Abstract
The availability of light is one of the key driving factors for photosynthesis. Chlorophyll and accessory pigments absorb light at some of the wavelengths present in the solar spectrum. If all other requirements are available in abundance, introducing more light to the system at wavelengths that can be absorbed will increase the growth rate of microalgae and the final biomass achieved up to the level of photosaturation. Therefore, the effect of shifting the spectrum of light available such that the photons unutilized in photosynthesis are converted to those that can be utilised was investigated. Spectral shifts converting UV light to blue light and green light to red light were carried out using films produced with Coumarin and Solvent Orange respectively. Dunaliella salina (CCAP 19-30) was grown in an airlift photobioreactor (ALB) which was coated with the wavelength shifting films. Dunaliella final biomass in the ALB, as determined by the optical density, were shown to increase by 36.9% for UV to blue light conversion and by 18.8% for green to red light conversion when using a coated ALB compared with an uncoated one.
Highlights
Photoautotrophic growth of microalgae utilising CO2 as the sole source of carbon and sunlight for energy is an attractive system for the production of agriculture and aquaculture foods and high-value bioactives, complex oils, hydrocarbons and lipids, and potentially biofuels (Melis 2002; Gushina and Harwood 2006; Chisti 2010)
The light required for photosynthesis is absorbed by light harvesting chlorophyll pigments
The light absorbed by light harvesting chlorophyll molecules and accessory pigments is passed on to special chlorophyll reaction centre molecules and used to drive photosynthetic electron transport and the production of ATP and NADPH (Carvalho et al 2011)
Summary
Photoautotrophic growth of microalgae utilising CO2 as the sole source of carbon and sunlight for energy is an attractive system for the production of agriculture and aquaculture foods and high-value bioactives, complex oils, hydrocarbons and lipids, and potentially biofuels (Melis 2002; Gushina and Harwood 2006; Chisti 2010). Oxygen is generated during photosynthesis and an excess of free O2 inhibits algal growth; O2 accumulation must be controlled (Molina et al 2001). The light required for photosynthesis is absorbed by light harvesting chlorophyll pigments. These pigments have absorption peaks at 450 nm (blue light region) and 680 nm (red light region) and accessory pigments such as carotenoids typically have absorption peaks around 450–530 nm. The light absorbed by light harvesting chlorophyll molecules and accessory pigments is passed on to special chlorophyll reaction centre molecules (photosystems I and II) and used to drive photosynthetic electron transport and the production of ATP and NADPH (Carvalho et al 2011).
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