Plastic bag as horizontal photobioreactor on rocking platform driven by water power for culture of alkalihalophilic cyanobacterium

BackgroundMixing in traditional algae culture system consumes intensive electricity. This should be replaced by nature force to reduce energy cost and, more importantly, to realize positive energy balance of algal biofuel production. This study aims to develop a horizontal photobioreactor, in which mixing can be provided with rocking movement driven by nature force.ResultsSimple boxes were used as small-scale horizontal photobioreactors on a rocking platform for culture of alkalihalophilic Euhalothece sp. ZM001. There was no CO2 gas bubbling since 1.0 M NaHCO3 supplied sufficient inorganic carbon in it. Effect of culture depth, rocking cycle, and light intensity to algal biomass production, pH change, and DO accumulation were investigated in this system. Biomass concentration of 2.73 g/L was achieved in culture with 2.5 cm depth, and maximum productivity of 17.06 g/m2/day was obtained in culture with 10 cm depth. kLa in PBR with different culture depths and rocking cycles was measured, and it was from 0.57 to 33.49 h−1, showing great variation. To test this system at large scale, a plastic bag with a surface area of 1 m2 was placed on a rocking platform driven by water power, and it resulted in a biomass concentration of 1.88 g/L.ConclusionThese results proved feasibility of a novel photobioreactor system driven by nature force, as well as low cost of manufacturing, and easy scaling-up.

[1]  E. Molina Grima,et al.  Photobioreactors for the production of microalgae , 2013, Reviews in Environmental Science and Bio/Technology.

[2]  Choul‐Gyun Lee,et al.  Development of a floating photobioreactor with internal partitions for efficient utilization of ocean wave into improved mass transfer and algal culture mixing , 2016, Bioprocess and Biosystems Engineering.

[3]  Z. Dubinsky,et al.  Flashing light in microalgae biotechnology. , 2016, Bioresource technology.

[4]  A. Kiperstok,et al.  Comparative energy life-cycle analyses of microalgal biomass production in open ponds and photobioreactors. , 2010, Bioresource technology.

[5]  Maria J Barbosa,et al.  Microalgal production--a close look at the economics. , 2011, Biotechnology advances.

[6]  F. G. Acién,et al.  Oxygen transfer and evolution in microalgal culture in open raceways. , 2013, Bioresource technology.

[7]  Yuxiao Xie,et al.  Bicarbonate-based Integrated Carbon Capture and Algae Production System with alkalihalophilic cyanobacterium. , 2013, Bioresource technology.

[8]  C. Ugwu,et al.  Influence of irradiance, dissolved oxygen concentration, and temperature on the growth of Chlorella sorokiniana , 2007, Photosynthetica.

[9]  Yuxiao Xie,et al.  Selection of Microalgae and Cyanobacteria Strains for Bicarbonate-Based Integrated Carbon Capture and Algae Production System , 2013, Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology.

[10]  F. G. Acién,et al.  Evaluation of carbon dioxide mass transfer in raceway reactors for microalgae culture using flue gases. , 2014, Bioresource technology.

[11]  Shumei Wen,et al.  Installation of flow deflectors and wing baffles to reduce dead zone and enhance flashing light effect in an open raceway pond. , 2015, Bioresource technology.

[12]  F. G. Acién,et al.  Fluid-dynamic characterization of real-scale raceway reactors for microalgae production , 2013 .

[13]  F. G. Acién,et al.  Production cost of a real microalgae production plant and strategies to reduce it. , 2012, Biotechnology advances.

[14]  A. Vonshak,et al.  Light and oxygen stress in Spirulina platensis (cyanobacteria) grown outdoors in tubular reactors , 1996 .

[15]  Zhanyou Chi,et al.  Bicarbonate produced from carbon capture for algae culture. , 2011, Trends in biotechnology.

[16]  William Davis,et al.  Optimal year-round operation for methane production from CO2 and water using wind and/or solar energy , 2014 .

[17]  Licheng Peng,et al.  Evolution, detrimental effects, and removal of oxygen in microalga cultures: A review , 2013 .

[18]  V. N. Akimov,et al.  Ecophysiology and polymorphism of the unicellular extremely natronophilic cyanobacterium Euhalothece sp. Z-M001 from Lake Magadi , 2008, Microbiology.

[19]  A. Meiser,et al.  A novel horizontal photobioreactor for high-density cultivation of microalgae. , 2015, Bioresource technology.

[20]  Matteo Prussi,et al.  Energy balance of algal biomass production in a 1-ha “Green Wall Panel” plant: How to produce algal biomass in a closed reactor achieving a high Net Energy Ratio ☆ , 2015 .