Abstract
In the wake of intensive fossil fuel usage and CO2 accumulation in the environment, research is targeted towards sustainable alternate bioenergy that can suffice the growing need for fuel and also that leaves a minimal carbon footprint. Oil production from microalgae can potentially be carried out more efficiently, leaving a smaller footprint and without competing for arable land or biodiverse landscapes. However, current algae cultivation systems and lipid induction processes must be significantly improved and are threatened by contamination with other algae or algal grazers. To address this issue, we have developed an efficient two-stage cultivation system using the marine microalga Tetraselmis sp. M8. This hybrid system combines exponential biomass production in positive pressure air lift-driven bioreactors with a separate synchronized high-lipid induction phase in nutrient deplete open raceway ponds. A comparison to either bioreactor or open raceway pond cultivation system suggests that this process potentially leads to significantly higher productivity of algal lipids. Nutrients are only added to the closed bioreactors while open raceway ponds have turnovers of only a few days, thus reducing the issue of microalgal grazers.
Highlights
Microalgae are considered a promising feedstock for next-generation biofuel production because they are potentially 10–20 times more productive than any other biofuel crop and their large-scale cultivation does not need to compete for arable land or precious biodiverse landscapes (Hannon et al, 2010; Mata et al, 2010; Ahmad et al, 2011; Ndimba et al, 2013)
For a direct comparison of both cultivation systems, PBR and open raceway pond were used for simultaneous side-by-side algae cultivation
Synchronized lipid induction was verified by Nile red staining before harvesting (Figure 3) and only when lipid-rich biomass was produced it was harvested
Summary
Microalgae are considered a promising feedstock for next-generation biofuel production because they are potentially 10–20 times more productive than any other biofuel crop and their large-scale cultivation does not need to compete for arable land or precious biodiverse landscapes (Hannon et al, 2010; Mata et al, 2010; Ahmad et al, 2011; Ndimba et al, 2013) They are able to grow in saline and even wastewater (Brennan and Owende, 2010; Christenson and Sims, 2011; Abou-Shanab et al, 2013). Microalgae stop dividing but are still able to perform photosynthesis and the
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