On‐Line Determination of Biomass in a Microalga Bioreactor Using a Novel Computerized Flow Injection Analysis System

A flow injection analysis (FIA) device has been developed, which is able to assay successfully for biomass in a microalga bioreactor. The device is fully computerized and is operated via diluting small aliquots of the culture followed by measuring optical density (OD); this figure is then accurately correlated with biomass, in terms of both cell number and ash‐free dry weight, during the entire culture time. Furthermore, the device is not expensive, is highly versatile, and is easy to operate owing to specifically developed, user‐friendly software. The growth rate and biomass productivity of Pavlova lutheri, cultivated under batch and semicontinuous modes, were monitored as experimental testing model.

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