ABSTRACT
The addition of hollow glass microspheres (HGM) to polymers to change thermal insulation and mechanical properties is widely used. In this study HGM were tested as a new construction material for photobioreactors to control irradiance and broth temperature in microalgae cultivation. The heat isolation properties of HGMs of three different densities were tested in a polymer matrix. The transmittance (5-50%) and the thermal conductivity (182.05-190.73 W/mK) of the HGM composite material were analyzed. The results were tested in a model to predict the broth temperature and the growth rate as a function of temperature and irradiance. The addition of 1.3 and 0.6 vol.% of HGM lead to an increase in the growth rate of up to 37% and a reduction in the broth temperature up to 9°C. The mechanical resistance of the composites tested is similar to the polymer matrix.
