SBIR-STTR Award

Sustainable Bioproducts (SB) proposes to develop an encapsulated biofilm-biomat reactor that will efficiently convert mission relevant feedstocks to usable products under zero gravity conditions. The bioreactor will be based on SB’s proprietary fermentation platform for converting a wide variety of waste streams into a multitude of usable products. SB’s bioreactor platform is simple, does not require energy during fermentation (other than temperature control), requires little water, and produces a very dense, easily harvested, consolidated/textured biomats with little to no waste. The biofilm-biomat fermentation technology enables growth on extreme media such as human waste (urine/feces) and produces a highly consolidated and textured biomass without the requirement of a separation or concentration step. Relatively high biomass production rates (0.55 g/L/h dry biomass) and high culture densities (100-180 g/L) are achieved without the need for active aeration or agitation. Scale-up of the system vertically or horizontally is simple and does not result in decreased productivity. The NASA sponsored research will optimize conversion of mission relevant feedstocks (human waste, food waste, plant materials) by adjusting reactor design and growth conditions. The biofilm-biomats produced in the optimized reactor system will be highly textured, 0.2 to 2.5 cm thick with a dry matter content of 10-18% and can be readily used for mission critical needs such as meat alternatives, other appetizing foods, fuels and building materials. Potential NASA Applications Closing life-support loops for NASA space missions: 1) Robust low maintenance bioreactors that do not require active aeration or agitation for rapid growth of filamentous microorganisms under zero gravity, 2) A biofilm-based reactor technology that enables growth on a wide variety of harsh feedstocks, 3) Bioreactors that producing dense, consolidated and easily harvested biomass, 4) An efficient production system that generates minimal waste residues, 5) A bioreactor system that easily scales Potential Non-NASA Applications SB envisions advancing their current reactor technology to a hermetic reactor system for use in a wide variety of situations where protein-rich food is needed quickly, but access to food, and the resources to quickly produce food are limited. These situations include civilian needs during catastrophes such as earthquakes and floods, third world nations with urgent food needs, and food for support of military operations. Interest from governmental agencies such as USDA, FEM and DOD is expected.

Sustainable Bioproducts (SBP) has developed a simple and energy efficient bioreactor technology for the purpose of supporting NASA’s in-situ microbial manufacturing needs. The technology capitalizes on the robust nature of filamentous fungi grown as biofilms. SBP has shown that the system can be used to convert a multitude of mission available feedstocks into dense, easily harvestable biomats. Advantages over current fermentation technologies include: simplicity of operation, minimal to no energy usage during growth, not expected to be significantly impacted by microgravity, dense biomats (~200 g/L), simple harvesting and easy scale-up. Implementation of SBP’s specialized technology will enable the closure of life support loops, particularly waste streams, while providing mission critical products such as nutritional and appetizing foods, fuels, pharmaceuticals and building materials. Sustainable Bioproducts in collaboration with Montana State University and BioServe Space Technologies at the University of Colorado, desire to continue development of the biofilm-biomat reactor system by leveraging learnings from the NASA Phase I program in combination with BioServe’s extensive experience in designing, fabricating and implementing biosystems in space. SBP, MSU and BioServe propose to design, fabricate and test terrestrial prototype bioreactor systems that incorporate the advanced technology into a single unit. Deliverables for the project include: demonstration level prototype bioreactor that can be incorporated into an ISS midlevel size locker, evaluation of different organisms and feedstocks in the system, mass balances and transfer rates of individual constituents, examination of biofilm ultrastructure and gene expression, defined operation protocols, and calculation of Critical System Mass in preparation for possible Phase III research. Potential NASA Applications (Limit 1500 characters, approximately 150 words) Closing life-support loops for NASA space missions and minimizing Equivalent System Mass by providing: 1) Robust low maintenance bioreactors that do not require active aeration or agitation for rapid growth of filamentous microorganisms under microgravity, 2) A biofilm-based reactor technology that enables growth on a wide variety of available feedstocks while providing dense, consolidated and easily harvested biomass, 4) An efficient production system that generates minimal waste residues, and 5) A bioreactor system that easily scales. Potential Non-NASA Applications (Limit 1500 characters, approximately 150 words) In addition to increasing SBP’s efficiency for producing high-protein foods, the technology can be used in situations where protein-rich food is needed, such as civilian needs in developing nations, during catastrophes such as earthquakes and floods, and food for military operations. It is expected that governmental agencies such as the USDA, FEMA and DOD will be interested in the technology.