SARDI Aquatic Sciences Algal Production Group · algal ponds such as raceways and photobioreactors....
Transcript of SARDI Aquatic Sciences Algal Production Group · algal ponds such as raceways and photobioreactors....
SARDI Aquatic SciencesAlgal Production Group
The Algal Production Group’s research is focused on the
development of microalgal and macroalgal feedstocks,
technologies and production systems to underpin and
sustain the growth of algal biomass industries in Australia.
Practical and cost effective Algal Production Systems
(APS) are developed for use in aquaculture, food and feed,
nutraceuticals, cosmeceuticals, industrial applications,
remediation of nutrient enriched wastewaters, bioenergy
and for biofixation of carbon. The group has been engaged
in applied algal research since 2006 continuing to meet the
needs of industry and government agencies within the state,
nationally and internationally. Collaborations with national
international institutions continue to be forged, resulting
in cutting edge research and development of innovative
concepts, technologies and products.
The Algal Production Group also has an active interest
in environmental research pertaining to photosynthetic
organisms. There is currently an active research program on
nutrient physiology of temperate seagrasses, and a strong
focus in quantifying primary productivity of phytoplankton
and microphytobenthos using in situ techniques.
The Algal Production Group is committed to delivering to
its clients, concept design, laboratory testing, proof-of-
concept, pilot, pre-commercial and commercial scale trials.
This is achieved using in-house skills, collaborations and
specialised infrastructure. Engagement with the client
may involve consultancy, research collaboration or ‘fee for
service’ research. The group also manages and operates
fee for service analytical laboratory (see ‘Algae and Biofuels
Facility’ capability statement).
Microalgae R & D
To meet the longer-term and larger-scale feedstock
requirements, research commenced in 2006 to develop
microalgae-based feedstock production for biofuels and
other high value co-products. Australia has great potential
for expansion of algal production systems, as it has large
areas of marginal land not suitable for agriculture, large
volumes of saline groundwater and experiences high
solar energy. Microalgae can be cultivated in high rate
algal ponds such as raceways and photobioreactors. Both
technologies are being researched at SARDI for various
species and product streams. The Algal Production Group
at SARDI has also undertaken an extensive bioprospecting
program isolating over 50 native microalgal strains selected
for various attributes. These strains are currently being
maintained in controlled environment conditions at SARDI.
In recent years the research program is focusing on
production of microalgal biomass for nutritional and health
supplements, carotenoid pigments as well as industrial
applications such as surfactants and oleoresins. These
programs are funded by industry.
Macroalgae R & D
The Algal Production Group is also actively involved in
applied research into macroalgal production systems. In
2007 the research group developed a partnership with
carbon and nutrient constrained industry stakeholders to
develop efficient macroalgal nutrient scrubbing systems.
The solution was developed using native macroalgal species
with high growth rates, environmental tolerance and with
high uptake rates for nitrogen and phosphorus. The research
project was diversified in 2010 in partnership with eight
industry partners to design and optimise land based raceway
production systems to mass culture endemic macroalgal
species for food, nutraceuticals, bioactives, cosmeceuticals,
aquaculture feed and bioremediation of industrial effluents. A
novel outcome of this project was the development of a two
stage protein enrichment strategy in cultivated macroalgae
by media manipulation. This program is ongoing with a
refined focus on food and aquaculture feed.
Seagrass, microphytobenthos and phytoplankton
R&D
The Algal Production Group has quantified nutrient uptake
and developed nutrient budgets for seagrass meadows in
Gulf Saint Vincent (South Australia) and Port Phillip Bay
(Victoria). These studies involved diver deployed benthic
chambers within seagrass meadows using in situ 15N isotope
labelling / spiking to obtain ecologically relevant estimates
of seasonal variability in ammonium and nitrate uptake and
allocation of these nutrients into the leaves, roots, epiphytes
and phytoplankton in the system. The outcomes from
these studies enabled us to better understand ecosystem
processes, develop whole plant nutrient budgets, contribute
to the development of whole ecosystem nitrogen models
and assist managers with the formulation of environmental
improvement plans.
The research on microphytobenthos and phytoplankton
was undertaken in the Coorong and the mouth of the River
Murray, South Australia. The study involved the use of in
situ benthic chambers with oxygen dataloggers to quantify
productivity of microphytobenthic community along a salinity
gradient. Phytoplankton productivity was quantified using the 14C radiotracer technique. The results fed into an ecosystem
model that led to the development of a decision-support
framework for environmental flow management for the
Coorong, Lower Lakes and River Murray Mouth regions of
the Murray-Darling Basin.
The work on phytoplankton productivity was undertaken
as part of a 24 day voyage in the Southern Ocean
onboard RV Southern Surveyor investigating the role of
submarine canyons in upwelling, sediment transports
and productivity hotspots off the Bonney Coast and
Kangaroo Island, South Australia. Spatial variations in size
fractionated phytoplankton productivity in the upwelling
zones of the two submarine canyons were mapped. The
output from this study together with other parallel studies
undertaken during the voyage on benthic communities,
fish diversity and hydrodynamics, significantly contributed
to our understanding of the role of submarine canyons
in contributing to primary productivity in the two most
productive upwelling zones off southern Australia.
Current and past projects
2014-ongoing: ‘Cultivation of marine microalgae
Nannochloropsis salina (CS-190) and Nannochloropsis
oceanica (CS-702) in outdoor raceways’, funded by industry.
This project is currently ongoing.
2007-ongoing: National Collaborative Research
Infrastructure Strategy ‘National Photobioreactor Facility’
/ ‘Algae and Biofuels Facility’, funded by the Department
of Education (Australian Government), Department of
Innovation, Industry, Science & Research (Australian
Government) and Department of Further Education,
Employment, Science and Technology (South Australian
Government).
2011-15: Collaborative project with the Victorian Department
of Primary Industries and five partners on ‘Developing tools
for the management of nutrient and sediment interactions
with seagrass ecosystems in Port Phillip Bay’, funded by
the Department of Sustainability and Environment (Victoria
Government).
2012-14: ‘Consultancy for the development of an integrated
mariculture project in Tacloban Province of the Philippines’,
funded by the industry.
2013: ‘Production trials of the wild strain and mutants of
Chloroparva sp. in outdoor raceways for lutein synthesis’,
funded by industry.
2010-12: ‘Development of a sustainable South Australian
macroalgal aquaculture industry’, funded by the South
Australian Premier Science and Research Fund with co-
investment from eight industry partners.
2010-11: ‘Collaborative project with CH2M Hill on ‘Utilisation
of nutrients in wastewater at Melbourne water sewage
treatment plants for algae to energy production’, funded by
Melbourne Water Corporation.
2009-12: ‘A collaborative project on ‘A pilot scale second
generation biorefinery for sustainable microalgal biofuels
and value-added products’, funded by the Department of
Resources, Energy and Tourism.
2009-11: ‘Development of JP8 surrogates from microalgae’,
funded by the US Department of Defence under the Defence
Advanced Research Projects Administration program.
2009-10: Collaborative project on ‘The metabolic and
genetic optimisation of microalgae for biofuel production’,
funded by the South Australian Department of Further
Education, Employment, Science and Technology.
2007-11: Collaborative project on ‘Large-scale microalgal
biodiesel feedstock and value added biochemical products
for a sustainable South Australian biofuels industry’, funded
by the South Australian Premier Science and Research Fund
with industry co-investment.
2008: ‘The role of submarine canyons in upwelling, sediment
transports and productivity hotspots off the Bonney Coast
and Kangaroo Island, South Australia’, funded by the Marine
National Facility RV Southern Surveyor.
2007-08: ‘Evaluation, development and optimisation of
photobioreactor systems for biodiesel production from
microalgal feedstocks’, funded by AusIndustry and Australian
Renewable Fuels Ltd.
2007: A collaborative project on a ‘Pre-feasibility study of
the use of a macroalgal phytoremediation system for the
treatment of Penrice effluent water’, funded by Penrice Soda
Products Ltd.
2006-09: ‘Sustainable production of biodiesel from
microalgae utilising saline waters from the salt interception
schemes and saline aquifers in the Lower Murray’, funded
by the Center for Natural Resource Management and the
South Australian Department of Water, Land & Biodiversity
Conservation.
2006-08: ‘Microphytobenthic and phytoplankton productivity
along a salinity gradient in the Coorong and Murray Mouth’,
funded by the CSIRO Flagship Collaboration Fund: Water for
a Healthy Country Flagship.
2004-06: ‘Nutrient fluxes in the meadow forming seagrasses
Posidonia and Amphibolis from the Adelaide metropolitan
coast’, funded by the Adelaide Coastal Water Study.
Relevant publications (Authors in bold are present or part
members of the Algal Production Group)
Microalgal publications
1. Challagulla, V., Fabbro, L. and Nayar, S. 2015. Biomass,
lipid productivity and fatty acid composition of fresh
water microalga Rhopalosolen saccatus cultivated under
phosphorous limited conditions. Algal Research 8: 69-75.
2. Nayar, S., Bott, K. and Braley, M. 2013. Production
trials of the wild strain and the mutants of Chloroparva sp.
in outdoor raceways for lutein synthesis. South Australia
Research and Development Institute (Aquatic Sciences),
Adelaide. SARDI Publication No. F2013/000552-1. SARDI
Research Report Series No. 733. 51 pp.
3. Zhang, W., Nayar, S., Franco, C., Clarke, S.R., Aitchison,
T., Trout, N., Tan, L.F., Su, P., Kupke, B., Bott, K., Braley, M,
Flink, B. and Tham, R. 2012. Developing a proof-of-concept
facility for microalgal biodiesel feedstock and value-added
products to pioneer a sustainable South Australian biofuels
industry. Final report prepared for the Department of Further
Education, Employment, Science and Technology (DFEEST),
Government of South Australia. 218 pp.
4. Baxter, K., Elsum, G., Poon, J., Austin, D., Mackie, J.,
Byers, B. and Nayar, S. 2011. Energy balance, utilisation
of nutrients, and uptake of metals for wastewater from
algae to energy production: An algal bioenergy technology
assessment. Proceedings of the Water Environment
Federation, Energy and Water 2011. p. 374-403.
5. Austin, D., Mackie, B., Byers, S. and Nayar, S. 2011.
Utilisation of nutrients and uptake of metals in wastewater
for algae to energy production: Algal Bioenergy Technology
Assessment; Final Report prepared for Melbourne Water
Corporation. CH2M Hill Australia Pty Ltd, Melbourne. 77 pp.
6. Zhang, W., Nayar, S., Franco, C., Clarke, S.R., Capelle,
E., Aitchison, T., Trout, N., Tan, L.F., Su, P., Kupke, B.,
Bott, K., Braley, M., Clarke, S., Thomas, R. and Tham, R.
2011. Developing a proof-of-concept facility for microalgal
biodiesel feedstock and value-added products to pioneer
a sustainable South Australian biofuels industry. Second
annual progress report prepared for the Department of
Further Education, Employment, Science and Technology
(DFEEST), Government of South Australia. 23 pp.
7. Zhang, W., Nayar, S., Franco, C., Clarke, S.R., Capelle,
E., Aitchison, T., Trout, N., Tan, L.F., Su, P., Kupke, B., Bott,
K., Braley, M., Clarke, S., Thomas, R., Rasmussen, P., and
Tham, R. 2010. Developing a proof-of-concept facility for
microalgal biodiesel feedstock and value-added products
to pioneer a sustainable South Australian biofuels industry.
Second annual progress report prepared for the Department
of Further Education, Employment, Science and Technology
(DFEEST), Government of South Australia. 18 pp.
8. Nayar, S., Bays, J. and Austin, D. 2010. Utilisation of
nutrients for algal energy production: Data gap analysis
review. Technical Memorandum 1A prepared for Melbourne
Water. CH2M Hill, Melbourne. 8 pp.
9. Nayar, S., Bays, J. and Austin, D. 2010. Preliminary list
of endemic and non-endemic algal strains for bioenergy
applications. Technical Memorandum 1B prepared for
Melbourne Water. CH2M Hill, Melbourne. 33 pp.
10. Fernández, W., Bergvall-Kåreborn, B., Djordjevic, M.,
Lovegrove, K. and Nayar, S. 2009. Using design as a
boundary spanning object in climate change mitigation
projects. Australasian Journal of Information Systems 16:
51-69.
11. Bott, K. and Nayar, S. 2008. Biodiesel from microalgae.
Issues Magazine 84: 39-41.
12. Nayar, S. and Williams, K. 2007. Microalgal biodiesel
production initiatives in the USA, Europe, India and China:
A travel report. Microalgal Biofuels Group Technical Report
2 prepared for AusIndustry and Centre for Natural Resource
Management. South Australian Research and Development
Institute Research Report Series Number 233, Adelaide. 56
pp.
13. Nayar, S., Bott, K., O’Loughlin, E. and Williams, K.
2007. Production of biodiesel from microalgae: Historical
overview and challenges. Microalgal Biofuels Group
Technical Report 1 prepared for AusIndustry and Centre for
Natural Resource Management. South Australian Research
and Development Institute Research Report Series Number
203, Adelaide. 95 pp.
Macroalgal publications
1. Nayar, S. and Bott, K. 2014. Current status of global
cultivated seaweed production and markets. World
Aquaculture 45(2): 32-37.
2. Nayar, S. and Froese, F. 2013. Are biofuels from
seaweeds a viable proposition? – Bioeconomic modelling
of biogas production and co-generation in an Australian
context. Biofuels 4: 371-378.
3. Knott, J., Bott, K., Froese, F., Gurgel, C. and Nayar, S.
2012. Commercial potential of macroalgal culture: A review.
A report prepared for the Department of Further Education,
Employment, Science and Technology (DFEEST), Government
of South Australia. 60 pp.
4. Nayar, S., Clarke, S.C., Stone, D., Gurgel, C., Qin, J.G.,
Bott, K., Knott, J., Rodda, K. and Bansemer, M. 2012.
Development of a Sustainable South Australian Macroalgal
Aquaculture Industry. First annual progress report prepared
for the Department of Further Education, Employment,
Science and Technology (DFEEST), Government of South
Australia. 175 pp.
5. Cheshire, A. and Nayar, S. 2008. A pre-feasibility study
of the use of a macroalgal phytoremediation system for the
treatment of Penrice effluent water. Prefeasibility report
prepared for Penrice Soda Holdings Ltd, Adelaide. 26 pp.
Environmental research - seagrass and phytoplankton
publications
1. Nayar, S. and Bott, K. 2015. Uptake and translocation
of ammonium and nitrate by temperate seagrass Zostera
nigricaulis in Port Phillip Bay. South Australian Research and
Development Institute (Aquatic Sciences), Adelaide. SARDI
Publication No. F2014/000665-1. SARDI Research Report
Series No. 819. 51 pp.
2. Patterson, J.S., Nayar, S., Mitchell, J.G. and Seuront,
L. 2013. Population-specific shifts in viral and microbial
abundance within a cryptic upwelling. Journal of Marine
Systems 113-114: 52-61.
3. Nayar, S., Collings, G., Pfennig, P. and Royal, M. 2012.
Managing nitrogen into seagrass meadows near a coastal
city: Flow-on from research to Environmental Improvement
Plans. Marine Pollution Bulletin 64: 932-940.
4. Currie, D., McClatchie, S., Middleton, J. and Nayar,
S. 2012. Biophysical factors affecting the distribution of
demersal fish around the head of a submarine canyon off the
Bonney Coast, South Australia. PlosOne 7: 1-16.
5. Patterson, J.S., Nayar, S., Mitchell, J.G. and Seuront,
L. 2012. A local upwelling controls viral and microbial
community structure within South Australian continental
shelf waters. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science 96: 197-
208.
6. Nayar, S., Collings, G.J. Miller, D.J., Bryars, S. and
Cheshire, A.C. 2010. Uptake and resource allocation of
ammonium and nitrate in temperate seagrasses Posidonia
and Amphibolis. Marine Pollution Bulletin 60: 1502-1511.
7. Nayar, S., Collings, G.J. Miller, D.J., Bryars, S. and
Cheshire, A.C. 2009. Uptake and allocation of inorganic
carbon by temperate seagrasses Amphibolis and Posidonia.
Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 373:
87-95.
8. Brookes, J.D., Lamontagne, S., Aldridge, K. T., Benger.
S., Bissett, A., Bucater, L., Cheshire, A.C., Cook, P.L.M.,
Deegan, B.M., Dittmann, S., Fairweather, P.G., Fernandes,
M.B., Ford, P.W., Geddes, M.C., Gillanders, B.M. , Grigg,
N.J., Haese, R.R., Krull, E., Langley, R.A., Lester, R.E., Loo,
M., Munro, A.R., Noell, C.J., Nayar, S., Paton, D.C., Revill,
A.T., Rogers, D.J., Rolston, A., Sharma. S.K., Short, D.A.,
Tanner, J.E., Webster, I.T., Wellman, N.R. and Ye, Q. 2009. An
Ecosystem Assessment Framework to Guide Management of
the Coorong. Final Report of the CLLAMMecology Research
Cluster. CSIRO: Water for a Healthy Country National
Research Flagship, Canberra. 47 pp.
9. Nayar, S. and Loo, M.G.K. 2009. Phytoplankton and
phytobenthic productivity along a salinity gradient in the
Coorong and Murray Mouth. CSIRO: Water for a Healthy
Country National Research Flagship and South Australian
Research and Development Institute (Aquatic Sciences)
Publication No. F2009/000263-1, Adelaide. 19 pp.
10. Fox, D.R., Batley, G.E., Blackburn, D., Bone, Y., Bryars,
S., Cheshire, A., Collings, G., Ellis, D., Fairweather, P.,
Fallowfield, H., Harris, G., Henderson, B., Kaempf, J.,
Nayar, S., Pattiaratchi, C., Petrusevics, P., Townsend, M.,
Westphalen, G., Wilkinson, J. 2007. Adelaide Coastal Waters
Study –Final report Volume 1: Summary of study findings
Novermber 2007. Report prepared for the South Australian
Environmental Protection Authority. Commonwealth Scientific
and Industrial Research Organisation, Adelaide. 53 pp.
11. Nayar, S., Miller, D., Bryars, S. and Cheshire, A.C. 2006.
A simple, inexpensive and large volume pore water sampler
for sandy and muddy substrates. Estuarine, Coastal and
Shelf Science 66: 298-302.
12. Nayar, S., Collings, G., Miller, D. and Bryars, S. 2006.
Nutrient fluxes in the meadow forming seagrasses Posidonia
and Amphibolis from the Adelaide metropolitan coast.
ACWS Technical Report No. 13 prepared for the Adelaide
Coastal Waters Study Steering Committee. South Australian
Research and Development Institute (Aquatic Sciences)
Publication No. RD01/0208-18, Adelaide. 75 pp.
13. Collings, G., Bryars, S., Nayar, S., Miller, D., Lill, J. and
O’Loughlin, E. 2006. Elevated nutrient responses of the
meadow forming seagrasses Amphibolis and Posidonia,
from the Adelaide metropolitan coastline. ACWS Technical
Report No. 11 prepared for the Adelaide Coastal Waters
Study Steering Committee. South Australian Research and
Development Institute (Aquatic Sciences) Publication No.
RD01/0208-16, Adelaide. 118 pp.
14. Bryars, S., Collings, G., Nayar, S., Westphalen, G., Miller,
D., O’Loughlin, E., Fernandes, M., Mount, G., Tanner, J.,
Wear, R., Eglinton, Y. and Cheshire, A. 2006. Assessments
of the effects of inputs to the Adelaide coastal waters on
the meadow forming seagrasses Amphibolis and Posidonia.
Task EP1 Final technical Report. ACWS Technical Report No.
15 prepared for the Adelaide Coastal Waters Study Steering
Committee. South Australian Research and Development
Institute (Aquatic Sciences) Publication No. RD01/0208-19,
Adelaide. 48 pp.
Staff
When required, the Algal Production Group can draw on
additional research capabilities from SARDI staff from other
strategic research areas of Aquatic Sciences and other
divisions of SARDI. SARDI also has a strategic relationship
with a number of universities and companies which can
respectively be used to provide additional research capability
and commercialisation strategies.
Dr Sasi Nayar
Sub-program Leader, Algal Production Systems &
Facility Manager, Algae and Biofuels Facility
Dr Sasi Nayar leads the Algal Production Group and manages
the NCRIS Algae Biofuels Facility at the South Australian
Research and Development Institute – Aquatic Sciences
located at West Beach in Adelaide. He has a PhD in Marine
Ecology and Ecotoxicology from the National University of
Singapore (2003) and a Masters degree in Fisheries Science
from the University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore
(1998). He has over 20 years’ experience in handling
ecological research projects in mangroves, coral reefs,
estuarine reefs, seagrass meadows, coastal and oceanic
waters in the tropics and temperate environment. He has
published 30 peer reviewed international journal papers,
16 of them on algal biology and ecology, 17 research
reports, 11 popular science articles and a book chapter.
As a principal investigator, he has been successful in
attracting greater than $30 million in grants from Federal
and State governments, and industry for 17 projects. He
has played a key role in securing $5 million from state
and federal governments to design and develop the NCRIS
Photobioreactor Facility (now called the Algae and Biofuels
Facility) at SARDI, a unique state-of-the-art national facility.
Dr Liu Ge
Aquatic Biochemist, Algae and Biofuels Facility
Dr Liu Ge brings to this program expertise in natural
products chemistry. He has considerable experience in
isolation and structure elucidation of bioactive chemical
constituents using sophisticated techniques such as gas
and liquid chromatography (GC, HPLC), mass spectrometry,
and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). His research at
the University of Adelaide led to the development of a dried
blood spot technique for determining the omega-3 fatty acid
status from capillary blood which has been patented. He has
also worked for large pharmaceutical companies developing
and optimising manufacturing processes for various
pharmaceutical products. Dr Liu Ge has published 4 papers
in international peer review journals.
Mr Kriston Bott
Senior Technical Officer (Algal Culture), Algal
Production Group
Mr Kriston Bott has a Bachelor of Applied Science with a
major in Aquaculture from James Cook University. During
his time with SARDI he has provided technical assistance
on numerous research projects including shellfish health,
bivalve genetics, abalone selective breeding and microalgal
production for biodiesel. Mr Bott is also involved with various
aspects of microalgae culture, both batch and continuous
production systems. He has managed the SARDI aquaculture
microalgae photobioreactor and marine microalgal culture
collection for over 3 years. He is a co-author on 8 journal
articles published in peer reviewed international journals.
Mr Bott brings to this group significant experience in
management of microalgal culture facilities and running the
physiological experiments under controlled conditions.
Ms Michelle Braley
Technical Officer (Algal Culture), Algal Production
Group &
Laboratory Manager, Algae and Biofuels Facility
Ms Michelle Braley has worked on temperate marine
ecosystems since 2005, gaining valuable skills and
experience in a variety of areas including Marine
Environment & Ecology, Fisheries & Inland Waters and
Catchment Ecology. She obtained a Bachelor of Science at
Flinders University and Honours in Marine Ecology at the
University of Adelaide. For the past two years, Ms Braley
has worked as a Research Services Officer in environmental
chemistry for the Marine Environment & Ecology Program.
In this role she focused on marine environmental chemistry,
providing support to numerous projects primarily in
the context of assessing environmental impacts (e.g.
Aquaculture, Spatial Footprint of Wastewater) and risk
assessment of exotic marine pests (e.g. Caulerpa). From
this she has developed skills in preparing and analysing
sediments, water and biological samples for organic content
and composition, nutrient levels and sediment particle
size distribution. She also has experience in providing field
based support to numerous projects, data entry/database
management and writing scientific literature.
Ms Sonja Hoare
Research Officer, Algae and Biofuels Facility
Ms Sonja Hoare has worked on temperate marine
ecosystems since 1998, gaining valuable skills and
experience in a variety of areas. She obtained a Bachelor
of Science in Environmental Science (Marine Biology)
at Flinders University. Since this time, she has been
undertaking research activities for various programs
within SARDI Aquatic Sciences. Much of this work has
been focused on the assessment and monitoring of South
Australia’s marine habitats and has been carried out in
estuarine and marine systems within South Australia’s
gulfs, coasts, bays and rivers. She is currently responsible
for managing the Environmental Chemistry Laboratory
undertaking analyses of algal pigments, dissolved inorganic
nutrients, sediment granulometry and total nitrogen-carbon-
sulphur in sediment, water and biological samples.
Contact:
Dr Sasi Nayar
Phytoplankton Biologist and
Sub-program Leader
Algal Production Group
SARDI Aquatic Sciences
PO Box 120, Henley Beach
SA 5022, Australia
Tel: +61 8 8207 5321
Fax: + 61 8 8207 5481
Mobile: 0428 542 101
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.pir.sa.gov.au