Abstract
Indoor cultures of Stichococcus bacillaris were carried out to investigate the effect of pH, CO2, and hydrodynamics on biomass and biodiesel productivity in a 0.6L vertical bubble column (VBC) and a 1.7L inclined bubble column (IBC) photobioreactor. The temperature and the irradiance level were set at 23°C and 300μE/(m2s), respectively. The pH of the liquid culture was in the range 3.0–8.5. The CO2 concentration in the gas phase was increased up to 15%, typical of exhaust gas from power plants. The increased CO2 concentration in the gas phase stimulated the microalgal growth. Tests carried out at different pH and spreading a 5% CO2 gas stream showed that the biomass productivity was maximum at a pH of about 7.0. Acid and alkaline conditions can also be adopted with an approximate 25% decrease in biomass productivity. The comparison between a IBC and a VBC reactor operated under the same conditions pointed out that the performances of IBC were higher than those of VBC: 0.26gbiomass/(Ld) and 0.032gFAME/(Ld) for IBC, and 0.124gbiomass/(Ld) and 0.010gFAME/(Ld) for VBC. IBC was characterized by an intensive liquid circulation that promotes a continuous renewal of microalgal cells in the photic zone.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
