Outdoor phycocyanin production in a standalone thermally-insulated photobioreactor
Document Type
Journal Article
Publication Title
Bioresource Technology
ISSN
09608524
Volume
315
PubMed ID
32721828
Publisher
Elsevier
School
Electron Science Research Institute
RAS ID
35224
Funders
Murdoch University
Abstract
© 2020 Elsevier Ltd 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.
DOI
10.1016/j.biortech.2020.123865
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Comments
Nwoba, E. G., Parlevliet, D. A., Laird, D. W., Alameh, K., & Moheimani, N. R. (2020). Outdoor phycocyanin production in a standalone thermally-insulated photobioreactor. Bioresource Technology, 315, article 123865. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2020.123865