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Outdoor production of Tisochrysis lutea in pilot-scale tubular photobioreactors

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Abstract

In this paper we study the outdoor production of Tisochrysis lutea in pilot-scale tubular photobioreactors (3.0 m3). Experiments were performed modifying the dilution rate and evaluating biomass productivity and quality, in addition to the overall performance of the system. Results confirm that T. lutea can be produced outdoors on a commercial scale in continuous mode, obtaining productivities of up to 20 g m−2 day−1 of biomass, which are rich in proteins (45 % d.wt.) and lipids (25 % d.wt.). The utilization of this type of photobioreactor allows one to control the levels of contamination and pH within the cultures, but daily variations in solar radiation impose elevated dissolved oxygen concentrations and insufficient temperature conditions on the cells inside the reactor. Excessive dissolved oxygen reduces biomass productivity to 68 % of that which is maximal, whereas inadequate temperature reduces it to 63 % of maximum. Thus, by optimally controlling these parameters, biomass productivity can be almost doubled. These results confirm the potential for producing this valuable strain on a commercial scale in optimally designed/operated tubular photobioreactors as a viable biotechnological industry.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by the Erasmus + traineeship programme of the Università di Bologna and the CO2ALGAEFIX project (LIFE10 ENV/ES/000496) led by the AlgaEnergy company. We are most grateful to the Estación Experimental Las Palmerillas of the Fundación Cajamar for collaborating in this research. This research was supported by the Junta de Andalucía and the Plan Andaluz de Investigación (BIO 173).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, 48123, Ravenna, Italy

    Davide Ippoliti & Rossella Pistocchi

  2. Fundación Cajamar, Estacion Experimental Las Palmerillas, Almería, Spain

    Alicia González

  3. Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Almería Carretera, Sacramento s/n, E04120, Almería, Spain

    Ismael Martín, José M. Fernández Sevilla & F. Gabriel Acién

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  1. Davide Ippoliti
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  2. Alicia González
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  3. Ismael Martín
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  4. José M. Fernández Sevilla
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  5. Rossella Pistocchi
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  6. F. Gabriel Acién
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Correspondence to F. Gabriel Acién.

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Ippoliti, D., González, A., Martín, I. et al. Outdoor production of Tisochrysis lutea in pilot-scale tubular photobioreactors. J Appl Phycol 28, 3159–3166 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10811-016-0856-x

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