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PATENTS AND GRANTS

PATENTS

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  1. Anaerobic biorefinery concept of mono-digestion of lignocellulosic biomass using horizontal bioreactor (Provisional Patent Filing date: 03/28/2017; Provisional Patent Application No. US62/478,007; Co-invented with Chayanon Sawatdeenarunat).

  2. ORP-based micro-aeration system for process stability control in anaerobic digestion process (Provisional Patent Filing date: 03/03/2017; Provisional Patent Application No. US62/467,049; Co-invented with Duc Ngyuen).

  3. Useful products from fungal cultivation on coproducts from dry-grind ethanol production (Jun 12, 2015). [US Patent No. 9,079,786; Co-inventor with Hans van Leeuwen, Anthony L. Pometto III].

  4. Fungal Cultivation on Alcohol Fermentation Stillage for Useful Products and Energy Savings (Jul 9, 2013). [US Patent No. 8,481, 295; Co-inventor with Hans van Leeuwen, Anthony L. Pometto III, Mary L. Rasmussen and Debjani Mitra].

  5. Micro-Aeration of Sulfide Removal from Biogas (Feb 5, 2013). [US Patent No. 8,366, 932; Co-inventor with Shihwu Sung and Thanapong Duangmanee]. 

RESEARCH GRANTS

University of Hawai'i at Manoa

  1. Nanobubbles application in aquaculture and aquaponic system (PI). Funding Agency: USFA-AFRI (Foundation); Amount: $200,000 (Nov 2020 – Oct  2022).

  2. Nanobubble technology applications in agriculture and environmental remediation (PI). Funding Agency: Capacity Fund, CTAHR; Amount: $80,000 (Dec 2019 – Dec 2020).

  3. Organic Bioconversion to Animal Feed via Black Soldier Flies (BSF) Larvae (PI). Funding Agency: Hawaii Dept. of Agriculture (HDOA); Amount: $150,000 (Mar 2020 – Aug 2021).

  4. Water Quality in Aquaculture with Case Study of Vietnam (PI). Funding Agency: US Dept. of Agriculture; Amount: $50,000 (Jul 2019 – Jun 2021).

  5. Nanobubble Technology for Aquaculture and Aquaponics (PI). Funding Agency: Hawaii Dept. of Agriculture (HDOA); Amount: $60,000 (Jun 2019 – Aug 2020).

  6. Anaerobic Digestion of High-solids Feedstock: Evaluation of Microbiome and Bioenergetics (PI). Funding Agency: USDA-ARS Supplemental Research grant; Amount: $80,000 (Oct 2018 – Sep 2021).

  7. Biological Conversion of Farm Waste/AD Digestate into Biofuel and Animal Feed Via Insect Farming (PI). Funding Agency: Western Sun Grant Regional Center through U.S. Dept. of Agriculture; Amount: $ 150,000 (Jul 2018 – Aug 2019).

  8. Algal Biomass to Ethanol and Aquatic Feed (PI). Funding Agency: Kuehnle AgroSystems, Inc.; Amount $18,000 (Jan 2018 – May 2018).

  9. High-yielding Bioenergy Feedstock Production, Characterization and Pretreatment for Bioenergy Production (PI). Funding Agency: USDA-ARS; Amount $65,000 (Dec 2017 – Aug 2018).

  10. Novel Bio-Chars Production from Northeastern Forestry Feedstocks and Their Land Application to Enhance Environmental Sustainability of Agricultural Production Systems (Co-PI).

    Funding Agency: Northeast Regional Sun Grant Center; Amount: $360,000 (Jan 2018 - May 2019) (Khanal’s part: $70,000).

  11. Anaerobically-digested Slurry (Digestate) and Digestate-derived Biochar Applications as a Fertilizer for Organic Farming (Co-PI).

    Funding Agency: USDA-Supplemental Research/ Extension grant; Amount: $80,000 (Oct 2017 – Sep 2019). (Khanal’s part: $10,000) 

  12. Fundamental Understanding of Anaerobic Digestion of Energy Crops for Bioenergy Production (PI). Funding Agency: USDA-Supplemental Research/ Extension grant; Amount: $80,000 (Oct 2016 – Sep 2018).

  13. Sustainable Integrated Food Production through Aquaponic Systems (PI). Funding Agency: USDA-Specialty Crops; Amount: $32,000 (Oct 2016 – Jan 2018).

  14. Characterization of High Yield Energy Crops for Bioenergy Potential (PI). Funding Agency: Biomass Research and Development Initiative-USDA (supplemental)and Sun grant Sub-center; Amount: $ 175,000 (Sep 2016 - May 2018).

  15. Donation to Khanal’s Bioenergy and Environment Research Group by ProtaCulture; Amount over $40,000.

  16. Utilization of Local Agri-processing By-products to Produce Fungal Protein for Aquatic Feed Production (PI). Funding Agency: Center for Tropical and Sub-tropical Aquaculture; Amount: $ 200,000 (Nov 2015 – May 2018).

  17. Developing ORP-based Process Control for High Solids Anaerobic Digestion (PI). Funding Agency: United States Dept. of Agriculture (USDA-AFRI); Amount: $150,000 (Sep 2013 - Aug 2016).

  18. Nitrogen Transformations in Aquaponics and its Implications to Climate Change (PI). Funding Agency: United States Dept. of Agriculture (USDA-AFRI); Amount: $500,000 (Sep 2013 - Aug 2018).

  19. Conversion of High-Yield Tropical Biomass into Sustainable Biofuels (Co-PI). Funding Agency: Biomass Research and Development Initiative (BRDI), United States Dept. of Agriculture and US Dept. of Energy; Amount: $ 6,000,000 (Sep 2012 - Aug 2017). (Khanal’s part: $575,000). 

  20. Developing Anaerobic Digestion Biorefinery Using High Yield Tropical Feedstocks (PI). Funding Agency: Western Sun Grant Regional Center through U.S. Dept. of Transportation; Amount: $ 200,000 (Jan 2014 – Jun 2016).

  21. Can Biologically-derived Nitrogen be Used as a Fertilizer for Organic Farming? (PI). Funding Agency: USDA-Supplemental Research/ Extension grant; Amount: $99,847 (Oct 2013 – Sep 2015).

  22. Converting Food Waste into Biofuel and Animal Feed through Insect Farming (PI). Funding Agency: HATCH Grant; Amount $40,000 (Oct 2014- Jun 2015).

  23. Analytical Instrument for Bioenergy, Aquaculture and Climate Change Research, Instruction and Extension in CTAHR (PI). Funding Agency: CTAHR Instructional, Extension or Research Instrumentation. Award; Amount: $ 40,000 (May 2013- Sep 2013).

  24. Enhancing Biodiesel Feedstock and Co-product Production Using Oleaginous Fungi (PI). Funding Agency: Pacific Biodiesel, Inc.; Amount: $ 10,000 (Oct 2012 - Sep 2014).

  25. Green Processing of High Yield Tropical Grass to Biobased Product and Biobutanol (PI). Funding Agency: Sun Grant Western Regional Center; Amount: $ 200,000 (Sep 2011 - Aug 2014).

  26. Global Mapping of N2O Emission from Aquaculture and Its Implications to Climate Change: Fate of N2O in Water Recirculating Aquaponic System (US Lead Researcher). Funding Agency: National Research Foundation of Korea; Amount: $ 270,000 (Khanal’s part 70,000) (Oct 2011- Sep 2014).

  27. An Integrated BioGas-Solar Dehydration System: Increasing Sustainability through Value-Added Agriculture (Lead University Partner). Funding Agency: Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) Phase II-USDA- NIFA: Amount $500,000 ($50,000 for Khanal)(Sep 2011-Aug 2014).

  28. Nitrogen Transformation in Aquaculture-Aquaponic System and Its Implication to Climate Change (PI). Funding Agency: USDA-Supplemental Research/Extension grant; Amount: $61,000 (Feb 2011 – Jan 2013).

  29. Lignocellulosic Biomass Conversion into Ethanol Through Syngas Fermentation with Simultaneous Recovery of Acetic Acid using Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticle Materials (PI). Funding Agency: USDA-STAR; Amount $144,807 (Oct 2009 -Sep 2013).

  30. A Collaborative Effort for Utilizing Regionally-based Feedstocks and Co-Products for Aquaculture Production (Co-PI with C. Tamaru). Funding Agency: USDA-ARS; Amount $600,000 (Award to Khanal: $100,000) (Jul 2009 -Jun 2012).

  31. Development of High Yield Feedstocks y for Renewable Energy (Co-PI with A. Hashimoto). Funding Agency: US Department of Energy (USDOE); Amount $ 6.0 Million (Award to Khanal: $306,449)(Oct 2009 –Sep 2013).

  32. Value-added Processing of Sugarcane-ethanol Vinasse: Production of Protein-rich Fungal Biomass as a Fish Feed Ingredient USDA-ARS (PI). Funding Agency: USDA-ARS; Amount $79,987 (Sep 2008 – Aug 2013).

  33. Integrated Education and Research in Clean Energy and Island Sustainability (Lead researcher, Biofuel and Bioenergy section). Support for two graduate research assistants + supplies: $75,000). Funding Agency: USDOE; Amount $2.5 M (Sep 2010 –Aug 2013).

  34. Developing High School Bioenergy Laboratory Manual (PI). Funding Agency: Department of Education, Hawaii; Amount $10,000 (May 2011-Aug 2011). 

  35. Developing Hawaii Bioenergy Master Plan: Conversion Technology (PI) Funding Agency: State of Hawaii; Amount $10,000 (Apr 2009 – Dec 2009).

  36. Effect of Ultrasonic Pretreatment on the Biochemical Conversion of Banagrass to Ethanol (PI) Funding Agency: USDOE; Amount $70,633 (Jul 2008- Jun 2009).

  37. Wood Utilization Research on US Biofuels, Bioproducts, Hybrid Biomaterials Production, and Traditional Forest Products (PI). Funding Agency: USDA-Hatch; Amount $40,000(Oct 2008 –Jun 2009). 

  38. Bioenergy and Environment Research (PI). Funding Agency: Start-up Fund from MBBE and CTAHR; Amount $135,000 (Jan 2008 – Dec 2010).

COMPLETED RESEARCH GRANTS

Iowa State University

  1. Ultrasonication in Soy Processing for Enhanced Protein and Sugar Yields and Subsequent Nisin Production (PI). Handed over to Dr. J (Hans) Van leeuwen. Funding Agency: Grow Iowa Value Fund; Amount: $ 81,977 (Jul 2006 - May 2008).

  2. Nisin Production from Soy Whey using Lactic Acid Bacteria (PI). Handed over to Dr. J (Hans) Van leeuwen. Funding Agency: Iowa Biotechnology Byproducts Consortium, USDA; Amount: $155,711 (Sep 2005 - Aug 2008).

  3. Anaerobic Biotechnology: Waste Treatment and Resource Recovery (PI). Funding Agency: Iowa Biotechnology Byproducts Consortium, USDA; Amount: $19,921 (Sep 2006 - May 2008).

  4. Converting Low Value Thin Stillage from Dry Corn Milling Ethanol Plants into High Value Fungal Biomass* (Co-PI). Funding Agency: Grow Iowa Value Fund; Amount: $ 76,806 (Aug 2006 – May 2008).

  5. Retooling Ethanol Industries: Integrating Ultrasonics into Dry Corn Milling to Enhance Ethanol Yield*(Co-PI). Funding Agency: Grow Iowa Value Fund; Amount: $ 80,000 (Apr 2006 - Dec 2007).

  6. Integrated Approach for biofuel and bio-based product recovery from cassava: A collaborative research project between Office of Biorenewables Programs (OBP), Iowa State University and Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) (Thailand) (PI). Funding Agency: OBP and Council on International Programs (CIP); Amount: $5,000 (Nov 2006 - Jun 2007).

  7. A Sequential Fermentation Biorefinery to Produce Ethanol from Corn Processing Co-products (Co-PI). Funding Agency: Iowa Energy Center; Amount: $ 114,068 (Jul 2005 - Jun 2007).

  8. Retooling Ethanol Industry: Anaerobic Digestion of Thin Stillage to Produce Methane and Class-A Biosolids* (Co-PI). Funding Agency: Iowa Biotechnology Byproducts Consortium, USDA; Amount: $47,540 (Sep 2006 - Aug 2007).

  9. White and Brown Rot Fungal Fermentation of Low Value Corn Milling Co- Products to Sugars for Ethanol Production (Co-PI). Funding Agency: Iowa Biotechnology Byproducts Consortium, USDA; Amount: $86,159 (Sep 2004 - Aug 2007).

  10. Biological Hydrogen Production from Organic Wastes* (Co-PI). Funding Agency: Iowa Energy Center; Amount: $ 150,000 (Sep 2006).

  11. Biological Hydrogen Production from Agri-residues using Enriched Microbial Culture* (Co-PI). Funding Agency: Institute of Physical Research and Technology; Amount: $34,000 (Dec 2005).

  12. Anaerobic Bioconversion Coupled with Thermal/Catalytic Process for Alcohol Production from Agro-wastes* (Co-PI). Funding Agency: Iowa Biotechnology Byproducts Consortium, USDA; Amount: $ 117,000 (Aug 2005).

  13. Bioenergy Production from Food Wastes (Co-PI).
    Funding Agencies: Universal Entech, Phoenix, AZ and Arizona Department of Environmental Quality; Status: Amount: $ 32,090 (Jun 2003). 

*Conceiving the ideas and developing full proposal 

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