title: Autotrophic growth and lipid production of Chlorella sorokiniana in lab batch and BIOCOIL photobioreactors: Experiments and modeling.
abstract: A novel mathematical model for the quantitative assessment of the effect of dissolved nitrogen on the autotrophic batch-growth and lipid accumulation of Chlorella sorokiniana, is proposed in this work. Model results have been validated through comparison with suitable experimental data performed in lab photobioreactors. Further experiments have been then performed using the BIOCOIL photobioreactor operated in fed-batch mode. The experimental results, which show that a maximum growth rate of 0.52day(-1) and a lipid content equal to 25%wt can be achieved with the BIOICOIL, have been successfully predicted through the proposed model. Therefore, the model might represent a first step toward the development of a tool for the scale-up and optimization of the operating conditions of BIOCOIL photobioreactors. Finally, the fatty acid methyl esters obtained by trans-esterification of lipids extracted from C. sorokiniana, have been analyzed in view of the assessment of their usability for producing biodiesel.
authors.affiliation: Center for Advanced Studies, Research and Development in Sardinia (CRS4), Loc. Piscina Manna, Building 1, 09010 Pula (CA), Italy. Electronic address: aconcas@crs4.it.
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Concas
authors.affiliation: Interdepartmental Center of Environmental Science and Engineering (CINSA), University of Cagliari, Via San Giorgio 12, 09124 Cagliari, Italy.
authors.forename: Veronica
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Malavasi
authors.affiliation: Interdepartmental Center of Environmental Science and Engineering (CINSA), University of Cagliari, Via San Giorgio 12, 09124 Cagliari, Italy.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Costelli
authors.affiliation: Interdepartmental Center of Environmental Science and Engineering (CINSA), University of Cagliari, Via San Giorgio 12, 09124 Cagliari, Italy.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fadda
authors.affiliation: Center for Advanced Studies, Research and Development in Sardinia (CRS4), Loc. Piscina Manna, Building 1, 09010 Pula (CA), Italy.
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pisu
authors.affiliation: Interdepartmental Center of Environmental Science and Engineering (CINSA), University of Cagliari, Via San Giorgio 12, 09124 Cagliari, Italy; Department of Mechanical, Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Cagliari, Piazza d'Armi, 09123 Cagliari, Italy.
authors.forename: Giacomo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cao
mesh_terms: D052818:Autotrophic Processes; D056804:Biofuels; D018533:Biomass; D002708:Chlorella / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D008055:Lipids / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D058433:Photobioreactors
chemical_list: D056804:Biofuels; D008055:Lipids; D009584:Nitrogen
keywords: BIOCOIL photobioreactor; C. sorokiniana; FAMEs; Lipid productivity; Mathematical modeling