Productivity of Chlorella sorokiniana in a short light-path (SLP) panel photobioreactor under high irradiance.
Maximal productivity of a 14 mm light-path panel photobioreactor under high irradiance was determined. Under continuous illumination of 2,100 micromol photons m(-2) s(-1) with red light emitting diodes (LEDs) the effect of dilution rate on photobioreactor productivity was studied. The light intensity used in this work is similar to the maximal irradiance on a horizontal surface at latitudes lower than 37 degrees . Chlorella sorokiniana, a fast-growing green microalga, was used as a reference strain in this study. The dilution rate was varied from 0.06 to 0.26 h(-1). The maximal productivity was reached at a dilution rate of 0.24 h(-1), with a value of 7.7 g dw m(-2) h(-1) (m(2) of illuminated photobioreactor surface) and a volumetric productivity of 0.5 g dw L(-1) h(-1). At this dilution rate the biomass concentration inside the reactor was 2.1 g L(-1) and the photosynthetic efficiency was 1.0 g dw mol photons. This biomass yield on light energy is high but still lower than the theoretical maximal yield of 1.8 g mol photons(-1) which must be related to photosaturation and thermal dissipation of absorbed light energy.
Cuaresma
María
M
International Centre for Environmental Research (CIECEM), University of Huelva, Matalascañas, Almonte, 21760 Huelva, Spain. maria.cuaresma@wur.nl
Janssen
Marcel
M
Vílchez
Carlos
C
Wijffels
René H
RH
D018533:Biomass; D019149:Bioreactors / Q000382:microbiology*; D002708:Chlorella / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism*; D008027:Light; D010788:Photosynthesis; D011827:Radiation