title: Luminescent photobioreactor design for improved algal growth and photosynthetic pigment production through spectral conversion of light.
abstract: Growth characteristics of two strains of microalgae in bubble column photobioreactors were investigated under different cultivation conditions. Chlorella vulgaris and Gloeothece membranacea were cultivated in luminescent acrylic photobioreactors at different seed culture densities. Luminescent acrylic photobioreactors in blue, green, yellow, orange, and red colours capable of spectral conversion of light were used. The results indicated that the red luminescent photobioreactor enhanced biomass production in both strains of microalgae while pigmentation was induced under different light colours. Green light promoted chlorophyll production in C. vulgaris however chlorophyll production in G. membranacea cultures was less influenced by the light condition or culture density. Phycobiliproteins were the dominant pigments in G. membranacea and red light favoured synthesis of these pigments.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Biological Chemistry, Biophysics and Bioengineering, School of Engineering and Physical Sciences, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh EH14 4AS, UK. sm627@hw.ac.uk
authors.forename: Seyedeh Fatemeh
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Mohsenpour
authors.forename: Nik
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Willoughby
mesh_terms: D018533:Biomass; D019149:Bioreactors; D004867:Equipment Design; D008027:Light; D049449:Luminescence; D058086:Microalgae / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D010788:Photosynthesis; D010860:Pigments, Biological / Q000096:biosynthesis*
chemical_list: D010860:Pigments, Biological
keywords: Light wavelength; Luminescent; Microalgae; Photobioreactor; Photosynthetic pigments