Download the Algal Biofuels Roadmap draft document - Sandia

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Contents
Executive Summary ......................................................................................................................... iii
Contents .......................................................................................................................................... iv
1. Introduction ............................................................................................................................ 1
About the Roadmap ................................................................................................................. 1
America’s Energy Challenges .................................................................................................. 2
The Algae-to-Biofuels Opportunity........................................................................................... 5
Microalgae as a Feedstock for Fuel Production ................................................................. 5
The Potential of Microalgal Oils .......................................................................................... 6
Integrating With Biorefinery Concept .................................................................................. 8
Investments So Far in Algal Biofuels Development................................................................. 8
Early Work to 1996 ............................................................................................................. 8
Research from 1996 to Present ....................................................................................... 11
Going Forward ....................................................................................................................... 13
Roadmapping a Strategy for Algal Biofuels Development & Deployment ....................... 13
Need for a Sizeable, Strategically Structured and Sustained Investment ........................ 13
2. Algal Biology ........................................................................................................................ 15
Algae: Basic Biological Concepts ..................................................................................... 15
Algal Classification ........................................................................................................... 16
Photosynthesis/CO2 Fixation ............................................................................................ 17
Strain Isolation, Selection, and/or Screening ......................................................................... 17
Isolation and Characterization of Naturally Occurring Algae Species/Strains ................. 18
Role of Algal Culture Collections ...................................................................................... 20
References ....................................................................................................................... 21
Cell Biology: Physiology and Biochemistry ............................................................................ 21
Photosynthesis ................................................................................................................. 22
Metabolic Carbon Fluxes and Partitioning ........................................................................ 22
Metabolic Link between Starch and Lipid Metabolism ..................................................... 23
Lipid Synthesis and Regulation ........................................................................................ 24
References ....................................................................................................................... 27
Biohydrogen: Direct Biophotolysis and Oxygen Sensitivity of the Hydrogen-Evolving
Enzymes ................................................................................................................................ 29
Fermentative Hydrogen Production (Indirect Biophotolysis) ............................................ 31
References ....................................................................................................................... 32
Genomics and Systems Biology ............................................................................................ 33
Development of Algal Model Systems .............................................................................. 33
Sequencing and Annotation of Algal Genomes................................................................ 37
Establishment of an Integrated Systems Biology and Bioinformatics Framework to
Develop a Fundamental Understanding of Carbon Partitioning in Algae ......................... 39
Development & Adaptation of Genetic Tools and Deployment of Synthetic Biology
Systems for Metabolic Engineering of Model Algal Organisms ....................................... 40
References ....................................................................................................................... 44
3. Algal Cultivation ................................................................................................................... 48
Introduction ............................................................................................................................ 48
Advantages of Algae as a Biofuel Crop ............................................................................ 48
Algal Bioreactor Designs .................................................................................................. 48
Addressing Feedstock Productivity .................................................................................. 49
Scale-Up Barriers .................................................................................................................. 49
iv