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FULBRIGHT PROJECT STATEMENT

BACKGROUND AND TECHNICAL JUSTIFICATION FOR THE FULBRIGHT AWARD


My goal during my Fulbright Scholar Award Program is to successfully develop and pilot an integrated
and sustainable renewable energy process for the production of biofuels and other value added products in
conjunction with faculty in the Department of Environmental Engineering at Khon Kaen University
(KKU), Khon Kaen, Thailand. The program will be conducted in conjunction with Dr. Thunyalux
Ratpukdi, a faculty member in the Department of Environmental Engineering at KKU. This
project is extremely important and is in response to the demands imposed by the devastating
environmental effects from global climate change. Energy sustainability means using less carbon from
fossilized sources such as natural gas, coal and petroleum, and instead, utilizing and recycling biogenic
forms of carbon that already exist in the environment. In this manner, atmospheric global carbon dioxide
(CO2) concentrations will decrease, mitigating the increases in climate change. Thailand is an appropriate
country to conduct this Fulbright award in that as a nation it has been experiencing impacts from climate
change including increasing temperatures, and decreasing rainfall amounts.
The project to which I will be contributing is a state-of-the-art research initiative where my KKU
colleagues and I will demonstrate the feasibility and efficacy of integrating anaerobic digestion (AD) with
algae production (AP) for the production of biofuels (e.g., methane and biodiesel), fertilizer and the
recycling of biogenic carbon. The successful completion of this project will result in potentially
significant reductions in atmospheric CO2 emissions when used globally. My contribution will be to
provide my experience, technical expertise and theoretical understanding to the integration of an algae
growth module to the KKU anaerobic digestion module for a fully integrated system. The main objective
of this project is to demonstrate in conjunction with my colleagues at KKU this integration via a pilot
AD/AP research and demonstration unit using biogas generated from the AD as a carbon source for the
AP. Finally, I believe that working closely with my colleagues at KKU will generate a synergism that
will create lasting effects for additional research into this important area. More details about this are
provided later in this statement.
The development of algaeculture (the agrarian process of growing and harvesting algae for its many
byproducts) as a source for biofuels is critical to allowing the global communities meet their goals of
reducing atmospheric CO2 emissions while still providing society with adequate energy supplies. My
interest in algaeculture began from my interest in the development of sustainable biofuels to replace fossil
fuels, and thus reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere. My professional experience
has prepared me to successfully accomplish the objectives of this project. My historical academic
research expertise is in the area of air pollution control/air quality management and I have researched the
impacts of emissions of air pollutants from combustion sources, methods of controlling emissions from
utilities and industries, and the meteorological impacts of climate change on urban areas in the United
States. This research has been supported by over $10M in funding from such agencies as the NSF, DOE
and EPA. My scholarly output includes over 100 refereed publications and the successful completion of
18 PhD and 56 MS graduates. In addition, as part of my academic duties I teach courses in transport
phenomena, especially related to diffusion and mass transfer, and courses in the Air Pollution Control/Air
Quality Management Program which I direct. My teaching duties include the following: Material and
Energy Balances (undergraduate); Introduction to Environmental Engineering (undergraduate); Diffusion
and Mass Transfer in Environmental Systems (graduate); Control of Gaseous Pollutants (graduate);
Industrial Sources of Air Pollution (dual senior/graduate); and, Air Resources Management (dual
senior/graduate).
I have come to the conclusion that global fossil fuel use must be reduced, not only to minimize
greenhouse gas emissions, but also to maintain a cleaner, healthier environment for all. We have an

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abundance of non-fossilized carbon (i.e., biogenic carbon) available in the environment for biofuel
development, and its use will not contribute to the overall increase in atmospheric CO2 concentrations
which are related to climate change.
The microalgae species that will be utilized are aquatic organisms that produce complex organic
compounds from simple inorganic molecules using carbon dioxide (CO2) as their carbon source, and
energy primarily from sunlight. They are photosynthetic, like plants, but lack the various structures that
characterize plants, such as phyllids and rhizoids in nonvascular plants, or leaves, roots, and other organs
that are found in tracheophytes. They produce lipids which are organic compounds containing fats, oils,
and related substances that, along with proteins and carbohydrates, are the structural components of living
cells. A byproduct of their metabolic and reproduction cycles is the production of oxygen (O2) and
hydroxyl ion (OH-) which increases the solution pH with time if not neutralized with the addition of
absorbed CO2. Some species of algae consist of as much as 80% of their mass as lipid content. This
coupled with their rapid growth rates, and their high per-hectare yield makes them ideal candidates for the
production of alternative fuels (biofuels), especially biodiesel, from biomass media. In addition, algae
biofuel contains little or no sulfur or heavy metals, is non-toxic, and is highly biodegradable.
WHY THIS NEEDS TO BE DONE
During my laboratory research at the University of Cincinnati into the growth of algae I have developed a
number of conclusions. The commercial production of certain types of algae has the potential of
providing a large percentage of the nation’s transportation fuel needs.
The following quantitative and qualitative conclusions have been determined:
• Ambient atmospheric levels of CO2 are too low to grow algae at sufficient rates for commercial
production to be successful. Much higher CO2 gas concentrations are needed but gas streams with strong
acid components such as SOx or HCl (even at low ppmv levels) will kill algae due to the low solution pH
which results. Thus the dream of using algae to capture CO2 from flue gases, even the effluent from flue
gas desulfurization (FGD) systems, has not been realized;
• Using inexpensive closed top polypropylene tanks can easily match the productivity rates of open
raceway designs most commonly touted in the literature. Open raceway designs can produce from 15 to
30 grams (dry weight) per square meter per day of algae, but huge areas of land are required for
commercial applications, and they are expensive to build and operate. We have matched and even
exceeded that number in our laboratory experiments using polypropylene tanks (area based on tank
surface area) but with a significantly smaller footprint (one-tenth of the occupied area per gram of algae
produced) , more economical, and an ability to eliminate/minimize contamination;
• Closed top photobioreactors (i.e., a “closed aquatic systems”) are needed in order to more
efficiently utilize the CO2 and take advantage of the resulting higher kinetic growth rates;
• Continuous harvesting of the algae can be enhanced by concentrating the micrometer sized
individual cells through the use of specially designed hydroclones, and the use of organic flocculating
agents;
• Algae can typically contain lipid oil at 20% - 50% of dry mass;
• Potential production of >5,000 gallons of lipid oil per acre per year is possible;
WHY THAILAND
There is a perception that algae cannot be grown at high rates in the continental US due to economical
and meteorology concerns, and a lack of innovation in commercial designs. As a result of my research I
came to the realization that algaeculture development would benefit by being developed in those areas of
the world where more optimum and thus economical, conditions exist, especially related to meteorology,
and where higher concentrations of CO2 are readily available. These large scale developments would
spur interest in algaeculture development in other countries, hopefully, including the United States. My
conclusions have lead me to develop hypotheses that algae cultivation in relatively large (1,000 – 10,000
L) inexpensive, closed polypropylene photobioreactors coupled with the innovative use of biogas
produced from the anaerobic digestion of organic wastes would be the most optimal use of available solar
insolation, and provide for the fastest kinetic growth rates. In addition, a photochemical reaction is most

2
efficient when averaged over a yearly time period when the available sunlight has sufficient intensity and
availability. The region of earth between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn (± 23.3o Latitude) has the
highest average value of solar insolation (~9.3 kW-hrs/m2-day), and an average amount of sunlight of 12
hours per day. In 2012 I wrote a proposal to my colleagues in the Department of Environmental
Engineering (DEE) in Khon Kaen University (KKU), Khon Kaen, Thailand requesting that I be allowed
to spend a sabbatical leave from January – May, 2013 at KKU and work on a bench-scale experimental
system of this project. I was aware of their expertise in the development of anaerobic digesters for
digesting high strength industrial wastewaters, and animal and agricultural wastes, and also the fact that
Thailand promotes the use of these types of digesters. The city of Khon Kaen is approximately 16o North
Latitude, has an average high and low temperature of 31o and 22oC, respectively, and has an average solar
insolation value of 9.5 kW-hrs/m2-day. During my sabbatical at KKU, I was able to prove my hypothesis
that high lipid content strains of algae could be grown at high concentrations in relatively inexpensive
closed opaque, polypropylene photo reactors. This was accomplished using a bench scale system we
designed using artificial light under laboratory conditions. In addition, we proved that we can use
anaerobic digester biogas to provide the carbon source (i.e., carbon dioxide) which is utilized for the
growth of the algae. This was accomplished by collecting biogas from an existing anaerobic digester in
large plastic sampling bags and bubbling the gas through the algae reactors. Only biogas was used for the
carbon source for these experiments. The biogas contained ~60% methane, ~40% carbon dioxide, and
trace amounts of hydrogen sulfide (H2S), and other constituents. We proved that we can successfully
scrub the carbon dioxide for use by the algae and leave an essentially pure stream of methane to be used
as a fuel for other uses. We were also able to show that the presence of H2S (relatively insoluble gas and
a weak acid in solution) did not inhibit the growth of algae and most likely even was utilized as a nutrient.
This is the first time this has been shown (it is not in the literature and we are preparing publications from
our results at this time).
In conclusion, Thailand is the perfect location for developing this integrated technology which will
not only substantially benefit the Thai economy, but also be transferable to the United States.
PROPOSED FULBRIGHT SCHOLAR PROGRAM
This Fulbright Research/Teaching program will allow me to pilot a sustainable algae development
process utilizing biogas derived from an anaerobic digester to provide the carbon source for algae growth
in inexpensive photobioreactors. Dr. Thunyalux Ratpukdi has developed anaerobic digester systems to
specific digest chicken manure which is a significant solid waste problem in Khon Kaen, and has an
operating pilot plant on the KKU campus. I will conduct experiments using the biogas generated from the
digester in order to grow algae for processing into biodiesel. In addition, I will teach lectures on climate
change, and the influence of transportation fuels on air quality and greenhouse gases as part of an existing
course at KKU entitled Air Quality Management.
I believe an added benefit to my Fulbright Scholar Program will be the ability of collaborating with a
young professor such as Dr. Ratpukdi and helping him by mentoring, sharing ideas, helping him write
papers, and advising students as needed and requested. I have successfully served as a faculty mentor for
two of our assistant professors in my own department and I have a wealth of experience that I can provide
which I believe will be helpful for a young academician.
RESEARCH PLAN
There are sufficient existing equipment, facilities, supplies and analytical services at KKU to do the
proposed research plan. The biogas from the anaerobic digester will be used as the CO2 source for the
algae. The CO2 will be scrubbed from the biogas using algae water, and the resulting gas will be
essentially methane, resulting in a significantly increased heat content of the gas on a per volume basis.
Based on my previous experience, the microalgae strain to be used will be Scenedesmus Obiquus because
it has reasonably high lipid content, and is resistant to contamination. The algae will be grown in a 1000
L closed polypropylene tanks and a portion harvested daily.
The harvested algae will be dewatered and dried in the ambient air. The heat content of the algae will be
evaluated on a dry basis by using a bomb calorimeter. Literature values of the heat content of algae have
shown that its heat content is ~5,600 kcal/kg (~10,200 BTU/lb), and many studies have concluded that

3
dried algae can be an excellent source of protein and carbohydrates for supplementing the feed of animals
such as cows and poultry.
A portion of the dried algae will be processed in order to extract the lipid oils which will be used in the
transesterification process 1 to produce biodiesel. In addition, the algae biomass that remains after the
lipid extraction step (the “residuals”) can be used as an animal feed, as a source of carbohydrates and/or
protein, or even returned to the anaerobic digester as feed material.
RESEARCH PROJECT OBJECTIVES, SCOPE, AND TIMING OF THE PROJECT
The main objective of this project is to demonstrate a pilot algae production plant using biogas as a
carbon source. The specific objectives are;
1. To design a pilot scale of algae production system utilizing biogas from the existing anaerobic
digester;
2. To determine the optimum operating conditions of an algae production system;
3. To determine if the system can produce sufficient mass of algae to use for the desired purpose
such as for the production of biodiesel, as a potential poultry feed and/or for algae oil; and,
4. To characterize the composition of algae lipid obtained from a pilot plant at the Learning Center.
Sufficient analytical resources exist at KKU to allow these objectives to be realized.
I am proposing that I be approved for this Fulbright Scholar Award for the period of August – December,
2015 which is certainly sufficient time to aloe me to accomplish my research and teaching goals.
TEACHING PLAN
I have always incorporated the methods and results of my research (as well as others) into my class
lectures. I believe that this is the most effective way of integrating fundamental science with engineering
problem solving skills so that students can see how theory and practice are related. This is why I believe
it is important that I take time during my Fulbright period to offer lectures on why and what we are doing
with the algaeculture research program. From my experiences in Asia, primarily Thailand and China, I
have concluded that there is a substantial need to bring the experiences that we have learned as
environmental academics and professionals in the United States over the past three decades to those areas
where rapid development threatens the environment with irreparable harm. I have seen firsthand how
major industrial facilities in these areas can pollute both the water and the atmosphere with little or no
regulatory control and/or enforcement. But I have also seen how students in these areas desire to create a
better environment for their future. Thus, I plan to offer a number of lectures by co-teaching a course
entitled Air Quality Management, which is regularly taught in DEE at KKU. I will offer specific lectures
on climate change and the role of combustion and fuel properties on climate change. If co-teaching is not
an option for this course, I will offer these lectures in a series of seminars. An overall outline of these
lectures will be as follows:
• The fundamental nature of the greenhouse effect;
• Meteorology fundamentals;
• Temporal and spatial changes in meteorological parameters such as temperature, precipitation,
and wind speed and direction;
• Greenhouse gases and their sources;
• Fundamentals of combustion and the role of fuel properties in pollution formation and emissions;
• Biofuels development and their impact on greenhouse gas emissions;
• Algaeculture and its potential for the development of Thailand as a global leader in biofuels
production.
It is anticipated that these lectures will be conducted over an 8 – 10 week period.

1
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transesterification

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algae production and harvesting/recovery The coupling of anaerobic digestion with carbon dioxide
utilization via algaculture will represent a giant step forward in achieving this goal. The success of the
pilot plant proposed here will allow the PIs to seek funding from both State of Ohio and Federal sources
in order to reproduce this concept not only at other universities but also in large urban areas where cities
are seeking to think green, which requires them to think smart. This project will also generate substantial
positive public relations as it will represent a renewable energy “first.” The PIs have as their ultimate
goal to use this project as an initiator of a Smart Cities Center located at UC where concepts such as this
can be developed and tested.

This means that a sustainable, continuous process could be developed where we take the manure from
animal producing farms, digest it in an anaerobic digester and produce biogas (and digested solids), use
the biogas with its CO2 and other trace compounds to grow algae leaving a pure gas stream of methane to
produce electricity, etc., and then take the algae for use in producing biofuels, with the resulting algae
residuals to be used for other sustainable purposes such as animal feed, etc. This process would
substantially reduce greenhouse gas emissions by eliminating the need for using fossil sources to produce
electricity and/or transportation fuels. However, a number of engineering issues needs to be resolved
before the process can be deemed commercially ready for large-scale production. When that occurs, the
technology could be easily transferred to large areas of the United States for use.

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REVISED FULBRIGHT PROJECT STATEMENT

Showing Edits and Feedback—not showing heavy rewrites.


http://www.cies.org/guidance-your-project-statement-samples

The devastating effects of global climate change are well documented and widely discussed.
In Thailand, higher surface temperatures, frequent droughts, and rising sea levels threaten the
country’s main export—rice—and according to a Thai official 2, could submerge the capital,
Bangkok, within 20 years. The country’s prolonged droughts from climate change have even pushed
Thailand’s resourceful King Bhumibol Adulyadej to develop a successful method to increase rainfall.
Known as the Royal Rainmaking project, this method employs planes to seed clouds and unlock the
moisture within, creating “royal rain[2];” however, these methods are expensive, and do not attack the
root cause of the problem. Rather, the solution requires mitigating the impacts of climate change by
reducing CO2 emissions. Doing so is both necessary and urgent. Therefore, mitigating these impacts
by reducing CO2 emissions is both necessary and urgent. Developing sustainable biofuels, such as
methane and biodiesel, is one way we are trying to replace fossil fuels and thus reduce greenhouse
gas emissions. My interest in these sustainable sources of fuel led to extensive research into algae.
Algaeculture is a promising source of biofuel that requires more research before being implemented
on a large-scale basis. Growing and harvesting algae for its many byproducts will allow global Comment [EMK1]: Not sure about this line, but
communities to meet their goals of reducing atmospheric CO2 emissions while still providing society I wanted to get the algae in there soon. And give
some sort of “gap.”
with adequate energy supplies.

As a Fulbright Scholar in Khon Kaen, Thailand, I will draw upon my previous research into Comment [EMK2]: I was thinking of this
algaeculture to develop and pilot an integrated and sustainable energy process for the production of paragraph as sort-of an abstract for the project
statement.
biofuels and other value-added products. I will work in collaboration with Dr. Thunyalux Ratpukdi
and other faculty members in the Department of Environmental Engineering at Khon Kaen
University (KKU). Through our state-of-the-art research initiative, we hope to demonstrate the
feasibility and efficacy of integrating anaerobic digestion (AD) with algae production (AP) to
develop biofuels, fertilizer, and [ ]. Thailand provides the ideal location for this research and
teaching Fulbright award because of its optimum conditions for algae growth, my established
relationship with the KKU faculty, and because the country faces very imminent repercussions from
climate change. When implemented globally, the successful completion of this project will result in Comment [EMK3]: Need to add a line about
potentially significant reductions in atmospheric CO2 emissions. teaching in here.
Comment [EMK4]: Perhaps a bit overstated.

Why Algae?
<topic sentence, prepared to take on this project.>
We have an abundance of non-fossilized carbon (i.e., biogenic carbon) available in the environment Formatted: Indent: First line: 0", Line
for biofuel development, and its use will not contribute to the overall increase in atmospheric CO2 spacing: At least 1.2 pt

concentrations which are related to climate change. Specifically, the commercial production of
certain types of algae has the potential of providing a large percentage of the nation’s transportation
fuel needs. The microalgae species that will be utilized we will use in this project are aquatic
organisms that produce complex organic compounds from simple inorganic molecules using carbon
dioxide (CO2) as their carbon source, and energy primarily from sunlight. They are photosynthetic,

2
http://content.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2084358,00.html

6
like plants, but lack the various structures that characterize plants, such as phyllids and rhizoids in
nonvascular plants, or leaves, roots, and other organs that are found in tracheophytes. They produce
lipids, which areor organic compounds containing fats, oils, and related substances that, along with
proteins and carbohydrates, are the structural components of living cells. A byproduct of their
metabolic and reproduction cycles is the production of oxygen (O2) and hydroxyl ion (OH-) which
increases the solution pH with time if not neutralized with the addition of absorbed CO2. In sSome
species of algae, 80 percent of their mass is made up of lipid content consist of as much as 80% of
their mass as lipid content. These characteristics, is coupled with the species’ir rapid growth rates, Comment [EMK5]: I had some difficulty
and their high per-hectare yield, makes them ideal candidates for the production of alternative fuels following this section. I wonder if some of it can be
condensed or rephrased so that it’s clear why these
(biofuels), especially biodiesel, from biomass media. In addition, algae biofuel contains little or no characteristics make them able to produce biofuels?
sulfur or heavy metals, is non-toxic, and is highly biodegradable.

Proposed Fulbright Scholar Program


With this teaching-research Fulbright Award, I will collaborate with the faculty at Khon Kaen
University to pilot a sustainable algae development process utilizing biogas derived from an
anaerobic digester to provide the carbon source for algae growth in inexpensive photobioreactors. Dr.
Thunyalux Ratpukdi has developed anaerobic digester systems that digests chicken manure, which is
a significant solid waste problem in Khon Kaen, and. He also has an operating pilot plant on the
KKU campus. I will conduct experiments using the biogas generated from the digester in order to
grow algae for processing into biodiesel. In addition, I will teach lectures on climate change, and the
influence of transportation fuels on air quality and greenhouse gases as part of an existing course at
KKU entitled “Air Quality Management.” I anticipate that 75-80 percent of my time will be spent on
research, and 20-25 percent will be spent on my teaching efforts. The timeline for this project

Background Research Comment [EMK6]: In the interest of space, I


think this section in particular can be further
My background research on air pollution, algae, and alternative fuels has prepared me to successfully condensed. You may go into too much detail about
complete this project. As a Professor of Environmental Engineering at the University of Cincinnati in your previous work at KKU? I didn’t want to trim too
Ohio, my historical academic research expertise is in the area of air pollution control and air quality much, though, because you would know much
better than I do which details are important to keep.
management, and. I have researched the impacts of emissions of air pollutants from combustion
sources, methods of controlling emissions from utilities and industries, and the meteorological
impacts of climate change on urban areas in the United States. This research has been supported by
over $10M in funding from such agencies as the NSF, DOE and EPA and has resulted in over 100
refereed publications. My teaching duties at include the following: Material and Energy Balances
(undergraduate); Introduction to Environmental Engineering (undergraduate); Diffusion and Mass
Transfer in Environmental Systems (graduate); Control of Gaseous Pollutants (graduate); Industrial
Sources of Air Pollution (dual senior/graduate); and, Air Resources Management (dual
senior/graduate).

My research expertise in air pollution sparked my interest in algae as a source of biofuel. During Formatted: Indent: First line: 0.25", Line
my sabbatical leave from January – May, 2013, I worked with the faculty at KKU on a bench-scale spacing: At least 1.2 pt

experimental system of this project. I chose to work at KKU because of the faculty’s expertise in the
development of anaerobic digesters for high strength industrial wastewaters, and animal and
agricultural wastes, and also because Thailand promotes the use of these types of digesters. During
this initial research phase, I was able to prove my hypothesis that high lipid content strains of algae
could be grown at high concentrations in relatively inexpensive closed opaque, polypropylene photo
reactors. This was accomplished using a bench scale system we designed using artificial light under
laboratory conditions. In addition, we proved that we can use anaerobic digester biogas to provide
the carbon source (i.e., carbon dioxide) which is utilized for the growth of the algae. This was

7
accomplished by collecting biogas from an existing anaerobic digester in large plastic sampling bags
and bubbling the gas through the algae reactors. Only biogas was used for the carbon source for
these experiments. The biogas contained ~60% methane, ~40% carbon dioxide, and trace amounts
of hydrogen sulfide (H2S), and other constituents. We proved that we can successfully scrub the
carbon dioxide for use by the algae and leave an essentially pure stream of methane to be used as a
fuel for other uses. We were also able to show that the presence of H2S (relatively insoluble gas and
a weak acid in solution) did not inhibit the growth of algae and most likely even was utilized as a
nutrient. This is the first time this has been shown (it is not in the literature, and we are preparing
publications from our results at this time).

From my laboratory research into the growth of algae, I have developed the following
conclusions:
• Ambient atmospheric levels of CO2 are too low to grow algae at sufficient rates for
commercial production to be successful. Much higher CO2 gas concentrations are needed but
gas streams with strong acid components such as SOx or HCl (even at low ppmv levels) will
kill algae due to the low solution pH which that results. Thus the dream of using algae to
capture CO2 from flue gases, even the effluent from flue gas desulfurization (FGD) systems,
has not been realized;
• Using inexpensive closed- top polypropylene tanks can easily match the productivity rates of
open raceway designs most commonly touted in the literature. Open raceway designs can
produce from 15 to 30 grams (dry weight) per square meter per day of algae, but huge areas
of land are required for commercial applications, and they are expensive to build and operate.
We have matched and even exceeded that number in our laboratory experiments using
polypropylene tanks (area based on tank surface area) but with a significantly smaller
footprint (one-tenth of the occupied area per gram of algae produced) , more economical, and
an ability to eliminate/minimize contamination;
• Closed top photobioreactors (i.e., a “closed aquatic systems”) are needed in order to more
efficiently utilize the CO2 and take advantage of the resulting higher kinetic growth rates;
• Continuous harvesting of the algae can be enhanced by concentrating the micrometer sized
individual cells through the use of specially designed hydroclones, and the use of organic
flocculating agents;
• Algae can typically contain lipid oil at 20% - 50% of dry mass;
• Potential production of >5,000 gallons of lipid oil per acre per year is possible; Comment [EMK7]: I’m wondering if some of
this should be moved to the methodology section?
My conclusions have led me to develop hypotheses that algae cultivation in relatively large (1,000 –
10,000 L), inexpensive, closed polypropylene photobioreactors coupled with the innovative use of
biogas produced from the anaerobic digestion of organic wastes would be the most optimal use of
available solar insolation, and provide for the fastest kinetic growth rates. In addition, a
photochemical reaction is most efficient when averaged over a yearly time period when the available
sunlight has sufficient intensity and availability. During my sabbatical at KKU, I was able to prove
my hypothesis that high lipid content strains of algae could be grown at high concentrations in
relatively inexpensive closed opaque, polypropylene photo reactors. This was accomplished using a
bench scale system we designed using artificial light under laboratory conditions. In addition, we
proved that we can use anaerobic digester biogas to provide the carbon source (i.e., carbon dioxide)
which is utilized for the growth of the algae. This was accomplished by collecting biogas from an
existing anaerobic digester in large plastic sampling bags and bubbling the gas through the algae
reactors. Only biogas was used for the carbon source for these experiments. The biogas contained
~60% methane, ~40% carbon dioxide, and trace amounts of hydrogen sulfide (H2S), and other
constituents. We proved that we can successfully scrub the carbon dioxide for use by the algae and

8
leave an essentially pure stream of methane to be used as a fuel for other uses. We were also able to
show that the presence of H2S (relatively insoluble gas and a weak acid in solution) did not inhibit
the growth of algae and most likely even was utilized as a nutrient. This is the first time this has
been shown (it is not in the literature and we are preparing publications from our results at this time). Comment [EMK8]: Methodology?
.
My research background into My interest in the development of sustainable biofuels sparked
my background research into algaeculture at the University of Cincinnati in Ohio.
<Concluding sentence here about what you want to do with these conclusions, how the Fulbright will
allow you to build on this knowledge and test it.> The Fulbright Scholar program will allow me to
test these conclusions in collaboration with the KKU faculty and ultimately develop a sustainable
system for producing algae on a commercial scale.

Research Plan and Objectives


Building on my recent research on algae, theThe main objective of this research project is to
demonstrate a pilot algae production plant using biogas as a carbon source. The specific objectives
are:
5. To design a pilot scale of algae production system utilizing biogas from the existing
anaerobic digester;
6. To determine the optimum operating conditions of an algae production system;
7. To determine if the system can produce sufficient mass of algae to use for the desired
purpose such as for the production of biodiesel, as a potential poultry feed and/or for algae
oil; and,
8. To characterize the composition of algae lipid obtained from a pilot plant at the Learning
Center. Comment [EMK9]: Objectives
Sufficient equipment, facilities, supplies, and analytical services exist at KKU to accomplish these
proposed research objectives.

Methodology Comment [EMK10]: I’m not quite clear on your


methodology, so I didn’t do much with this section.
In order to accomplish these research objectives, I will use
tThe biogas from the anaerobic digester will be used as the CO2 source for the algae. The CO2 will
be scrubbed from the biogas using algae water, and the resulting gas will be essentially methane,
resulting in a significantly increased heat content of the gas on a per volume basis. Based on my
previous experience, the microalgae strain to be used will be Scenedesmus Obiquus because it has
reasonably high lipid content, and is resistant to contamination. The algae will be grown in a 1000 L
closed polypropylene tanks and a portion harvested daily.

The harvested algae will be dewatered and dried in the ambient air. The heat content of the
algae will be evaluated on a dry basis by using a bomb calorimeter. Literature values of the heat
content of algae have shown that its heat content is ~5,600 kcal/kg (~10,200 BTU/lb), and many
studies have concluded that dried algae can be an excellent source of protein and carbohydrates for
supplementing the feed of animals such as cows and poultry.
A portion of the dried algae will be processed in order to extract the lipid oils which will be used in
the transesterification process 3 to produce biodiesel. In addition, the algae biomass that remains after
the lipid extraction step (the “residuals”) can be used as an animal feed, as a source of carbohydrates
and/or protein, or even returned to the anaerobic digester as feed material.

3
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transesterification

9
Why Thailand?
There is a perception that algae cannot be grown at high rates in the continental US due to
economical and meteorology concerns, and a lack of innovation in commercial designs. Therefore, I
chose to conduct this research in Thailand for the following reasons:
• Optimum meteorological conditions: Algaeculture would benefit by being developed in Formatted: Line spacing: At least 1.2 pt,
Bulleted + Level: 1 + Aligned at: 0.25" +
those areas of the world where more optimum and thus, economical, conditions exist, Indent at: 0.5"
especially related to meteorology. The region of earth between the Tropics of Cancer and
Capricorn (± 23.3o Latitude) has the highest average value of solar insolation (~9.3 kW-
hrs/m2-day), and an average amount of sunlight of 12 hours per day, meaning that higher
concentrations of CO2 are readily available. The city of Khon Kaen is approximately 16o
North Latitude, has an average high and low temperature of 31o and 22oC, respectively, and
has an average solar insolation value of 9.5 kW-hrs/m2-day, making it an ideal location for
harvesting algae.. Formatted: Font: (Default) Times New Roman,
11.5 pt, Not Bold
• KKU’s expertise on anaerobic digesters: As stated previously, the faculty at KKU have
developed anaerobic digesters for digesting high strength industrial wastewaters, and animal
and agricultural wastes that will be necessary for this project. Thailand also promotes the use
of these types of digesters. Formatted: Font: (Default) Times New Roman,
11.5 pt, Not Bold
• The country’s imminent repercussions from climate change: Climate change affects
Thailand in drastic ways. For this reason, it is an ideal location not only for research, but also
for sharing this research with students at KKU, who will hopefully become agents of change
in Thailand.
As a result of my research I came to the realization that algaeculture development would benefit by
being developed in those areas of the world where more optimum and thus economical, conditions
exist, especially related to meteorology, and where higher concentrations of CO2 are readily
available. These large scale developments would spur interest in algaeculture development in other
countries, hopefully, including the United States The region of earth between the Tropics of Cancer Comment [EMK11]: Move to methodology?
and Capricorn (± 23.3o Latitude) has the highest average value of solar insolation (~9.3 kW-hrs/m2-
day), and an average amount of sunlight of 12 hours per day. In 2012 I wrote a proposal to my
colleagues in the Department of Environmental Engineering (DEE) in Khon Kaen University (KKU),
Khon Kaen, Thailand requesting that I be allowed to spend a sabbatical leave from January – May,
2013 at KKU and work on a bench-scale experimental system of this project. I was aware of their
expertise in the development of anaerobic digesters for digesting high strength industrial
wastewaters, and animal and agricultural wastes, and also the fact that Thailand promotes the use of
these types of digestThe city of Khon Kaen is approximately 16o North Latitude, has an average high
and low temperature of 31o and 22oC, respectively, and has an average solar insolation value of 9.5
kW-hrs/m2-day. During my sabbatical at KKU, I was able to prove my hypothesis that high lipid
content strains of algae could be grown at high concentrations in relatively inexpensive closed
opaque, polypropylene photo reactors. This was accomplished using a bench scale system we
designed using artificial light under laboratory conditions. In addition, we proved that we can use
anaerobic digester biogas to provide the carbon source (i.e., carbon dioxide) which is utilized for the
growth of the algae. This was accomplished by collecting biogas from an existing anaerobic digester
in large plastic sampling bags and bubbling the gas through the algae reactors. Only biogas was used
for the carbon source for these experiments. The biogas contained ~60% methane, ~40% carbon
dioxide, and trace amounts of hydrogen sulfide (H2S), and other constituents. We proved that we can
successfully scrub the carbon dioxide for use by the algae and leave an essentially pure stream of
methane to be used as a fuel for other uses. We were also able to show that the presence of H2S
(relatively insoluble gas and a weak acid in solution) did not inhibit the growth of algae and most

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likely even was utilized as a nutrient. This is the first time this has been shown (it is not in the
literature and we are preparing publications from our results at this time).
In conclusion,Therefore, Thailand is the perfect location for developing this integrated technology, Formatted: Font: (Default) Times New Roman,
which will not only substantially benefit the Thai economy, but also be transferable to the United 11.5 pt, Not Bold, No underline

States. Formatted: Font: (Default) Times New Roman,


11.5 pt, Not Bold, No underline
Formatted: Font: (Default) Times New Roman,
Teaching Plan 11.5 pt, Not Bold, No underline
I have always incorporated the methods and results of my research (as well as others’) into my class
lectures. I believe that this is the most effective way of integrating fundamental science with
engineering problem- solving skills so that students can see how theory and practice are
relatedconnect. This is why I believe it is important that I take time during my Fulbright period to
offer lectures on why and what we are doing with the algaeculture research program. From my
experiences in Asia, primarily Thailand and China, I have concluded that there is a substantial need
to bring the experiences that we have learned as environmental academics and professionals in the
United States over the past three decades to those areas where rapid development threatens the
environment with irreparable harm. I have seen firsthand how major industrial facilities in these
areas can pollute both the water and the atmosphere with little or no regulatory control and/or
enforcement. But I have also seen how students in these areas desire to create a better environment
for their future.

Thus, I plan to offer a number of lectures by co-teaching a course entitled “Air Quality Formatted: Indent: First line: 0.25", Line
Management,” which is regularly taught in DEE at KKU. I will offer specific lectures on climate spacing: At least 1.2 pt

change and the role of combustion and fuel properties on climate change. If co-teaching is not an
option for this course, I will offer these lectures in a series of seminars. An overall outline of these
lectures will be as follows:
• The fundamental nature of the greenhouse effect;
• Meteorology fundamentals;
• Temporal and spatial changes in meteorological parameters such as temperature,
precipitation, and wind speed and direction;
• Greenhouse gases and their sources;
• Fundamentals of combustion and the role of fuel properties in pollution formation and
emissions;
• Biofuels development and their impact on greenhouse gas emissions;
• Algaeculture and its potential for the development of Thailand as a global leader in biofuels
production.
It is anticipated that these lectures will be conducted over an 8 – 10 week period and account for 20
percent of the program. .Having previously taught in Thailand, I know how to adapt my teaching
style Comment [EMK12]: I would add a line (or 2)
here about how you adapt your teaching style.

Outcomes and Dissemination Comment [EMK13]: Move all information about


the potential outcomes (from both teaching and
research) here, as well as potential publications.
(CO2 reductions,

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