Development of a computer-aided tool for high-throughput analysis and evaluation of low-TRL microalgal systems for process synthesis

Abstract

Microalgae has come into limelight as a platform for renewable biofuels and chemical feedstock production due to its high growth rate, productivity, and its flexibility through metabolic engineering. However, despite these inherent advantages as a renewable feedstock, processes utilizing microalgal biomass are at an early stage in development, otherwise described as being at a low technology readiness level (TRL). Current research focus is remains in the upstream- in the development of high throughput microalgal strains and low cost cultivation methods. Consequently, there is an ever widening technology portfolio that must be systematically evaluated and screened in order to identify promising microalgal processes for R&D intensification, otherwise defined as evaluation-based process synthesis. This research aims to address this problem through the development of a software tool, TIPEM (Tool for Integrated Process Evaluation of Microalgal Systems), which serves as a computational platform for evaluation-based process synthesis for microalgal systems. This was done through the development of a systematic evaluation methodology which includes the selection of performance indicators. A superstructure network is used to represent the possible process pathways. The process step/interval network model for the superstructure framework was modified from Quaglia et al. A unified inventory database for a simultaneous techno-economic and environmental impact assessment was formulated as part of the evaluation framework. Lastly, the tool integrates uncertainty analysis in the form of Monte Carlo simulations to address the high uncertainties of early stage processes resulting from a weak knowledgebase and having to rely on first principle estimates and preliminary experimental data. Thus the intended goal of the developed software is to serve as a tool for both academia and industry for microalgal process synthesis and guide future development in the form of larger scale process experiments and R&D intensification.