Photosynthetic productivity of conical helical tubular photobioreactor incorporating Chlorella sorokiniana under field conditions.

The photosynthetic performance of a conical, helical tubular photobioreactor (HTP) incorporating Chlorella sorokiniana was investigated under conditions of high temperature and light intensity during midsummer in an outdoor environment. Although the culture medium temperature exceeded 40 degrees C for approximately 5 h each day, peaking at 47.5 degrees C under sunny conditions, a photosynthetic productivity of 30.0 g x m(-2) (installation area) x day(-1) and a photosynthetic efficiency of 8.66% [photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), 400-700 nm] were achieved. A maximum photosynthetic productivity of 33.2 g x m(-2) x day(-1) was achieved on a sunny day, when solar energy input was also maximal (11.5 MJ x m(-2) x day(-1) [PAR]). On the other hand, a maximum photosynthetic efficiency of 9.54% was obtained on a day that was rainy in the morning and cloudy in the afternoon, and there was relatively little solar energy input. The average daily photosynthetic efficiency over the two culture periods (August 4 to 7 and August 10 to 13, 1999) was 7.25%. Thus, a high level of photosynthetic performance was achieved in the conical HTP incorporating Chlorella sorokiniana despite the fact that culture medium temperature was not controlled. The use of Chlorella sorokiniana in the conical HTP should be a good choice to produce microalgal biomass during the summer under field conditions.     

Photosynthetic productivity of conical helical tubular photobioreactors incorporating Chlorella sp. under various culture medium flow conditions

The characteristics of the flow of culture medium significantly affects the photosynthetic productivity of bioreactors incorporating microalgae. Therefore, in order to optimize the performance of a conical helical tubular photobioreactor (CHTP) designed to be useful in practical applications, we characterized the flow pattern of the culture medium through the reactor. The effects of medium flow conditions on the photosynthetic productivity of Chlorella sp. were investigated using several different CHTP units with 0.50-m2 installation areas which were designed to vary the direction and rate of flow driven by airlift. In addition, the performance of two- and four-unit systems constructed by combining individual CHTP units was evaluated. We found that when medium flowed from the bottom to the top of the photostage, it exhibited smoother flow of culture medium than when flowing from top to bottom, which led to higher photosynthetic productivity by the former. Consistent with theoretical calculations, varying the lengths of vertical flow passages caused flow rates to vary, and higher flow rates meant smoother circulation of medium and better photosynthetic performance. Flow of medium through a four-unit CHTP system was similar to that in single units, enabling a photosynthetic productivity of 31.0 g-dry biomass per m2-installation area per day to be achieved, which corresponded to a photosynthetic efficiency of 7.50% (photosynthetically active radiation (PAR; 400-700 nm)). This high photosynthetic performance was possible because smoother medium flow attained in single units was also attained in the four-unit system.     

Photosynthetic performance of a cyanobacterium in a vertical flat-plate photobioreactor for outdoor microalgal production and fixation of CO2

A vertical flat-plate photobioreactor was developed for the outdoor culture of microalgae using sunlight as the light source. The ability for biomass production and CO₂ fixation was evaluated by using a cyanobacterium, Synechocystis aquatilis SI-2. The average areal productivity was 31 g biomass m^–2 d^–1, which corresponded to a CO₂ fixation rate of 51 g CO₂ m^–2 d^–1, sustainable in the northern region of Japan during the winter time (January and February). The relationships between the efficiency of solar energy utilization of the reactor and its effect factors (cell concentration and irradiation) were investigated.     

光生物反应器中螺旋藻培养条件的优化

利用正交实验对搅拌式光生物反应器中钝顶螺旋藻(Spirulina platensis Geitl)的培养条件即搅拌速度、通气量和光照强度进行优化.实验结果表明:当培养温度为30℃时,通过正交实验所获得的最佳培养条件为搅拌转速120 r·min-1,通气量80 L·h-1,光照强度5000lx.在最佳培养条件下,收获时螺旋藻的干重为1.922 g·L-1.根据回归模型得到相应的优化条件为:光照强度5000lx,通气量150L·h-1,搅拌转速111.70r·min-1,收获量(干重)的预测值为2.293 g·L-1.另外,10%的接种量有利于螺旋藻的生长.     

Simultaneous use of sodium nitrate and urea as nitrogen sources improves biomass composition of Arthrospira platensis cultivated in a tubular photobioreactor

Arthrospira platensis is widely cultivated in open ponds for industrial purposes. However, high‐protein A. platensis biomass produced in photobioreactors (PBRs) is recommended for pharmaceutical and cosmetic formulations. A. platensis was cultivated in a 3.5 L tubular airlift PBR using both sodium nitrate and urea as nitrogen sources. Sodium nitrate was added from the start of the cultivation using a batch process. Urea was supplied daily at exponentially increasing feeding rate using a fed‐batch process. The simultaneous optimization of the independent variables, namely, total quantity of sodium nitrate (m_T1) and total quantity of urea (m_T2), led to an optimal condition of m_T1 = 15.0 mmol/L and m_T2 = 7.5 mmol/L. Maximum biomass concentration (5183 ± 94 mg/L) corresponding to the highest biomass productivity (683 ± 13 mg/L/day) was obtained under such condition. The addition protocol of both nitrogen sources resulted in high productivities of protein (6.2 ± 0.4 mg/L/day) as well as chlorophyll‐a (372.2 ± 7.7 mg/L/day). Such innovative process could be applied in the large‐scale production of A. platensis using tubular PBR for novel applications.     

Kinetic and growth parameters of Arthrospira (Spirulina) platensis cultivated in tubular photobioreactor under different cell circulation systems

Arthrospira platensis was cultivated in tubular photobioreactor in order to evaluate growth and biomass production at variable photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD = 60, 120, and 240 μmol photons m(-2)s(-1)) and employing three different systems for cell circulation, specifically an airlift, a motor-driven pumping and a pressurized system. The influence of these two independents variables on the maximum cell concentration (X(m)), cell productivity (P(x)), nitrogen-to-cell conversion factor (Y(X/N) ), photosynthetic efficiency (PE), and biomass composition (total lipids and proteins), taken as responses, was evaluated by analysis of variance. The statistical analysis revealed that the best combination of responses' mean values (X(m) = 4,055 mg L(-1), P(x) = 406 mg L(-1)day(-1), Y(X/N) = 5.07 mg mg(-1), total lipids = 8.94%, total proteins = 30.3%, PE = 2.04%) was obtained at PPFD = 120 μmol photons m(-2)s(-1); therefore, this light intensity should be considered as the most well-suited for A. platensis cultivation in this photobioreactor configuration. The airlift system did not exert any significant positive statistical influence on the responses, which suggests that this traditional cell circulation system could successfully be substituted by the others tested in this work.     

Growth characteristics of Arthrospira platensis cultured inside a new close-coil photobioreactor incorporating a mandrel to control culture temperature

The aim of this study was to investigate Arthrospira growth inside a new CCP incorporating a mandrel for culture temperature control. Some hydrodynamic aspects and photobioreactor performances were investigated as well. The bioreactor incorporated A. platensis grown under batch and semicontinuous conditions. Two systems were used to recycle Arthrospira cultures: a peristaltic pump and an airlift system. When the pump recycled the culture, we achieved a very high Dean number (De=3,950), which decreased a great deal when the pump was replaced with the airlift system. During outdoor Arthrospira batch growth, a cell concentration of 16.4 g (DW)l-1 was reached after 9 days. However, the maximum chlorophyll content of the biomass (2.0% of DW) was achieved on the fifth and sixth days. The highest daily biomass output rate was obtained using the airlift system, when the CCP was operated under a semicontinuous regime: the gross output rate was 2.85+/-0.37 g (DW) l-1 d-1 and the net was 2.32+/-0.11 g (DW) l-1 d-1. The advantages of the airlift system may be due to the low concentration of oxygen built up inside Arthrospira culture and the lack of cell damage due to the pump system. Thus, oxygen and pump stress may have been avoided.     

Photosynthetic production of the filamentous cyanobacteriumSpirulina platensis in a cone-shaped helical tubular photobioreactor

The photosynthetic productivity of the filamentous cyanobacteriumSpirulina platensis was investigated in a cone-shaped helical tubular photobioreactor. A laboratory-scale photobioreactor was constructed with a 0.255-m² basal area and a conical shape (0.64 m high × 0.57 m top diameter). The photostage comprised transparent reinforced polyvinyl chloride (PVC) tubing with spirally wound, metal-wire reinforcing in the tubing wall (31 m in length and 1.6 cm internal diameter with 0.25 cm wall thickness; total volume = 6.23 l). The inner surface of the photostage (0.651 m²) was illuminated with compact fluorescent cool white lamps; the photosynthetically active radiation (400–700 nm) energy input into the photobioreactor was 1249 KJ day^–1 (12 h day/12 h night). The operation of an air-lift photobioreactor with CO₂-enriched air (4%) at a flow rate of 0.3 l min^–1 showed a maximum daily photosynthetic efficiency of 6.83% under batch-culture conditions. This corresponded to a production rate of 15.9 g dry biomass m^–2(basal area) day^–1 or 0.51 g dry biomass l medium^–1 day^–1.     

A new approach to ammonium sulphate feeding for fed‐batch Arthrospira (Spirulina) platensis cultivation in tubular photobioreactor

Arthrospira platensis was cultivated in tubular photobioreactor using different photosynthetic photon flux densities (PPFD) and protocols of (NH₄)₂SO₄ fed‐batch supply. Results were evaluated by variance analysis selecting maximum cell concentration (X_m), cell productivity (P_x), nitrogen‐to‐cell conversion factor (Y_X/N) and biomass, protein and lipid contents as responses. At PPFD of 120 and 240 μmol‐photons/m² s, a parabolic profile of (NH₄)₂SO₄ addition aiming at producing biomass with 7% nitrogen content ensured X_m values (14.1 and 12.2 g/L, respectively) comparable to those obtained with NaNO₃. At PPFD of 240 μmol‐photons/m² s, P_x (1.69 g/Ld) was 36% higher, although the photosynthetic efficiency (3.0%) was less than one‐half that at PPFD of 120 μmol‐photons/m² s. Biomass was shown to be constituted by about 35% proteins and 10% lipids, without any dependence on PPFD or kind of nitrogen source. These results highlight the possible use of (NH₄)₂SO₄ as alternative, cheap nitrogen source for A. platensis cultivation in tubular photobioreactors. © 2010 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 2010     

A two-plane tubular photobioreactor for outdoor culture of Spirulina

A photobioreactor in the form of a 245-m-long loop made of plexiglass tubes having an inner diameter of 2.6 cm was designed and constructed for outdoor culture of Spirulina. The loop was arranged in two planes, with 15 8-m-long tubes in each plane. In the upper plane, the tubes were placed in the vacant space between the ones of the lower plane. The culture recycle was performed either with two airlifts, one per plane, or with two peristaltic pumps. The power required for water recycle in the tubular photobioreactor, with a Reynolds number of 4000, was 3.93 x 10(-2) W m(-2). The photobioreactor contained 145 L of culture and covered an overall area of 7.8 m(2). The photobioreactor operation was computer controlled. Viscosity measurements performed on Spirulina cultures having different biomass concentrations showed non-Newtonian behavior displaying decreasing viscosity with an increasing shear rate. The performance of the two-plane photobioreactor was tested under the climatic conditions of central Italy (latitude 43.8 degrees N, longitude 11.3 degrees E). A biomass concentration of 3.5 g L(-1) was found to be adequate for outdoor culture of Spirulina. With a biomass concentration of 6.3 g L(-1), the biomass output rate significantly decreased. The net biomass output rate reached a mean value of 27.8 g m(-2) d(-1) in July; this corresponded to a net photosynthetic efficiency of 6.6% (based on visible irradiance). (c) 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Effects of increased atmospheric CO2 and N supply on photosynthesis, growth and cell composition of the cyanobacterium Spirulina platensis (Arthrospira)

The consequences of the addition of CO2 (1%) in cultures of S. platensis are examined in terms of biomass yield, cell composition and external medium composition. CO2 enrichment was tested under nitrogen saturating and nitrogen limiting conditions. Increasing CO2 levels did not cause any change in maximum growth rate while it decreased maximum biomass yield. Protein and pigments were decreased and carbohydrate increased by high CO2, but the capability to store carbohydrates was saturated. C:N ratio remained unchanged while organic carbon released to the external medium was enhanced, suggesting that organic carbon release in S. platensis is an efficient mechanism for the maintenance of the metabolic integrity, balancing the cell C:N ratio in response to environmental CO2 changes. CO2 affected the pigment content: Phycocyanin, chlorophyll and carotenoids were reduced in around 50%, but the photosynthetic parameters were slightly changed. We propose that in S. platensis CO2 could act promoting degradation of pigments synthetised in excess in normal CO2 conditions, that are not necessary for light harvesting. Nitrogen assimilation was significantly not affected by CO2, and it is proposed that the inability to stimulate N assimilation by CO2 enrichment determined the lack of response in maximum growth rate. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Production and regeneration of spheroplasts from the cyanobacterium Spirulina platensis

Abstract The development of a micro-method for the production and regeneration of spheroplasts starting from S. platensis trichomes is presented. The influence of the growth stage along with different treatments and conditions on the efficiency of spheroplast formation and regeneration are analyzed.     

Photosynthetic efficiency and rate of CO2 assimilation by Arthrospira (Spirulina) platensis continuously cultivated in a tubular photobioreactor

Similar to other photosynthetic microorganisms, the cyanobacterium Arthrospira platensis can be used to produce pigments, single cell proteins, fatty acids (which can be used for bioenergy), food and feed supplements, and biofixation of CO₂. Cultivation in a specifically designed tubular photobioreactor is suitable for photosynthetic biomass production, because the cultivation area can be reduced by distributing the microbial cells vertically, thus avoiding loss of ammonia and CO₂. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of light intensity and dilution rate on the photosynthetic efficiency and CO₂ assimilation efficiency of A. platensis cultured in a tubular photobioreactor in a continuous process. Urea was used as a nitrogen source and CO₂ as carbon source and for pH control. Steady‐state conditions were achieved in most of the runs, indicating that continuous cultivation of this cyanobacterium in a tubular photobioreactor could be an interesting alternative for the large‐scale fixation of CO₂ to mitigate the greenhouse effect while producing high protein content biomass.     

钝顶螺旋藻突变株FBL细胞超微结构

利用透射电镜技术观察钝顶螺旋藻出发株和突变株FBL的细胞超微结构。观察结果表明L出发株和突变株均为多细胞丝状体,细胞间横隔膜清晰,细胞壁均由四层结构组成,细胞质膜内陷形成类囊体,类囊体由双层膜堆积而成,膜上附着藻胆体,类囊体与细胞壁呈垂直方向排列,细胞质内包含有充气液泡等细胞器。与出发株相比,突变株细胞壁表面较光滑,四层结构电子密度较深;类囊体膜增多、变发达;羧化体数量增多;横隔膜收缢明显。     

基于蛋白质组学对螺旋藻砷胁迫响应机制的研究

通过研究螺旋藻(Spirulina sp.)在砷离子胁迫下的蛋白质组变化,从蛋白质表达水平解释螺旋藻对砷离子胁迫的响应机理。螺旋藻经过不同浓度砷离子胁迫7 d后,提取蛋白质进行凝胶电泳,并对差异蛋白进行质谱分析。结果表明螺旋藻在2.0 ppm砷酸盐中暴露10 min光合放氧速率降低27.3%,培养24 h后细胞内的金属硫蛋白、叶绿素、类胡萝卜素及藻胆蛋白相对含量均明显降低。蛋白组学共鉴定出75个差异蛋白,其中26个显著上调,49个呈现下调。这些差异蛋白表明砷离子主要通过破坏螺旋藻光合色素蛋白,干扰电子传递过程,导致能量合成受损,使得依赖光合作用产生能量进行的跨膜运动、蛋白质合成等相关过程受到影响;同时,活性氧清除与防御相关蛋白呈现上调,螺旋藻细胞内抗氧化系统被激活。     

鄂尔多斯高原碱湖的钝顶螺旋藻光合生理研究

鄂尔多斯高原碱湖的钝顶螺旋藻光合色素含量高低排列为藻胆素>叶绿素a>类胡萝卜素;各色素具有特定的吸收光谱,活体吸收光谱体现出了各色素的吸收;各色素的荧光发射主峰波长约长于活体的13￣35nm,相对荧光强度约是活体的11倍。其光合速率的日变化呈单峰曲线,13:00时达到最高;光补偿点为28￣30μmol.m-2.s-1;光饱和点为220￣235μmol.m-2.s-1;光合作用的最适温度为35℃。呼吸速率日变化随温度的升高呈缓慢上升的趋势。     

CO₂ from alcoholic fermentation for continuous cultivation of Arthrospira (Spirulina) platensis in tubular photobioreactor using urea as nitrogen source

Carbon dioxide released from alcoholic fermentation accounts for 33% of the whole CO(2) involved in the use of ethanol as fuel derived from glucose. As Arthrospira platensis can uptake this greenhouse gas, this study evaluates the use of the CO(2) released from alcoholic fermentation for the production of Arthrospira platensis. For this purpose, this cyanobacterium was cultivated in continuous process using urea as nitrogen source, either using CO(2) from alcoholic fermentation, without any treatment, or using pure CO(2) from cylinder. The experiments were carried out at 120 μmol photons m(-2) s(-1) in tubular photobioreactor at different dilution rates (0.2 ≤ D ≤ 0.8 d(-1) ). Using CO(2) from alcoholic fermentation, maximum steady-state cell concentration (2661 ± 71 mg L(-1) ) was achieved at D = 0.2 d(-1) , whereas higher dilution rate (0.6 d(-1) ) was needed to maximize cell productivity (839 mg L(-1) d(-1) ). This value was 10% lower than the one obtained with pure CO(2) , and there was no significant difference in the biomass protein content. With D = 0.8 d(-1) , it was possible to obtain 56% ± 1.5% and 50% ± 1.2% of protein in the dry biomass, using pure CO(2) and CO(2) from alcoholic fermentation, respectively. These results demonstrate that the use of such cost free CO(2) from alcoholic fermentation as carbon source, associated with low cost nitrogen source, may be a promising way to reduce costs of continuous cultivation of photosynthetic microorganisms, contributing at the same time to mitigate the greenhouse effect.