Haematococcus pluvialis cultivation in split-cylinder internal-loop airlift photobioreactor under aeration conditions avoiding cell damage.
The effects of superficial gas velocity in the riser (U(Gr)) and gas entrance velocity (v) on the growth of Haematococcus pluvialis cultivated in a split-cylinder internal-loop airlift photobioreactor were investigated. Cell growth decreased when U(Gr) and v were increased above 12 mm s(-1) and 22.8 m s(-1), respectively. The maximum cell density of H. pluvialis was 110 x 10(4) vegetative cells ml(-1) and the chlorophyll-a titer was 7 mg l(-1). The cell damage in the photobioreactor was greater when v was increased by an increase in U(Gr) rather than by a decrease in sparger internal diameter. The overall volumetric mass transfer coefficient (k(L)a) of the photobioreactor was measured at the same U(Gr) (6-24 mm s(-1)) and v (12-80 m s(-1)). The k(L)a values reached in the airlift photobioreactor were between 10 h(-1) and 32 h(-1).
Vega-Estrada
J
J
Laboratorio de Biocatálisis, Departamento de Biotecnología y Bioingeniería, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Av. Instituto Politécnico Nacional 2508, CP 07300, México, DF, México.
Montes-Horcasitas
M C
MC
Domínguez-Bocanegra
A R
AR
Cañizares-Villanueva
R O
RO
D019149:Bioreactors; D000460:Chlorophyta / Q000254:growth & development*; D046508:Culture Techniques; D013997:Time Factors