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Growth modeling of the green microalga Scenedesmus obliquus in a hybrid photobioreactor as a practical tool to understand both physical and biochemical phenomena in play during algae cultivation
Author(s) -
Tramontin Deise P.,
Gressler Pablo D.,
Rörig Leonardo R.,
Derner Roberto B.,
PereiraFilho Jurandir,
Radetski Claudemir M.,
Quadri Marintho B.
Publication year - 2018
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.26510
Subject(s) - photobioreactor , scenedesmus obliquus , algae , scenedesmus , biology , botany , biochemical engineering , ecology , biomass (ecology) , engineering
In recent years, numerous studies have justified the use of microalgae as a sustainable alternative for the generation of different types of fuels, food supplementation, and cosmetics, as well as bioremediation processes. To improve the cost/benefit ratio of microalgae mass production, many culture systems have been built and upgraded. Mathematical modeling the growth of different species in different systems has become an efficient and practical tool to understand both physical and biochemical phenomena in play during algae cultivation. In addition, growth modeling can guide design changes that lead to process optimization. In the present work, growth of the green microalga Scenedesmus obliquus was modeled in a hybrid photobioreactor that combines the characteristics of tubular photobioreactors (TPB) with thin‐layer cascades (TLC). The system showed productivity greater than 8.0 g m −2 day −1 (dry mass) for CO 2 ‐fed cultures, and the model proved to be an accurate representation of experimental data with R 2 greater than 0.7 for all cases under variable conditions of temperature and irradiance to determine subsystem efficiency. Growth modeling also allowed growth prediction relative to the operating conditions of TLC, making it useful for estimating the system given other irradiance and temperature conditions, as well as other microalgae species.