Process Development Facilities
Macquarie University Biofuels Facility - Enzyme discovery, enhancement and expression
The Macquarie University NCRIS Biofuels Facility is able to assist researchers seeking to develop and/or optimise processes for the production of enzymes for biomass degradation.
The facility offers the following capabilities:
- Front-end support in gene cloning and expression in microbial hosts such as E.coli and Trichoderma reesei.
- Batch and fed-batch fermentations at 0.8L to 10L scale for the production of microorganisms and their enzymes. Up to three fermentation runs can be operated simultaneously under the control of a supervisory software, with on-line analysis of exhaust gases such as CO2/O2.
- High-throughput miniaturised cultivation and screening of up to 1000 microorganisms for strain development and enzyme improvement.
- Fungal transformations including the introduction of expression plasmid DNAs into target cells using a biolistic bombardment 'gene-gun' approach.
- Robotic liquid handling with PCR capability for high-throughput screening of samples for particular enzymatic activities.
- Access to microarrays, DNA sequencing and high-throughput technology at Macquarie University Node of the Ramaciotti Gene Function Analysis Facility (see http://www.ramaciotti.unsw.edu.au/ ).
- FACS Aria capability for high throughput screening of bacteria or amplified genes for enzyme evolution to increase thermostability, kinetic characteristics, etc.
For further information contact:
- Professor Peter Bergquist at peter.bergquist@mq.edu.au; or
- Dr. Junior Te’o on (02) 9850 6955 or jteo@cbms.mq.edu.au.
The University of Sydney Hydrothermal Reactor Facility - Hydrothermal decomposition of biomass
The University of Sydney NCRIS Hydrothermal Reactor Facility allows researchers to undertake studies into the hydrothermal decomposition of biomass.
Capabilities of the facility include:
- Independent manipulation of temperature (25 - 350°C) and pressure (1 - 250 bar) to facilitate understanding of the influence residence time, biomass concentration and type, temperature and pressure, and their interactions, on product composition under continuous flow conditions.
- Biomass feed rate of up to 1kg/hr at a concentration of 1 - 10%wt.
- Access to dedicated characterisation tools for product analysis, including HPLC with evaporative light scattering detection suitable for gradient elution studies.
- Biomass feedstocks can be prepared externally or on-site.
For further information on the capabilities offered at this facility, contact Professor Brian Haynes on (02)9351 3435 or b.haynes@usyd.edu.au.
The University of New South Wales (UNSW) Biofuels Laboratory - High productivity fermentation processes
For the past three decades UNSW has been involved with R&D on biofuels (bioethanol) and higher value fermentation products with funding and research collaboration with international and
Australian companies and government agencies. Internationally these have included the US Dept of Energy (DOE), the US National Renewable Energy Laboratory (Golden, Co), Dupont (Delaware), Grain Processing Corporation (Iowa) and BASF (Germany), while Australian companies have included CSR, Manildra and Orica.
The UNSW NCRIS Biofuels Laboratory is able to assist researchers to develop optimal fermentation strategies for the conversion of lignocellulosic raw materials to bioethanol and higher value products (eg low calorie sweeteners such as xylitol).
The facility offers the following capabilities:
- PC2 laboratory to facilitate the use of recombinant micro-organisms capable of converting both the C5 sugars (mainly xylose) and the C6 sugars (mainly glucose) to ethanol.
- Development of both non-recombinant and recombinant yeast and bacteria capable of using lignocellulosic hydrolysates.
- Direct access to the Ramaciotti Gene Function Analysis Facility at UNSW for gene sequencing and microarray analyses to facilitate strain improvement and metabolic engineering studies.
- Fermentation processes at 3L - 20L scale.
- Analysis of fermentation substrates and products (GC, HPLC, Mass Spectrometry, NMR etc).
- A cid or alkali pre-treatment of lignocellulosic raw materials using a Parr reactor (up to 200°C).
For further information on the capabilities offered, please contact Professor Peter Rogers on (02) 9385 3896 or p.rogers@unsw.edu.au.
Biofuels Pilot Scale Manufacture
Queensland University of Technology (QUT) Mackay Renewable Biocommodities Pilot Plant Facility - Manufacture of bioethanol and other products from cellulosic biomass
The QUT Mackay Renewable Biocommodities Pilot Plant (MRBPP) is a unique pilot scale research and development biorefinery for the conversion of cellulosic biomass into renewable transport fuels (bioethanol) and high value biocommodities. The facility aims to link innovations in product and process development with the assessment of commercial viability to enhance the uptake of this technology in Australia. The facility is hosted by Mackay Sugar Limited on the site of the Racecourse Mill in Mackay, Queensland.
In addition to sugarcane bagasse and trash which is readily available from the sugar factory, the facility is capable of processing a wide range of biomass feedstocks with many of these able to be sourced from partners throughout Australia.
Capabilities of the facility include:
- Various physical and chemical processes available for pretreatment and fractionation of biomass including steam explosion, single and two-stage mild acid treatments, alkali and ammonia based processes.
- Carbohydrate saccharification and fermentation in fermenters of varying capacities up to 10,000L. Fermentation up to 1000L is undertaken inside a PC2 compliant facility enabling the use of a wide variety of yeast, fungal and bacterial hexose and pentose fermenting organisms and both sequential and simultaneous saccharification and fermentation.
- Product recovery and concentration.
- Lignin recovery and functionalisation.
- A wide variety of products can be produced on-site from the biomass, depending upon the requirements of the user. Sugarcane juice and molasses can be processed into a variety of fermentation products.
A Mettler Toledo RCe1 reaction calorimeter is available for process development at the Gardens Point Campus in Brisbane. This is a 1L glass reactor for biomass processing at pressures up to 6 bar and contains an internal infra-red probe for measuring reaction progress. The reactor is capable of accurate analysis of reaction kinetics and for undertaking detailed mass and energy balances of biomass and chemical reactions.
Prospective users of the facility can access the Pilot Plant facility in Mackay, the process development units and the considerable biomass harvesting, transportation, storage, processing and analytical expertise available within the QUT Centre for Tropical Crops and Biocommodities which is based at the QUT Gardens Point Campus in Brisbane. Two full-time employees are based at the Mackay Pilot Plant and will be able to assist users with the set-up and operation of the facility and analysis of samples generated.
For further information on the capabilities offered, please contact Ian O’Hara on (07) 3138 1551 or i.ohara@qut.edu.au or visit the facility website www.ctcb.qut.edu.au/programs/pilot.jsp
NCRIS Photobioreactor Facility, South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI) - Manufacture of biodiesel and other products from microalgae
Located at SARDI's Aquatic Sciences Facility at West Beach, Adelaide, the NCRIS Photobioreactor Facility provides researchers with the infrastructure required to study and optimise the growth of microalgal feedstocks for the production of biodiesel and other algae-derived products at pilot and demonstration scale. The NCRIS Photobioreactor Facility is located at SARDI’s Aquatic Sciences Facility at West Beach, Adelaide. 
Capabilities of the facility include:
- Production of algal biomass in three 20m2 raceway ponds or using a photobioreactor system comprising a 3.5m3 tubular bioreactor illuminated with natural sunlight. A regulated automated injection of nutrients (particularly inorganic sources of nitrogen and phosphorus) and carbon dioxide (dissolved in the water) can be achieved.
- A controlled environment room for physiological experiments up to 15L scale.
- Biomass harvesting and lipid extraction systems for the generation of biodiesel, bio oil and other algal co-products.
- Testing and optimisation of microalgal growth, lipid and carbohydrate production, harvesting and dewatering technologies and extraction systems.
- Comprehensive suite of analytical equipment including instrumentation to monitor microalgal health and productivity, environment of the culture system, and the water quality parameters of the growth medium.
For further information on the capabilities of this facility, please contact Barbara Rone-Clarke on (08) 8207 5391 or Barbara.Rone-Clarke@sa.gov.au.
