ABSTRACT
Abstract Microalgae research has attracted interest worldwide and in order to advance algal biotechnology in Brazil, government has been funding several projects. In the last 10 years, two main funds were provided by the National Council of Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) agency to researchers in Brazil, who study the potential uses of microalgae for biomass, bioproducts and biofuels production. These funded projects addressed aspects of algal strain identification, development of algal cultivation techniques, designing photobioreactors and raceway ponds, modeling harvesting and dewatering process, maximizing biomass and oil productivities, characterizing chemical composition with different extractions systems and determining physiochemical properties of biodiesel. This review presents the state of art of algal research conducted by Brazilian institutions. Special attention is given to the recent progress on microalgal cultivation, high-value products extracted from microalgae and potential biofuels production. This review may serve as a policy instrument for planning next steps for algal research in Brazil as well as for attracting attention from international researchers who work with microalgae and would like to pursue a future partnership on algal research with Brazilian research institutions.
Subject(s)
Biotechnology/methods , Biofuels , Microalgae , PhotobioreactorsABSTRACT
Abstract Diatoms are the major group of microalgae which have been utilized by the potential applications as food industries, aquatic feeds, cosmetics, biofuels, and pharmaceuticals. In this study, current approaches were made in order to determine growth rate, biomass productivity, protein, carbohydrate, lipid and fatty acid composition for Nanofrustulum shiloi cultures using both aeration and mixing conditions in flat-plate photobioreactor (PBR). Physical (the intensity of aeration, mixing, light intensity etc.) and chemical (nutritional materials) factors are affecting the growth and bioproduct contents of a diatom. Biomass and lipid productivities of N. shiloi were measured as 31.29 and 36.9622±0.0598 mg L-1 day-1 in flat-plate PBR having the combination of aeration and stirring system, respectively. A slightly higher amount of saturated fatty acids was detected in PBR having only bubbling system while the increase of mono- and poly- unsaturated fatty acids were found in PBR having the combination of aeration and stirring system. Flat-plate PBR design was also investigated for improving not only biomass but also the lipid productivity of N. shiloi.
Subject(s)
Diatoms/physiology , Photobioreactors , Carbohydrates/analysis , Diatoms/growth & development , Diatoms/chemistry , Biomass , Fatty Acids/analysisABSTRACT
El presente trabajo investigó el cultivo de la microalga Arthrospira platensis (Spirulina) en valores de productividad cultivado en fotobiorreactor tubular doblemente curvado a condiciones ambientales con el fin de aprovechar la alta radiación solar de la región Arequipa en el sur de Perú (16°24´50´´ LS; 71°32´02´´ LO; 2344 msnm). El fotobiorreactor fue construido con un tubo transparente de policloruro de vinilo (PVC). La productividad del cultivo fue de 13.9 g/m² en 14 días ó 1 g/m²/día y una concentración de clorofila - "a" de 0.00785 mg/L con una máxima radiación de 1179 W/m², y una iluminación de 121500 lux, convirtiendo sus filamentos helicoidales a morfologías anormales, tales como formas irregulares curvas e incluso lineales con fragmentaciones, demostrando que el cultivo se vio afectado por la alta radiación y las variaciones de temperaturas de Arequipa.
The present work investigated the cultivation of microalgae Arthrospira platensis (Spirulina) in productivity values cultivated in doubly curved tubular photobioreactor to environmental conditions in order to take advantage of the high solar radiation of the Arequipa region in southern Peru (16°24´50´´ LS; 71°32´02´´LW; 2344 msnm.). The photobioreactor was built with a transparent tube of polyvinyl chloride (PVC). The productivity of the crop was 13.9 g/m² in 14 days or 1 g/m²/day and a concentration of chlorophyll - "a" 0.00785 mg/L with a maximum radiation of 1179 W/m², and a 121500 lux illumination, making its helical filaments abnormal morphologies, such as curves and linear even irregular shapes with fragmentation, demonstrating that the crop was affected by high radiation and variations in temperatures of Arequipa.
ABSTRACT
This study evaluated the feasibility of using vinasse as a nutrient source for microalgae cultivation. The Scenedesmus sp was grown in a medium supplemented with vinasse and process variables were optimized using a factorial design and a Central Composite Design (CCD). The factorial design results showed that it was possible to cultivate microalgae at concentrations of up to 40% of vinasse in the culture medium. The CCD results showed that the light intensity and vinasse concentration influenced the amount of biomass produced.
ABSTRACT
This study aimed at evaluating the best conditions for lipid accumulation in the marine microalga Nannochloropsis oculata in an airlift photobioreactor. Experiments were carried out following a central composite design with the following variables: temperature (19 to 29°C), sodium nitrate concentration (NaNO3) in the culture medium (f/2) (25 to 125 mg.L-1) and incident light intensity (49 to 140 µE.m-2s-1). The maximum lipid production was 132.4 mg.L-1 under the following conditions: 27°C, NaNO3 concentration 105 mg.L-1 and 122 µE.m-2.s-1, which was 30% of dry weight of the biomass.
ABSTRACT
Carbon (neutral) based renewable liquid biofuels are alternative to petroleum derived transport fuels that contribute to global warming and are of a limited availability. Microalgae based biofuels are considered as promising source of energy. Lyngbya sp. and Synechococcus sp. were studied for the possibility of biodiesel production in different media such as ASNIII, sea water enrichment medium and BG11. The sea water enrichment medium was found superior in enhancing the growth rate of these microalgae. Nitrogen depletion has less effect in total chlorophyll a content, at the same time the lipid content was increased in both Lyngbya sp. and Synechococcus sp. by 1.4 and 1.2 % respectively. Increase in salinity from 0.5-1.0 M also showed an increase in the lipid content to 2.0 and 0.8 % in these strains; but a salinity of 1.5 M has a total inhibitory effect in the growth. The total biomass yield was comparatively higher in tubular LED photobioreactor than the fluorescent flat plated photobioreactor. Lipid extraction was obtained maximum at 60 ºC in 1:10 sample: solvent ratio. GC-MS analysis of biodiesel showed high content of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA; 4.86 %) than saturated fatty acid (SFA; 4.10 %). Biodiesel production was found maximum in Synechococcus sp. than Lyngbya sp. The viscosity of the biodiesel was closely related to conventional diesel. The results strongly suggest that marine microalgae could be used as a renewable energy source for biodiesel production.
Subject(s)
Biofuels , Biomass , Bioreactors , Carbon/chemistry , Chlorophyll/metabolism , Cyanobacteria/metabolism , Energy-Generating Resources/economics , Equipment Design , Esters/chemistry , Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry/methods , Lipids/chemistry , Microalgae , Nitrogen/metabolism , Photochemistry/methods , Solvents/chemistry , Synechococcus/metabolism , Triglycerides/chemistry , ViscosityABSTRACT
The influence of aeration on algal growth and gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) production in a bubble column photobioreactor was investigated. Studies were performed in a 20-L reactor at different aeration rates (0.2-2.5 vvm). Static, continuous, and periodic operation of air resulted in 41.9%, 88.4%, and 108% air saturation of dissolved oxygen, for which the corresponding values of GLA were 2.3, 6.5, and 7.5 mg·g-1 dry cell weight, respectively. An increase in the aeration rate from 0.2 to 2.5 vvm enhanced both the specific growth rate and GLA content under periodic sparging in the bicarbonate medium. With a 6-fold increase in the aeration rate, the GLA content of the alga increased by 69.64% (5.6-9.5 mg· g-1 dry cell weight). In addition, the total fatty acid (TFA) content in dry biomass increased from 2.22% to 4.41%, whereas the algae maintained a constant GLA to TFA ratio within the aeration rate tested. The dependence of GLA production on the aeration rate was explained by interrelating the GLA production rate with the specific growth rate using the Luedeking and Piret mixed growth model.
Subject(s)
Eukaryota/growth & development , Eukaryota/isolation & purification , Spirulina/growth & development , Spirulina/isolation & purification , Biomass , BiotechnologyABSTRACT
Photoautotrophic gametophyte cells of the brown macroalgae Laminaria japonica were cultivated in 500ml stirred tank photobioreactors under seven pulse feeding modes and one batch mode.It is the first time for the study of effects of the feeding time points and feeding quantity on macroalgal cell growth and nutrient consumption.Results showed that, with inoculum density of 50mg DCW/L, in modified APSW artificial seawater medium at 13℃, light intensity of 60μE/m2.s, light cycle of 16/8h L/D, aeration rate of 50ml/min, and agitation speed of 100r/min, feeding the culture with small nutrient quantity was beneficial for the synchronization between nitrate and phosphate absorption, and further for biomass production.Feeding when ambient nutrient was abundant or depleted was quite weak for large amount of biomass accumulation, which might be due to the slowing nutrient absorption, nutrient storage, or the divergence absorption between nitrate and phosphate.Feeding nutrient frequently with small quantity from mid-exponential growth of macroalgal cells, that is maintaining medium nutrient concentration between 1/3 and 1/2 of its initial concentration, was the most effective way for biomass production, with biomass increased by 12.270 times of for 51 days' cultivation.
ABSTRACT
A 2 L tubular photobioreactor (PBR) was designed, and hydrogen production by Rhodospirillum rubrum uptake hydrogenase deficient mutant in this PBR under artificial illumination condition (including continuous illumination and light/dark cycle condition) and natural day/night cycle was investigated, respectively. Hydrogen production by R. rubrum uptake hydrogenase deficient mutant under artificial illumination lasts five days, and hydrogen yield under continuous illumination and light/dark cycle (12 h:12 h) reaches 5752 mL/PBR ? 158 mL/PBR and 5012 mL/PBR ? 202 mL/PBR, respectively. Under natural day/night cycle, hydrogen production lasts 6~10 days and the maximal hydrogen yield of R. rubrum reaches 2800 mL/PBR with the optimal light intensity of about 30000~40000 Lux. Hydrogen production under natural day/night cycle condition was lower than that under artificial illumination, however, it would be a promising technology of hydrogen production due to low cost and ease of operation of hydrogen production system.
ABSTRACT
Photoautotrophic gametophyte cells of the brown macroalgae Laminaria japonica were cultivated in 500ml stirred tank photobioreactors under seven pulse feeding modes and one batch mode.It is the first time for the study of effects of the feeding time points and feeding quantity on macroalgal cell growth and nutrient consumption.Results showed that, with inoculum density of 50mg DCW/L, in modified APSW artificial seawater medium at 13℃, light intensity of 60μE/m2.s, light cycle of 16/8h L/D, aeration rate of 50ml/min, and agitation speed of 100r/min, feeding the culture with small nutrient quantity was beneficial for the synchronization between nitrate and phosphate absorption, and further for biomass production.Feeding when ambient nutrient was abundant or depleted was quite weak for large amount of biomass accumulation, which might be due to the slowing nutrient absorption, nutrient storage, or the divergence absorption between nitrate and phosphate.Feeding nutrient frequently with small quantity from mid-exponential growth of macroalgal cells, that is maintaining medium nutrient concentration between 1/3 and 1/2 of its initial concentration, was the most effective way for biomass production, with biomass increased by 12.270 times of for 51 days' cultivation.
ABSTRACT
Photoautotrophic gametophyte cells of the brown macroalgae Laminaria japonica were cultivated in 500ml stirred tank photobioreactors under seven pulse feeding modes and one batch mode.It is the first time for the study of effects of the feeding time points and feeding quantity on macroalgal cell growth and nutrient consumption.Results showed that, with inoculum density of 50mg DCW/L, in modified APSW artificial seawater medium at 13℃, light intensity of 60μE/m2.s, light cycle of 16/8h L/D, aeration rate of 50ml/min, and agitation speed of 100r/min, feeding the culture with small nutrient quantity was beneficial for the synchronization between nitrate and phosphate absorption, and further for biomass production.Feeding when ambient nutrient was abundant or depleted was quite weak for large amount of biomass accumulation, which might be due to the slowing nutrient absorption, nutrient storage, or the divergence absorption between nitrate and phosphate.Feeding nutrient frequently with small quantity from mid-exponential growth of macroalgal cells, that is maintaining medium nutrient concentration between 1/3 and 1/2 of its initial concentration, was the most effective way for biomass production, with biomass increased by 12.270 times of for 51 days' cultivation.
ABSTRACT
Microalgae biodiesel can solve these problems currently of plants materials,such as:shortage of arable land,impact of climate change for production and to lead high crop prices and so on.Constructing "engineered microalgae" through transgenic technology,the microalgae have capacity of high growth,shorter periods of growth and several times higher oil production than terrestrial plants.Furthermore,sea water can be as its natural medium for industrial production.The advantages of microalgae biodiesel,current status and progress of researches on engineered microalgae as well as product technologies of microalgal biodiesel was introduced.
ABSTRACT
International research advances and current situation of industrialization in the last decade on the biological character and inducing conditions of natural astaxanthin accumulation in Haematococcus pluvialis cells are reviewed in present paper. Current situation of mass cultivation of Haematococcus pluvialis for industrial production of natural astaxanthin by use of photobioreactors is described. The industrialization prospect of astaxanthin in China is also proposed.