PHD Proposal - Sample

Muhammad Shamoon Applicant for HKPFS 2021/22
PhD Research Proposal
Title:
High Accuracy Valorization of Food Waste Through Microalgae Bioconversion to Produce
Valued Added Bio-Products
Aim:
• Microalgae (Crypthecodinium cohnii) mediated waste-to-bioresources recovery from
household/municipal waste for industrial implications.
Objectives:
• To assess the food waste re-utilization for C. cohnii microalgae growth and
accumulation of biomass and lipids
• To evaluate the potential of C. cohnii for bioenergy production from food waste
• To extract, identify and characterize other bioactive constituents accumulated in
microalgal biomass
Background and Scope:

Annually, 1.3 billion tons of food wasted is produce worldwide in food chain. This
situation is alarming as food wastes epitomize environmental problems, create health issues
and add economic burden1. Burning or dumping of food waste also impact the environment
via contributing through increased emersion of greenhouse gases (GHGs; CO2, CH4) and
nutrients leachate runoff2. Virtually, food waste is rich in carbohydrates (30-60 %), lipids
(10-35 %), protein (10-20 %)3 and contain biological active peptides4 which can be re-
utilized (as carbon, nitrogen sources) in culture medium for growth of microbes especially
microalgae3 to produce valued-added products (i.e. biofuels, functional fatty acids DHA and
EPA etc.)5,6.
To minimize our reliance on environment costly production of bioenergy and other
value-added products, and to reduce the carbon emission, microalgae is an appealing choice
for utilization and bioconversion of food waste into useful substances5. Microalgae are
unique oleaginous unicellular microorganisms widely distributed in nature. They possess
properties of fast growth and accumulation of high value biomass and contribute to
production of nearly 7000 tons of dry algal biomass annually (USD 3.8-5.4 worth) which can
serve as source of producing biofuels and other diverse bio-products of industrial interest (i.e.
polysaccharides, ω-3 and ω-6 fatty acids DHA, EPA, ARA, enzymes, pigments, carotenoids,
vitamins, peptides etc.)7. Microalgae can be grown using different (organic-)carbon sources
other than completely relying on autotrophic culture media (CO2, light) to develop biomass
and to accumulate lipids. This makes efficient utilization of heterotrophic culture media by
microalgae.
Among microalgae, Crypthecodinium cohnii is heterotrophic marine dinoflagellate
and capable of accumulating lipids as high as up to 45-50 % of dry cell weight (~30% DHA
of total fatty acids)8 and producing various other important bio-value products9. Using
different carbon and nitrogen concentration cultures production of biomass, fatty acids, food
constituents and enzymes by C. cohnii has been reported9. However, number of studies using
food waste/waste hydrolysate as substate for the growth of C. cohnii, biomass accumulation,
production of fatty acids/other value-added and conversion of waste to bioenergy are still
limited. This gap in knowledge makes the C. cohnii an ideal choice candidate for re-
utilization of remaining nutrient sources in food waste for biosynthesis of value-added
products in algal cells. This PhD research project will investigate the potential and
implications of C. cohnii for waste-to-bioresources recovery and contribute new knowledge
and approaches for green bioenergy economy.
Research Methodology:
Following methodology approach (with necessary modifications as suggested by supervisor)
will be used during this PhD research project.
Food wastes sampling: Household and municipal solid (or semi solid) food waste will be
collected from different sites (local vicinity) in Hong Kong for this research. The waste will
be crushed, homogenously mixed before using in experimental work and/or stored at -20 °C
(maximum for 7 days) until further analysis.
Microalgae strain: C. cohnii (ATCC 30555) will be used in this project and before start of
the experimental work the strain be will maintained in ATCC® 460 medium at -80 °C.
Food waste hydrolysis and hydrolysate composition analysis:
C. cohnii culture and growth on food waste hydrolysate:

I am writing
C. cohnii growth kinetics on food waste hydrolysate: experimental details for
these sections which
Lipids accumulations and fatty acids (FAs) profile analysis: will be available in
revised version of
Biochemical/metabolic pathways analysis for FAs synthesis: project
Food waste to energy conversions by C. cohnii:
Quantification of other bioactives in biomass of C. cohnii:
Statistical analysis: Data will be analyzed using SPSS (v.25) package and significant
difference will be considered at p < 0.05.
Project timeline/research activities:

Project Significance: This PhD research project will contribute new knowledge and
processes to concept of 2nd generation bioenergy production. Optimization of methods for
food waste and biomass valorization through microalgae will provide promising and
sustainable strategy for efficient production of microalgal biofuels and other fine bioactive
compounds important in modern industry of a country.
References:
1. Arun, K. B. et al. Remodeling agro-industrial and food wastes into value-added
bioactives and biopolymers. Ind. Crops Prod. 154, 112621 (2020).
2. Sutherland, D. L., Burke, J., Leal, E. & Ralph, P. J. Effects of nutrient load on
microalgal productivity and community composition grown in anaerobically digested
food-waste centrate. Algal Res. 51, 102037 (2020).
3. Wang, X. et al. Sustainable lipid and lutein production from Chlorella mixotrophic
fermentation by food waste hydrolysate. J. Hazard. Mater. 400, 123258 (2020).
4. Hernández-Corroto, E., Plaza, M., Marina, M. L. & García, M. C. Sustainable
extraction of proteins and bioactive substances from pomegranate peel (Punica
granatum L.) using pressurized liquids and deep eutectic solvents. Innov. Food Sci.
Emerg. Technol. 60, 102314 (2020).
5. Ren, H.-Y. et al. Favorable energy conversion efficiency of coupling dark
fermentation and microalgae production from food wastes. Energy Convers. Manag.
166, 156–162 (2018).
6. Zeng, Y. et al. Enhanced lipid production and nutrient utilization of food waste
hydrolysate by mixed culture of oleaginous yeast Rhodosporidium toruloides and
oleaginous microalgae Chlorella vulgaris. Renew. Energy 126, 915–923 (2018).
7. Tang, D. Y. Y. et al. Potential utilization of bioproducts from microalgae for the
quality enhancement of natural products. Bioresour. Technol. 304, 122997 (2020).
8. Chalima, A., Hatzidaki, A., Karnaouri, A. & Topakas, E. Integration of a dark
fermentation effluent in a microalgal-based biorefinery for the production of high-
added value omega-3 fatty acids. Appl. Energy 241, 130–138 (2019).
9. Safdar, W. et al. Growth kinetics, fatty acid composition and metabolic activity
changes of Crypthecodinium cohnii under different nitrogen source and concentration.
AMB Express 7, 85 (2017).

PHD Proposal - Sample

Uploaded by

PHD Proposal - Sample

Uploaded by

Muhammad Shamoon Applicant for HKPFS 2021/22

PhD Research Proposal

Background and Scope:

Food waste hydrolysis and hydrolysate composition analysis:

C. cohnii culture and growth on food waste hydrolysate:

Quantification of other bioactives in biomass of C. cohnii:

Project timeline/research activities:

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