Reviewer Comments - EERE

2011 Algae Platform Review – Reviewer Comments
Reviewer Comments are direct transcripts of commentary and material provided by the Platform’s
Review Panel. They have not been edited or altered by the Biomass Program.
Reviewer: 4 Criteria Score: 4
The only success factor listed on Slide 12 is that high biomass/lipid productivity strains are identified.
The work plan does not show how this productivity is to be measured. Define further the methods for
culturing/testing of promising strains.
Reviewer: 5 Criteria Score: 3
Critical success factors were identified, but there is no plan how these obvious factors will be overcome.
Reviewer: 6 Criteria Score: 4
Lipid content is the obvious factor, but there was no real correlation to the conditions one would find in a
raceway.
Reviewer: 7 Criteria Score: 4
Proof that the screening system selects superior strains is a critical success factor that does not appear to
be addressed.
Presenter Response
In contrast to the reviewer’s comment, that ‘critical success factors…tend to center on the laboratory
experimentation itself’, the ongoing project is embedded in other collaborative algae biofuels activities
such as the NAABB. The methodology to be developed is supposed to replace the Nile Red screen as an
analytical method that is as fast the Nile Red analysis, but providing more information on the lipid
composition at the same time. Although testing of novel strains is not part of the current project, it is done
in this laboratory in other projects. In response to the request to describe the productivity of strains the
following is provided: Biomass productivity is measured as accumulation of biomass as Ash Free Dry
Weight (AFDW) per volume per time. Algal cultures of about 0.3 Liters are grown in bubbling columns
provided with 1% CO2 in air and illuminated with daylight fluorescent lamps at an intensity of about 200
µE m-2 s-1. Cultures are kept in a water bath to regulate the temperature. Growth curves are based on the
AFDW and lipid extractions are performed according to Bigogno [Bigogno, C., Inna Khozin, G., Sammy,
B., Avigad,V., Zvi, C., 2002. Phytochemistry. 60 (5), 497-503]. From the biomass accumulation over
time and the total lipid content at certain times during growth, the lipid productivities are being
calculated. The PI agrees with the reviewer’s assessment that the screening, which is performed in the
laboratory, does not have strong correlations to potential large-scale outdoor conditions. However,
previous work of the PI on a saline water production strain has shown that the laboratory performance
tests allow prediction of the strains behavior outdoors.
Proof that the screening system used will select superior strains is not available yet as work on the proofof-concept
relies on ongoing experiments in collaborating testbed facilities and is not part of this project.
Although the proof-of-concept research is not directly part of this project, the results of that work will be
the 'critical success factor'. However, the proof-of-concept work is in a stage too early to make any
conclusions or predictions at this time.
5. Technology Transfer and Collaborations
Please comment on the degree to which the project adequately interfaces and coordinates with other
institutions and projects to provide additional benefits to the Biomass Program, such as publications,
awards, or others.
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