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Assessment of the impact of salinity and irradiance on the combined carbon dioxide sequestration and carotenoids production by Dunaliella salina : A mathematical model
Author(s) -
Araújo O.Q.F.,
Gobbi C.N.,
Chaloub R.M.,
Coelho M.A.Z.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
biotechnology and bioengineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.136
H-Index - 189
eISSN - 1097-0290
pISSN - 0006-3592
DOI - 10.1002/bit.22079
Subject(s) - dunaliella salina , carbon sequestration , salinity , carotenoid , biochemical engineering , environmental science , carbon fixation , carbon dioxide , irradiance , dunaliella , photosynthesis , pulp and paper industry , environmental engineering , chemistry , algae , biology , ecology , engineering , food science , botany , physics , quantum mechanics
Current anthropogenic activities have been causing a significant increase in the atmospheric concentration of CO 2 over the past 60 years. To mitigate the consequent global warming problem, efficient technological solutions, based on economical and technical grounds, are required. In this work, microalgae are studied as important biological systems of CO 2 fixation into organic compounds through photosynthesis. These microorganisms are potential sources of a wide variety of interesting chemical compounds, which can be used for commercial purposes, reducing the cost of CO 2 capture and sequestration. Specifically, Dunaliella salina culture was studied aiming at the impact evaluation of operational conditions over cellular growth and carotenoid production associated with the CO 2 sequestration on focus. The main experimental parameters investigated were salinity and irradiance conditions. The experimental results supported the development of a descriptive mathematical model of the process. Based on the proposed model, a sensitivity analysis was carried out to investigate the operational conditions that maximize CO 2 consumption and carotenoid production, in order to guide further development of technological routes for CO 2 capture through microalgae. A preliminary cost estimation of CO 2 sequestration combined to carotenoids production for a 200 MW power plant is presented, based on the growth rates achieved in this study. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2009;102: 425–435. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.