Open AccessEvaluating Cost-Effective Culture Media for Nutraceutics Production from Microalgae Using Computer-Aided Large Scale Predictions
Author(s) -
Alfredo J. Ibáñez,
Y. Rolon,
G Gelves
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
journal of physics. conference series
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.21
H-Index - 85
eISSN - 1742-6596
pISSN - 1742-6588
DOI - 10.1088/1742-6596/1655/1/012082
Subject(s) - chlorella vulgaris , bioprocess , biomass (ecology) , productivity , limiting , scale (ratio) , production (economics) , process engineering , biochemical engineering , production cost , microbiology and biotechnology , computer science , environmental science , pulp and paper industry , agricultural engineering , biology , botany , engineering , agronomy , algae , mechanical engineering , economics , paleontology , physics , macroeconomics , quantum mechanics
The purpose of this research consist of microalgae biomass productivity prediction in a large scale plant from Chlorella vulgaris using SuperPro Designer software. Two culture media were evaluated to identify their potential use in large-scale processes: (a) the Bold Basal medium enriched with sodium acetate and (b) a growth medium for high cell density cultures proposed from references. Results found in this research suggest that simulated plant should reach a capacity to generate 1.4 kg/h of biomass at a cost of 1.44 USD/g using Bold Basal medium. In contrast, a productivity of 28 kg/h at a cost of 0.14 USD/g was found using a medium proliferation of highly dense microalgae cultures. These findings suggest that Bold Basal medium could negatively impact operating costs, limiting its use in large-scale processes regarding nutraceutics production. Results found here demonstrate the potential usage of simulators for estimating costs and production which allows predicting the bioprocess feasibility.