGs were C18:3/C16:0/C16:4, C18:3/C18:2/C16:4, C18:3/C18:1/C16:4, C18:3/C18:3/C16:0, C18:3/C18:1/C16:0, and C18:3/C18:3/C18:0. Analysis of FFA compositions demonstrated that the most abundant FFAs were linolenic acid (C18:3), was the largest contributor to the total FFA content (52.3-66.7%), while other FAs were present in relatively lower abundance including palmitic (C16:0, 25.1%), linoleic (C18:2; 11.9%), oleic (C18:1, 9.8%), and hexadecatetraenoic (C16:4, 1.6%) acid in Dunaliella species. Eighteen strains of halophytic Dunaliella were screened and characterized for biomass productivity, free fatty acid, triacylglyceride, carbohydrate, and carotenoid composition and production. Biomass productivity ranged from 0.215 g/L to 0.405 g/L dry cell weight (DCW). Total free fatty acid and triacylglyceride content ranged from 2.97% to 7.42% DCW. Carbohydrates ranged from 4.02% to 18.75% DCW. Production of value-added products including β-carotene ranged from 0.109-1.942 mg/g DCW, xanthophyll ranged from 0.224 to 2.645 mg/g DCW, canthaxanthin ranged from 0.0194 to 0.1847 mg/g DCW, and zeaxanthin ranged from 0.193 to 1.215 mg/g DCW. The Dunaliella salina CCAP 19/18 genome ~4 X assembly was recently updated by JGI revealing that the nuclear genome contains 60% repetitive DNA consisting mainly of simple sequence repeats. Nonetheless, a total of 57,754 contigs totaling 252 MB of 350 Mb currently has now been assembled. EST sequencing of mixed cDNA libraries derived from various environmental stress conditions including a NaCl adaptation series, a salt shock series; an anaerobic stress series, and a high light to low light adaptation and vice versa were performed resulting in 37,391 Sanger ESTs and 2,252,211 Roche 454 ESTs resulting in over 1.5 M cleansed reads and about 21,000 unigenes. In order to identify genes that control oil production, an experiment using a custom microarray containing probes for 21,000 unigenes derived subjecting D. salina cells to 0, 12, 24, 48, and 72 h nutrient deprivation has been completed with the largest change in gene expression patterns occurring after 72 h. Detailed characterization of this gene expression data is underway.
Publications
- Samburova V, Lemos MS, Hiibel SR, Hoekman SK, Cushman JC, Zielinska B (2012) Analysis of triacylglycerols and free fatty acids in algae using ultra-high-pressure liquid chromatography mass spectrometry. Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry. In revision.
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Progress 01/01/10 to 12/31/10
Outputs
OUTPUTS: During the project reporting period, PI Cushman presented several invited lectures including: Nevada Renewable Energy Consortium Lecture Series at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV on September 7, 2010 and the 2010 Pacific Rim Summit of the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) in Honolulu, HI on December 12, 2010. In addition, graduate student Hathwaik presented a poster at the 2nd Annual Meeting of the Nevada Renewable Energy Consortium (NVREC) at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV on August 20, 2010. Postdoctoral scholar Hiibel presented three posters at the 2nd Annual Meeting of the Nevada Renewable Energy Consortium (NVREC) at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV on August 20, 2010; at the UNR College of Engineering in Reno, NV on October 14, 2010; and at the Annual Meeting of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE), November 7-12, 2010, Salt Lake City, UT. Reports on the Dunaliella salina organelle genomes (Smith et al., 2010), EST collections from salinity shocked cells (Alkayal et al., 2010), and a review on Dunalliella (Ramos et al., 2011) have now been published or submitted. PARTICIPANTS: To date, two graduate students (Mark Lemos and Leyla Hernandez-Gomez) and one postdoctoral research associate (Dr. Sage Hiibel) are being trained as independent scientists and participate in our regular meetings and conference calls. Each is receiving advising and mentoring from the project director about their various research activities and their career development goals. Four undergraduate students (Kim Rafter, Samantha Kertson, Alexander Lewis, and Brian Lelly) have also been trained on the project. One lab manager has been trained on the project in a wide range of preparative and analytical techniques related to the specific requirement of the project: Rebecca Albion, Staff Research Associate II, University of Nevada, Reno (UNR). Research on the use of wastewater is being conducted in collaboration with Dr. Eric Marchand in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at UNR. Research on algal paste extraction is being conducted in collaboration with Dr. Charles Coronella in the Department of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering at UNR. Dr. Juergen Polle of Brooklyn College, City University of New York collaborates with us on all aspects of Dunaliella genetics and molecular biology. Private sector partners include Dr. John Bebout, Bebout & Associates (http://bebout-and-associates.com/), Mr. Jeffrey Eppink, Enegis LLC, (http://www.enegis.com/), and Alton Reich, Streamline Automation (http://streamlineautomation.biz/site/). TARGET AUDIENCES: The project results and outcomes were targeted to the scientific community at national and international scientific meetings, specifically to research scientists and undergraduate and graduate students and post-doctoral researchers conducting research on the development of algae as feedstocks for biofuel production. Outreach projects are also being targeted to the lay public through poster presentations at an annual meeting of the Nevada Renewable Energy Consortium (NVREC) at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV and research outcomes are being presented to scientific audiences through oral and poster presentations at regional, national and international meetings. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
Analysis of growth rates, triacylglycerol, free fatty acid content, and insoluble starch content for nineteen (19) strains of halophytic microalgae (Dunaliella salina) has been completed and analysis of results is being finalized for publication. Dunaliella cells contain a relatively low triacylglycerol content averaging only 0.56% on a dry weight basis (range = 0.18-1.91%) with the following fatty acid compositions: linolenic C18:3 > linoleic C18:2 > palmitic C16:0 > oleic C18:3, > palmitoleic C16:1 = hexadecadienoic C16:2 > C16:4. In addition, we have explored the use of centrate, the liquid fraction created when anaerobically digested wastewater sludge is dewatered for disposal purposes, as a low cost, nutrient sources for growing algae. Interestingly, eleven (of 18) salt-water Dunaliella species were shown to grow in up to 50% v/v centrate. The 18S rRNA gene and adjacent internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions were used to provide a facile method to unambigouously identify and classify the Dunaliella strains. The sequencing of 18s rDNA gene and adjacent ITS region has been completed for eighteen and nineteen strains, respectively. We have also begun the sequencing of ~30 different freshwater green algae strains including Chlorella, Neochloris, and Nannochloropsis species. Transgressive selection trials of wildtype and ethyl methyl sulfonate (EMS) mutagenized strains of Dunaliella salina CCAP 1918 have continued through 53 rounds of selection of wildtype and mutant cells by buoyant density gradient centrifugation. Flow cytometry with Nile Red dye staining has been performed successfully to assess the effects of reiterative selection and associated lipid content changes. Both buoyant density gradient centrifugation and flow cytometry followed by fluorescence activated cell sorting can be effectively used to select for significant increases in lipid and/or starch content from within wildtype or mutagenized algal cell populations without resorting to genetic engineering. Currently, a ~4 X assembly of the genome has been completed by JGI resulting in complete mitochondrial (28.8 kb) and plastid (269 kb) genome sequences which have now been published (Smith et al., 2010). The nuclear genome contains 60% repetitive DNA consisting mainly of simple sequence repeats and this is making contig assembly especially challenging with only 191 MB of 350 Mb currently being assembled. EST sequencing of mixed cDNA libraries derived from various environmental stress conditions by Sanger (37,391 ESTs) and Roche 454 (2,252,211 ESTs) sequencing produced over 1.5 M cleansed reads and about 21,000 unigenes. Analysis of a small collection of 2831 ESTs from salt-shocked D. salina cells has also been completed (Alkayal et al., 2010). Such information, along with additional rounds of paired end reads, will be needed to improve the genome assembly and annotation. In order to identify genes that control oil production, an experiment using a custom microarray containing probes for 21,000 unigenes derived subjecting D. salina cells to 0, 12, 24, 48, and 72 h nutrient deprivation has been completed with the largest change in gene expression patterns occurring after 72 h.
Publications
- Smith DR, Lee RW, Cushman JC, Magnuson JK, Tran D, Polle JEW. (2010) The Dunaliella salina organelle genomes: large sequences, inflated with intronic and intergenic DNA. BMC Plant Biology. 10:83.
- Alkayal MF, Albion RL, Tillett RL, Mark S. Lemos, Hernandez-Gomez L, Cushman JC. (2010) Expressed Sequence Tag (EST) profiling in salinity shocked Dunaliella salina reveals high expression of protein synthetic apparatus components. Plant Science. 179: 437-449.
- Ramos AA, Polle J, Tran D, Cushman JC, Jin ES, Varela JC. (2011) The unicellular green alga Dunaliella salina Teod. As a model for abiotic stress tolerance: Genetic advances and future prospects. Algae. Submitted.
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Progress 01/01/09 to 12/31/09
Outputs
OUTPUTS: During the project reporting period, collaborator Polle and PI Cushman presented a poster at the JGI User Meeting on March 25-27, 2009 at Walnut Creek, CA. Both graduate students Hernandez-Gomez and Lemos presented posters at the 2009 American Society of Plant Biologist (ASPB) & Phycological Society of America (PSA) on July 18-22th, 2009 in Honolulu, HI and at the NAES Ag Field Day on September 12, 2009 at the Main Station Farm Complex, Reno, NV. Undergraduate student Rafter presented at poster at the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program Poster Session on August 12, 2009 at the University of Nevada, Reno, NV. Graduate student Hernandez-Gomez also presented a poster at the First Annual UNR Molecular Biosciences Retreat on October 17, 2009 at the University of Nevada, Reno, NV. Dr. Cushman delivered oral presentations to the 2009 Sun Grant Initiative Energy Conference in Washington D.C. on March 12, 2009 and to the Society for General Microbiology Fall Meeting at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, Scotland, UK on September 9, 2009. PARTICIPANTS: To date, two graduate students (Mark Lemos and Leyla Hernandez-Gomez) and one postdoctoral research associate (Dr. Sage Hiibel) are being trained as independent scientists and participate in our regular meetings and conference calls. Each is receiving advising and mentoring from the project director about their various research activities and their career development goals. One lab manager has been trained on the project in a wide range of preparative and analytical techniques related to the specific requirement of the project: Rebecca Albion, Staff Research Associate II, University of Nevada, Reno (UNR). Three undergraduate students (Kim Rafter, Samantha Kertson, and Alexander Lewis) have also been trained on the project. Research on the use of wastewater is being conducted in collaboration with Dr. Eric Marchand in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at UNR. Research on algal paste extraction is being conducted in collaboration with Dr. Charles Coronella in the Department of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering at UNR. Dr. Juergen Polle of Brooklyn College, City University of New York collaborates with us on all aspects of Dunaliella genetics and molecular biology. Private sector partners include Dr. John Bebout of Bebout & Associates (http://bebout-and-associates.com/) and Mr. Jeffrey Eppink of Enegis LLC, (http://www.enegis.com/). TARGET AUDIENCES: The project results and outcomes were targeted to the scientific community at national and international scientific meetings, specifically to research scientists and undergraduate and graduate students and post-doctoral researchers conducting research on the development of algae as feedstocks for biofuel production. Outreach projects are also being targeted to the lay public through poster presentations at the annual Agriculture Field Day held by the Nevada Agricultural Experiment Station and to oral presentations to national and international scientific audiences. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: None.
Impacts
Analysis of growth rates, lipid content, and insoluble starch content has been completed for nineteen (19) strains of halophytic microalgae. We have also completed the analysis of 11 strains of freshwater algae. Analysis of 12 brackish water strains is in progress. Freshwater algae strains can serve as potential feedstocks for biofuel production using wastewater. We have completed proof-of-concept evaluations of the use of centrate, the liquid fraction created when anaerobically digested wastewater sludge is dewatered for disposal purposes. Centrate contains very high concentrations of the key nutrients required for algae growth, specifically nitrogen (1,000 mg/L NH4+-N), phosphorus (225 mg/L PO43--P), and inorganic carbon (~650 mg/L -C). At present, the Truckee Meadows Water Reclamation Facility (TMWRF) in Sparks, NV produces approximately 250,000 gallons of centrate per day, which is recycled to the head of the treatment facility. Utilizing this liquid stream for beneficial purposes as a nutrient source for algae growth would save the treatment facility about $4,400/day and $2,900/day for nitrogen and phosphorus removal, respectively, or $2.7 M annually while generating ~1,600 gallons of oil per day assuming a 30% lipid content of the algae. Research is in progress to identify the optimal centrate loading for algal use as well as water quality analyses to establish the product water quality following algae harvesting. Algal stains have been tested and shown to be able to grow in up to 20% centrate while removing more than 50% of N and P content. Selection of algal strains that can tolerate higher concentrations of centrate is also in progress. Large-scale production trials of algae on centrate have been completed at the 2,000 L raceway ponds. Productivities are about 60% of those obtained by control fertilizer media. Kilogram quantities of algal paste have been produced for solvent extraction trials. Transgressive selection trials of wildtype and ethyl methyl sulfonate (EMS) mutagenized strains of Dunaliella salina CCAP 1918 have continued. After 20 rounds of reiterative transgressive selection using continuous Percoll buoyant density gradient centrifugation, we have been able to increase lipid content by 39% and starch content by 227%. Genetic analysis of these strains is now in progress as are continued rounds of selection. Total genomic DNA and RNA from Dunaliella salina CCAP 19/18 was submitted to the Joint Genome Institute (JGI) for genomic sequencing and annotation. Currently, a 1.5 X assembly of the genome has been completed by JGI resulting in complete mitochondrial (28.8 kb) and plastid (269 kb) genome sequences (Smith et al., 2010) and a nuclear genome of approximately 300 Mb with 60% repetitive DNA content. EST sequencing of mixed cDNA libraries derived from various environmental stress conditions by Sanger (37,391 ESTs) and Roche 454 (2,252,211 ESTs) sequencing produced over 1.5 M cleansed reads and about 21,000 unigenes. This information will be instrumental in improving the accuracy of genome annotation and mRNA expression analysis to test the effects of nutrient deprivation or other stress conditions on lipid production.
Publications
- Smith DR, Lee RW, Cushman JC, Magnuson JK, Tran D, Polle JEW. (2010) The Dunaliella salina organelle genomes: large sequences, inflated with intronic and intergenic DNA. Genome Biology. Submitted.
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Progress 01/01/08 to 12/31/08
Outputs
OUTPUTS: The objectives of the project are 1) Determine the oil production potential for 20 strains of Dunaliella (Chlorophyceae) that can grow in the Great Basin and Intermountain West; 2) Conduct mutant screens to identify optimal stains of Dunaliella with enhanced production of triacylglycerols (TAGs) suitable for conversion to biodiesel; and 3) Identify genes that control oil production by mRNA expression profiling. Education and extension goals are to 1) to develop a room-size "demonstration" scale production facility whose purpose will be to educate scientists, investors, and the lay public about the potential feasibility of the algae-to-biodiesel conversion process and related technologies and 2) to develop pilot-scale "proof-of-concept" production facilities with private sector collaborators to optimize biodiesel production from algal feedstocks that leverages geothermal and/or biomass cogeneration resources and to assess the economic feasibility and impact of algae-to-biodiesel production systems. To date, five poster presentations and three invited oral presentations have been presented at international academic scientific meetings as well as to the lay public and biodiesel industry representatives. PARTICIPANTS: To date, two graduate students (Mark Lemos and Leyla Hernandez) are being trained as future independent scientists and participate in our regular meetings and conference calls. Both are receiving advising and mentoring from the project director about their various research activities and their career development. One lab manager has been trained on the project in a wide range of preparative and analytical techniques related to the specific requirement of the project: Rebecca Albion, Staff Research Associate II, University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557, USA. Private sector partners: Dr. John Bebout of Bebout & Associates and Mr. Jeffrey Eppink of Enegis LLC, (http://www.enegis.com/). TARGET AUDIENCES: The project results and outcomes were targeted to the scientific community at national and international scientific meetings, specifically to research scientists and undergraduate and graduate students and post-doctoral researchers conducting research on the development of algae as feedstocks for biofuel production. Outreach projects are also being targeted to the lay public through poster presentations at the annual Agriculture Field Day held by the Nevada Agricultural Experiment Station and to oral presentations to national biodiesel producers in the private sector. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
Analysis of growth rates, lipid content, and insoluble starch content has been completed for nineteen (19) strains of halophytic microalgae. The data collection and analysis was done for both fresh weight and dry weight of the microalgae. Lipid content varied from 4.2-54% when measured on a dry-weight basis. Starch content varied from 4.5%-17% on a dry weight basis depending on the particular species investigated. Strains with high lipid contents are potentially useful as feedstocks for biodiesel, whereas strains with high starch production are potential feedstocks for bioethanol production. Optimal conditions for chemical mutagenesis using ethyl methyl sulfonate (EMS) were determined for four species or strains of Dunaliella and we have determined that an optima EMS concentration for chemical mutagenesis was 150 mM EMS. Continuous buoyant density Percoll gradient centrifugation methods for selection of mutant cells were optimized. After only thirteen rounds of selection, significant qualitative differences in buoyant density are beginning to become evident. Total genomic DNA from Dunaliella salina CCAP 19/18 was submitted to the Joint Genome Institute (JGI) for quality control. Currently, 3kb and fosmid libraries have passed quality control. Dunaliella salina CCAP 19/18 will be scheduled for the ~4X checkpoint sequencing and assembly in October, 2008. The estimated time frame for the availability of the 4X assembly is January-February, 2009. Unfortunately, JGI was unable to construct an 8 kb library for this project. They are going to sequence 3X of the 3kb + 1X of the fosmid library and evaluate the 4X assembly. Additional aliquots of this DNA will be used to construct longer insert clone libraries to attain final 8X genome coverage. Once the 8X genome coverage is completed, microarray-based or resequencing-based mRNA expression profiling will be scheduled. In November 2007, two production ponds (2,000 L and 4,000 L) were purchased and installed in the Valley Road Greenhouse complex and were put into production in March 2008. We have reached a major milestone of the project with the successful completion of the construction of our proposed pilot-scale, "proof-of-concept" production facility. With in-kind support of our private sector partners the construction of two 12 ft. x 50 ft. raceway ponds (each with approximately 20,000 L capacity) located east of the new Valley Road Greenhouse Facility was completed in September 2008. We have reached a second major milestone of the project with our first successful production run of D. salina growth in one of the outdoor 20,000 L pond. The pond November 25, 2008 with 3,000 liters of On December 12-13, 2008 the pond was harvested with an average 0.128 grams of microalgae (based on dry weight) per liter of pond media collected.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 01/01/07 to 12/31/07
Outputs
OUTPUTS: The oil and starch production testing for eight strains of Dunaliella were completed. Fatty acid profiles on these strains will be completed during the first quarter of 2008. EMS mutagenesis testing has been completed for 4 strains, but is requiring additional optimization. These four strains were selected because of their ability to grow well-formed colonies on agar media. RNA and genomic DNA samples for Dunaliella salina CCAP 19/18 were submitted to the Joint Genome Institute (JGI) in 2007 and successfully passed quality control measures. CDNA sequencing has resulted in the production of more than 15,000 expressed sequence tags (ESTs) to date. Genomic DNA sequencing is currently in progress. Once genomic DNA sequencing is completed, custom microarray fabrication and mRNA expression profiling experiments can commence. This is anticipated to occur in late 2008 or early 2009. Two 2000+ liter raceway ponds were purchased with the intention of developing a room-size
"demonstration" scale production facility, which initially will be located at the Valley Road Greenhouse Facility, Reno, NV. This facility will be used to educate scientists, investors, and the lay public about the potential feasibility of the algae-to-biodiesel conversion process and related technologies. Pilot-scale "proof-of-concept" production facilities are under development in Fernley and Lovelock, NV with private sector collaborators to optimize biodiesel production from algal feedstocks that leverages geothermal and/or biomass cogeneration resources, respectively. Agricultural economists have joined the project to assess the economic feasibility and impact of algae-to-biodiesel production systems on local communities.
PARTICIPANTS: The major outreach activity in the 2007 reporting period was the recruitment of one female Hispanic graduate student, Leyla Hernandez, and one underprivileged undergraduate student, Mark Lemos, who is a participant in the McNair Scholars Program. The McNair Scholars Program is designed to helps prepare academically achieving undergraduate students from disadvantaged backgrounds for doctoral studies through involvement in research and other scholarly activities. Each of these students was trained in research procedures and worked under the mentorship of Dr. Cushman. Mr. Lemos presented his results as a poster presentation during the Summer 2007 following his participation in a NSF EPSCoR summer undergraduate research opportunities program.
TARGET AUDIENCES: The target audience for these research and outreach activities includes interested students, faculty, private sector entrepreneurs, and all other interested researchers and business leaders. Demonstration of biodiesel fuel production technology from algal feedstocks will be of interest to: a) Regional/State/County/City officials; b) microbial, plant and recycled resource providers (agricultural producers, restaurants, etc.); and c) public and private sector energy and biofuel providers.
PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: The Wabuska facility is likely no longer an option for pilot-scale production testing. Therefore, an alternative sites in Fernley, NV has been identified and is under development as a geothermal resource sites for heating of algal production ponds.
Impacts
Of the eight (8) Dunaliella strains tested, the lipid fraction ranged from 20-50% on a dry weight basis. The pending availability of the genome sequence of Dunaliella salina CCAP 19/18 will permit the fabrication of a whole-genome custom microarray and allow large-scale mRNA expression profiling for the first time in this organism. Large-scale production of selected Dunaliella strains has been successfully demonstrated at the 2000 L pond scale at our demonstration facility. Successful algal production at this demonstration scale will provide sufficient cell mass to test the suitability of Dunaliella as a biodiesel feedstock and facilitate even larger scale production at our pilot-scale field sites.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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