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Renewable Bioplastics and Biocomposites from Biogas

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Renewable Bioplastics and Biocomposites from Biogas Renewable Bioplastics and Biocomposites From Biogas Methane and Waste-Derived Feedstock: Development of Enabling Technology, Life Cycle Assessment, and Analysis of Costs California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery August 2014 Contractor's Report Produced Under Contract By: Craig S. Criddle Sarah L. Billington Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Stanford University Curtis W. Frank Department of Chemical Engineering Stanford University S T A T E O F C ALIFORNIA Edmund G. Brown Jr. Governor Matt Rodriquez Secretary, California Environmental Protection Agency DEPARTMENT OF RESOURCES RECYCLING AND RECOVERY Caroll Mortensen Director Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery Public Affairs Office 1001 I Street (MS 22-B) P.O. Box 4025 Sacramento, CA 95812-4025 www.calrecycle.ca.gov/Publications/ 1-800-RECYCLE (California only) or (916) 341-6300 Publication # DRRR-2014-1502 To conserve resources and reduce waste, CalRecycle reports are produced in electronic format only. If printing copies of this document, please consider use of recycled paper containing 100 percent postconsumer fiber and, where possible, please print images on both sides of the paper. Copyright © 2014 by the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle). All rights reserved. This publication, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form without permission. Prepared as part of contract number DRRR10020 / $1,874,328. The California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) does not discriminate on the basis of disability in access to its programs. CalRecycle publications are available in accessible formats upon request by calling the Public Affairs Office at (916) 341-6300. Persons with hearing impairments can reach CalRecycle through the California Relay Service, 1-800-735-2929. Disclaimer: This report was produced under contract by Stanford University. The statements and conclusions contained in this report are those of the contractor and not necessarily those of the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle), its employees, or the State of California and should not be cited or quoted as official Department policy or direction. The state makes no warranty, expressed or implied, and assumes no liability for the information contained in the succeeding text. Any mention of commercial products or processes shall not be construed as an endorsement of such products or processes. Table of Contents Acknowledgments ............................................................................................................... iv Executive Summary .............................................................................................................. 1 1. Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 3 Report Overview ............................................................................................................. 7 2. Screening of Methanotrophic Bacteria for Polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) Production ......... 11 2.1 Executive summary ................................................................................................. 11 2.2 Motivation ................................................................................................................ 11 2.3 Classification of methanotrophs .............................................................................. 12 2.4 Physiology of PHB production ................................................................................. 12 2.5 Screening methanotrophs for PHB production ........................................................ 15 2.6 Conditions selective for Type II methanotrophs ....................................................... 16 2.7 Ammonium-based selection .................................................................................... 17 2.8 Key findings ............................................................................................................ 17 3. Growth Stoichiometry and Kinetics of PHB Production in Type II Methanotroph Pure Cultures: Methylocystis parvus OBBP and Methylosinus trichosporium OB3b ................... 19 3.1 Executive summary ................................................................................................. 19 3.2 Stoichiometry of methanotrophic growth ................................................................. 20 3.3 Experimental setup ................................................................................................. 21 3.4 Stoichiometric parameters ....................................................................................... 22 3.5 Kinetic parameters .................................................................................................. 23 3.6 Key findings ............................................................................................................ 24 4. PHB Production in Methylocystis parvus OBBP .............................................................. 25 4.1 Executive summary ................................................................................................. 25 4.2 Motivation ................................................................................................................ 27 4.3.1 Microbioreactors ................................................................................................... 27 4.3.2 Miniaturized growth system .................................................................................. 28 4.3.3 Microplate analysis ............................................................................................... 28 4.3.4 Media optimization ............................................................................................... 30 4.3.5 GC verification ...................................................................................................... 32 4.4.1 Metabolic function of methanotrophic PHB ........................................................... 33 4.4.2 PHB consumption in M. parvus OBBP ................................................................. 33 4.4.3 Affect of formate and glyoxylate on PHB consumption ......................................... 35 4.5 Key findings ............................................................................................................ 37 5. PHB Production in Methanotrophic Bioreactors: Mixed Culture and Enrichments .......... 38 Contractor’s Report i 5.1 Executive summary ................................................................................................. 38 5.2.1 Ammonium-based selection: Motivation ............................................................... 39 5.2.2 Experimental setup .............................................................................................. 40 5.2.3 Activated sludge enrichments .............................................................................. 42 5.2.4 Cycling nitrogen sources ...................................................................................... 43 5.3.1 Selecting for PHB production ............................................................................... 44 5.3.2 Cyclic methane limitation as a selection condition ................................................ 45 5.3.3 Effects of cyclic methane limitation ....................................................................... 46 5.3.4 Combining ammonium with methane limitation .................................................... 48 5.3.5 Short-term cycling effects ..................................................................................... 48 5.3.6 Long-term cycling effects ..................................................................................... 48 5.3.7 Molecular weight of extracted polymer ................................................................. 50 5.4.1 Fluidized bed reactors: Motivation ........................................................................ 51 5.4.2 Long-term FBR operation ..................................................................................... 52 5.5 Summary of selection effects .................................................................................. 53 5.6 Key findings ............................................................................................................ 54 6. PHB Extraction and Characterization.............................................................................. 55 6.1 Executive summary ................................................................................................. 55 6.2 PHB extraction ........................................................................................................ 55 6.3 Evaluation of extraction methods ............................................................................ 56 6.4 Key findings ............................................................................................................ 59 7. Biocomposites and Foams.............................................................................................. 59 7.1 Executive summary ................................................................................................. 59 7.2 Biocomposites: Mechanical properties .................................................................... 62 7.3 Biocomposites: Durability ........................................................................................ 66 7.4 Foams: Motivation and approach ...........................................................................
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