Sunlight-based photobioreactor system with optimized microalgae for naphtha production
A revolutionary Photobioreactor (PBR) system utilizing sunlight and customizable microalgae from the world's largest library to produce Naphtha at reduced costs. Ideal for use with sea, fresh, or wastewater, offering significant investment savings compared to traditional systems.
Overview
The sunlight-based Photobioreactor (PBR) system by SeedBank Co., Ltd. presents a groundbreaking approach to Naphtha production. By leveraging the world's largest microalgae library, this system optimizes the selection of microalgae species for cascading uses, enhancing metabolite production and reducing overall costs. The PBR system is designed to operate with sea, fresh, or wastewater, utilizing sunlight as its primary energy source. This innovative solution promises a significant reduction in investment costs, being less than half of those associated with existing open pond systems.
Technical specifications
- Microalgae Optimization: Access to a vast library of microalgae for both sea and freshwater environments. The system facilitates cascading uses of microalgae, each offering multiple metabolites.
- Cost Efficiency: Investment in the PBR system is significantly lower than traditional systems. The use of wastewater can further reduce production costs by eliminating medium costs.
- Customizable Production: The PBR system's plastic bag capacity can be tailored for optimal production efficiency and includes potential for automation.
- Validation Process: Future validation steps include selecting suitable microalgae through fatty acid analysis, testing culture ability within the PBR system, and scaling tests in simulated and actual environments.
Technology readiness level
The PBR system is at Technology Readiness Level 3, indicating that active research and development is ongoing, with the system having demonstrated success with various microalgae genera in controlled environments.
About SeedBank Co., Ltd
Seed Bank Co., Ltd. is a Kyoto University-originated startup founded in 2017 that specializes in the research and development of microalgae. The company has developed proprietary technologies to isolate useful microalgae strains from natural environments and cultivate them for industrial and academic applications. Their core business operations include contract research, the preservation of microalgae strains, the maintenance of an extensive microalgae library, and the development of cultivation equipment, such as their compact bioreactors designed to bridge the gap between laboratory-scale research and industrial production. By leveraging advanced expertise in microalgae science, they provide comprehensive support to partners who lack the specialized knowledge or infrastructure required for microalgae business development.
These capabilities are critical for industries aiming to utilize microalgae as sustainable, CO2-absorbing bio-resources for food, feed, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and environmental applications. Seed Bank serves as a technical partner, offering strain evaluation based on growth rates and metabolite production, as well as business planning advice. Their work enables companies and research institutions to effectively explore untapped biological resources, contributing to carbon neutrality and sustainable development goals. With a library of over 1,000 strains and a proven track record in both research and industrial collaboration, the company supports the creation of new commercial value through the commercialization of microalgae materials.
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