title: Growth of the microalgae Neochloris oleoabundans at high partial oxygen pressures and sub-saturating light intensity.
abstract: The effect of partial oxygen pressure on growth of Neochloris oleoabundans was studied at sub-saturating light intensity in a fully-controlled stirred tank photobioreactor. At the three partial oxygen pressures tested (P(O)₂= 0.24; 0.63; 0.84 bar), the specific growth rate was 1.38; 1.36 and 1.06 day(-1), respectively. An increase of the P(CO)₂from 0.007 to 0.02 bar at P(O₂) of 0.84 bar resulted in an increase in the growth rate from 1.06 to 1.36 day(-1). These results confirm that the reduction of algal growth at high oxygen concentrations at sub-saturating light conditions is mainly caused by competitive inhibition of Rubisco. This negative effect on growth can be overcome by restoring the O(2)/CO(2) ratio by an increase in the partial carbon dioxide pressure. In comparison to general practice (P(O(2)) = 0.42 bar), working at partial O(2) pressure of 0.84 bar could reduce the energy requirement for degassing by a factor of 3-4.
authors.affiliation: Wetsus, P.O. Box 1113, 8900 CC Leeuwarden, The Netherlands. claudia.sousa@wetsus.nl
authors.forename: Cláudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sousa
authors.forename: Lenneke
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: de Winter
authors.forename: Marcel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Janssen
authors.forename: Marian H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Vermuë
authors.forename: René H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Wijffels
mesh_terms: D019149:Bioreactors / Q000382:microbiology*; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D008027:Light; D010100:Oxygen / Q000378:metabolism*; D010313:Partial Pressure; D058433:Photobioreactors / Q000382:microbiology*; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D016823:Volvocida / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000528:radiation effects*
chemical_list: D010100:Oxygen