title: On-line determination of biomass in a microalga bioreactor using a novel computerized flow injection analysis system.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Escola Superior de Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Rua Dr António Bernardino de Almeida, P-4200-072 Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Luís A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Meireles
authors.forename: José L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Azevedo
authors.forename: João P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Cunha
authors.forename: F Xavier
authors.initials: FX
authors.lastname: Malcata
mesh_terms: D018533:Biomass; D019149:Bioreactors; D003201:Computers; D056890:Eukaryota / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development*; D007700:Kinetics; D009862:Online Systems; D013057:Spectrum Analysis