The CNAM-Biomaterials Center (CNAM-Bio), launched in 2018, is focused on research and development in biopolymers, biofibers and  biocomposites. Led by the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology (SD Mines), the center is supported by the South Dakota Governor’s Office and a consortium of global corporate members. In addition, the center competes for funding from government agencies and collaborates with research organizations and academic institutions in both the public and private sector.

The overall goals of the CNAM-Bio Center are to synthesize low cost biodegradable biopolymers from renewable sources (such as agricultural waste biomass and methane) using polymer-producing microbes and extremophilic bioprocessing; and to develop commercially viable processes to transform these materials into valuable biopolymer and biocomposite products.

Mission

  • Eliminate barriers to low-cost, commercial production of biopolymers and biocomposites from renewable resources, including waste biomass and methane.
  • Provide commercially-driven solutions to the problem of polymer (plastic) waste through cost-effective synthesis of biodegradable polymers for commodity and specialty markets.
  • Create economic advantage and industrial growth through the development of environmentally sustainable biopolymer/biocomposite technologies.

Key Assets

  • An industrially-driven organization propelled through the engagement of member corporations; and providing highly leveraged R&D value through SD state financial commitment and industrial support.
  • Builds on existing, and expanding, SD Mines inventory of thermophilic microbes with properties uniquely suited to the program goals; and has ready access to the microbial biodiversity of the Sanford Underground Research Facility (SURF).
  • Benefits from proprietary thermoplastic composites processing technologies developed by its affiliated research organizations, the CNAM Center and the CAPE Laboratory.
  • Exceptional infrastructure for, and established expertise in, biosynthesis and polymer/composite processing, including scale-up capabilities.

Expertise

  • Biocatalysis
  • Metabolic engineering
  • Extremozymes
  • Electrocatalysis
  • Interfacial chemistry
  • Polymer processing
  • Composite processing and manufacturing
  • Nanocomposite synthesis and processing
  • Advanced characterization of micro-organisms and polymeric materials

Infrastructure

CNAM-Bio infrastructural resources include capabilities to progress from isolation of unique extremophilic microbes, to laboratory scale experiments, to high volume and pilot-scale production of biopolymers and biocomposites. 

For the isolation of novel microbes, the center takes advantage of SURF’s microbial biodiversity. In biocatalysis, metabolic engineering and bioprocessing, the center utilizes a full range of laboratory equipment housed in SD Mines’ Chemical and Biological Engineering Department, including the ability to scale-up from 1L bench top bioreactors, to a 40L automated Bio-Flow reactor, and a custom built 200 L bioreactor.

Capable of producing biopolymers in kilogram quantities, this equipment can provide ample material for both lab-scale and pilot-scale polymer processing studies at the SD Mines’ Composites and Polymer Engineering Laboratory (CAPE Lab). The CAPE Lab is a dedicated polymer/composites research facility available to CNAM-Bio’s researchers, which houses an exceptional range of polymer processing, composite manufacturing and materials testing equipment. CNAM-Bio also draws on the advanced characterization resources of the university’s EMES facility, and cutting-edge imaging techniques (including a Lattice Light Sheet Microscope and  Photo-Activated Localization Microscopy) in SD Mines’ Nanoscience and Nanoengineering department.

While biodegradable polymers from renewable feedstock are important for the environment, they will not compete effectively with their petroleum-based counterparts if the economics are not commercially advantageous. Although strong growth in bio-based materials is projected, prospects will be limited to a relatively small fraction of the polymer and polymer composite market without a substantial decrease in manufacturing costs and, for many applications, a significant increase in material performance.

Examples of problems relating to biopolymers and biocomposites include: low yields and high cost of biopolymer synthesis from renewable feedstocks; polymer properties which limit processing options and functionality; and inadequate translation of biofiber properties to the composite. While there are substantial efforts underway to address these kinds of challenges in various commercial and academic organizations, they are rarely well integrated across the biopolymer/biocomposite supply chain.

The CNAM-Bio Center is exceptionally positioned to bring together strong research teams in biocatalysis, metabolic engineering, extremozymes, interfacial chemistry, polymer processing, composites manufacturing, and materials modeling.

With patent-pending technologies, industry-driven objectives, and a central location close to sources of unique extremophilic and methanotroph microbes, and abundant lignocellulosic biomass, CNAM-Bio will play a leading role in propelling the emergence of a strong bio-based materials industry.  

Supplanting petroleum as the dominant polymer feedstock will be critical to sustaining global consumption and industrial production of polymeric materials (which have become essential to the quality of human life) while helping to ensure a clean and healthy planet for generations to come. We look forward to partnering with you in this exciting enterprise.

               –  David R. Salem, Director