Abstract

The effects of both the CO2 concentration and the pH of the medium on biodiesel production by Stichococcus bacillaris (ACUF 158/11) were reported. Indoor cultures of S. bacillaris were carried out in both 0.6 L vertical bubble column photobioreactors and 1.7 L inclined bubble column photobioreactors. Batch, fed-batch and semi-continuous conditions were investigated as regards the biomass cultivation with Bold Basal Medium. pH was changed between 3 and 7. Tests were carried out at 23 °C, 200 E/(m 2 s). The CO2 concentration in the gas stream fed at the photobioreactors (0.5 vvm) was increased up to 15 %v to stimulate the growth process and to simulate the CO2 level in exhaust gas. Preliminary results showed that CO2 concentration higher than the air (0.035 %v) improved the process performances in terms of productivity and concentration of lipids. No strong differences were observed for the selected CO2 concentrations (5, and 15 %v). Tests at different pH carried out with 5 % CO2 supplemented air showed that pH of about 7 maximize the biomass productivity. Tests in inclined bubble columns resulted in a significant higher biomass and oil productivity (256 and 80 mg/L d) than those assessed in vertical bubble column (124 and 42 mg/L d).

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