Photosynthetic performance of Chlamydopodium (Chlorophyta) cultures grown in outdoor bioreactors

0571662 - MBÚ 2024 RIV DE eng J - Journal Article
Masojídek, Jiří - Štěrbová, Karolína - Serrano, C. G. - da Silva, J. C. - Grivalský, Tomáš - Figueroa, F. L. - Fernandez, F. G. A.
Photosynthetic performance of Chlamydopodium (Chlorophyta) cultures grown in outdoor bioreactors.
Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology. Roč. 107, č. 7-8 (2023), s. 2249-2262. ISSN 0175-7598. E-ISSN 1432-0614
EU Projects: European Commission(XE) 727874 - SABANA
Institutional support: RVO:61388971
Keywords : Microalga * Chlamydopodium * Chlorophyll fluorescence * Oxygen production * Photosynthesis * Pilot-scale bioreactors
OECD category: Microbiology
Impact factor: 5, year: 2022
Method of publishing: Limited access
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00253-023-12428-0

The microalga Chlamydopodium fusiforme MACC-430 was cultured in two types of outdoor pilot cultivation units-a thin-layer cascade (TLC) and a raceway pond (RWP) placed in a greenhouse. This case study aimed to test their potential suitability for cultivation scale-up to produce biomass for agriculture purposes (e.g., as biofertilizer or biostimulant). The culture response to the alteration of environmental conditions was evaluated in ´exemplary ´ situations of good and bad weather conditions using several photosynthesis measuring techniques, namely oxygen production, and chlorophyll (Chl) fluorescence. Validation of their suitability for online monitoring in large-scale plants has been one of the objectives of the trials. Both techniques were found fast and robust reliable to monitor microalgae activity in large-scale cultivation units. In both bioreactors, Chlamydopodium cultures grew well in the semi-continuous regime using daily dilution (0.20-0.25 day(-1)). The biomass productivity calculated per volume was significantly (about 5 times) higher in the RWPs compared to the TLCs. The measured photosynthesis variables showed that the build-up of dissolved oxygen concentration in the TLC was higher, up to 125-150% of saturation (at) as compared to the RWP (102-104at). As only ambient CO2 was available, its shortage was indicated by a pH increase due to photosynthetic activity in the thin-layer bioreactor at higher irradiance intensities. In this setup, the RWP was considered more suitable for scale-up due to higher areal productivity, lower construction and maintenance costs, the smaller land area required to maintain large culture volumes, as well as lower carbon depletion and dissolved oxygen build-up.
Permanent Link: https://hdl.handle.net/11104/0343068