title: Biofilm-based photobioreactor absorbing water and nutrients by capillary action.
abstract: Cells of the unicellular green alga, "Pseudochoricystis ellipsoidea", were uniformly spread on a cellulosic sheet or on a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) membrane sheet superimposed on a cellulosic sheet at a density of 3.5-5.0gdry weight per m2, and the sheet was adhered to an inverted V-shaped acrylic plate of 10cm in height. Several acrylic plates were placed side by side on a tray containing liquid medium at a depth of 0.6cm, and illuminated from above with a light intensity of 300-340μmolm-2s-1. Water and nutrients were supplied to cells by capillary action through the cellulosic sheet. Footprint biomass productivities of cells grown in atmospheric CO2on this photobioreactor were 8-10gm-2day-1. This cultivation system is strongly energy- and labor-saving as it does not require mixing of culture fluid, irrigation of medium, and delivery of CO2-enriched air.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Chuo University, 1-13-27 Kasuga, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 112-8551, Japan. Electronic address: harayama_lab02@bio.chuo-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Hayato
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hamano
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Chuo University, 1-13-27 Kasuga, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 112-8551, Japan. Electronic address: nakashun6@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Shun
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Chuo University, 1-13-27 Kasuga, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 112-8551, Japan. Electronic address: jhykw@kc.chuo-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Jumpei
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hayakawa
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Global and Environmental Studies, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan; Graduate School of Human and Environmental Studies, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan. Electronic address: miyashita.hideaki.6v@kyoto-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Hideaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Miyashita
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Chuo University, 1-13-27 Kasuga, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 112-8551, Japan. Electronic address: harayama@bio.chuo-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Shigeaki
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Harayama
mesh_terms: D065966:Absorption, Physicochemical; D061249:Batch Cell Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D018441:Biofilms / Q000254:growth & development; D018533:Biomass; D002197:Capillary Action; D000460:Chlorophyta / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D005502:Food; D008027:Light; D058433:Photobioreactors / Q000382:microbiology*; D014867:Water / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D014867:Water
keywords: Biofilm-based photobioreactor; Biomass productivity; Capillary action; Green alga