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Outdoor phycocyanin production in a standalone thermally-insulated photobioreactor
Journal article   Peer reviewed

Outdoor phycocyanin production in a standalone thermally-insulated photobioreactor

E.G. Nwoba, D.A. Parlevliet, D.W. Laird, K. Alameh and N.R. Moheimani
Bioresource Technology, Vol.315, Article 123865
2020
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Abstract

The operation of solar microalgal photobioreactors requires sufficient cooling and heating to maintain reliable high productivity year-round. These operations are energy-intensive and expensive. Growth characteristics and phycocyanin production of Arthrospira platensis were investigated during the austral winter using a thermally-insulated photobioreactor with photovoltaic panel integration for electricity generation. This was compared with a control photobioreactor under a cycle of heating (13-hour night) and thermostat-regulated cooling, and continuously heated raceway pond. Average temperature in the photovoltaic photobioreactor (21.0 ± 0.03 °C) was similar to that in the heated control. Biomass productivity of Arthrospira in the novel photobioreactor was 67% higher than in the raceway pond but significantly lower than the control. Phycocyanin productivity (16.3 ± 1.43 mgg−1d−1 and purity (1.2 ± 0.03) showed no variation between photobioreactors but was significantly lower in the raceway pond. Electrical energy output of the photovoltaic photobioreactor exceeded mixing energy needs by 75%. These results indicate that the novel photobioreactor offers a reliable, energy-efficient platform for large-scale production of high-value chemicals from microalgae.

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Collaboration types
Domestic collaboration
Citation topics
3 Agriculture, Environment & Ecology
3.171 Photoproductivity
3.171.477 Microalgae Biotechnology
Web Of Science research areas
Agricultural Engineering
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Energy & Fuels
ESI research areas
Biology & Biochemistry
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