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Scaling up microalgal cultures to commercial scale
Journal article   Peer reviewed

Scaling up microalgal cultures to commercial scale

M.A. Borowitzka and A. Vonshak
European Journal of Phycology, Vol.52(4), pp.407-418
2017
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Abstract

Scaling up algal cultures to the very large volumes required for commercial production is a complex task and requires skilled and experienced personnel. First it is necessary to consider how to optimize the process of producing enough inoculum for the large ponds or photobioreactors in order to minimize the time and cost required. In order to minimize the need for re-inoculation from stock cultures it is also essential to manage the large-scale cultures to avoid significant contamination or collapse. The maintenance of long-term, stable, high-productivity, large-scale cultures, usually under prevailing outdoor conditions of variable irradiance, temperature and rainfall, presents additional challenges most of which are not seen in the constant environment experienced by small-scale laboratory cultures. Methods and protocols to deal with these can only be developed at the large-scale and they will mostly be specific for the alga being cultured, the culture system being used and the location of the production plant. A common feature of all large-scale operations known to us is that, over time (years), both productivity and reliability of the cultures improve as the operators gather experience in managing their cultures.

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UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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#6 Clean Water and Sanitation

Source: InCites

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Highly Cited Paper 
Collaboration types
Domestic collaboration
International collaboration
Citation topics
3 Agriculture, Environment & Ecology
3.171 Photoproductivity
3.171.477 Microalgae Biotechnology
Web Of Science research areas
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Plant Sciences
ESI research areas
Plant & Animal Science
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