Skip to main content
Log in

Design of a novel photobioreactor for culture of microalgae

  • Published:
Wuhan University Journal of Natural Sciences

Abstract

This paper presents the design of a novel photobioreactor for cultivation of microalgae. The body of the reactor with volume of about 40 L is parallelipipedic and divided in five compartments that can be put in series. The optical guides, plunged perpendicularly into the compartments, are upright Plexiglas plates on which side faces there are able to diffuse light laterally and ensure an even distribution of light in the medium. External airlifts through the side columns are used for mixing of culture medium. The external light source is a SON-T lamp mounted inside a projector that provides a conical light dispersion, it is interchangeable and may take different positions. The design offers the photobioreactor characteristics including mainly interchangeable light source, homogenous distribution of light, perfect mixing of suspension of algae, high ratio of illuminating surface to volume of reactor, compactness and absence of contamination. Schemes, view of the photobioractor and data of continuous culture forSpirulina maxima are presented.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Behrens P W, Sicotte V J, Delente J. Microalgae as a Source of Stable Isotopically Labeled Compounds.J Appl Phycol, 1994,6: 113–121.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Dagdeviren S, McDonald K A, Jackman A P. Production of Sulfolipids from Cyanobacteria in Photobioreactors. In: Zaborsky O R (ed).BioHydrogen. New York: Plenum Publishing Corp, 1998. 459–466.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Markov S A. Bioreactors for Hydrogen Production. In: Zaborsky O R (ed)BioHydrogen. New York: Plenum Publishing Corp, 1998. 383–390.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Tsygankov A A, Hall D O, Liu Jian-Guo,et al. An Automated Helical Photobioreactor Incorporating Cyanobacteria for Continuous Hydrogen Production. In Zaborsky OR (ed),BioHydrogen. New York: Plenum Publishing Corp, 1998. 431–440.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Burbidge I M, Harper J D. Photobioreactor. PCT Int Appl. WO 2000012673 A1, 2000-03-09.

  6. Hu Q, Richmond A. Productivity and Photosynthetic Efficiency of Spirulina Platensis as Affected by Light Intensity, Algal Density and Rate of Mixing in a Flat Plate Photobioreactor.J Appl Phycol, 1996,8: 139–145.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Hu Q, Kurano N, Kawachi M,et al. Ultrahigh-Cell-Density Culture of a Marine Green Alga, Chlorococcum Littorale, in a Flat-Plate Photobioreactor.Appl Microbiol Biotech, 1998,49: 655–662.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Mori K. Photoautotrophic Bioreactor Using Visible Solar Nags Condensed by Fresnel Lenses and Transmitted Through Optic Fibers.Biotech Bioeng Symposium, 1985,15: 331–345.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Markov S A. Efficiency of Light Energy Conversion in Hydrogen Production by Cyanobacterium Anabaena Variabilis.J Mar Biotechnol, 1996,4: 57–60.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Lee C-G, Palsson B O. High-Density Algal Photobioreactors Using Light-emitting Diodes,Biotechnol Bioeng, 1994,44: 1161–1167.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Szyper J P, Yoza B A, Benemann J R,et al. Internal Gas Exchange Photobioreactor: Development and Testing in Hawaii. In: Zaborsky O R (ed),BioHydrogen. New York: Plenum Publishing Corp, 1998. 441–446.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Molina E, Acin Fernndez F G, Camacho F G,et al. Scale-up of Tubular Photobioreactors.J Appl Phycol, 2000,12 (3/5): 355–368.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Zarrouk C.Contribution à I' étude d’ une Cyanophycée: Influence de Divers Facteurs Physiques et Chimiques sur la Croissance et la Photosynthèse Et la Croissance de Spirulina maxima Geitler. Paris: Université de Paris, 1966.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Hai T, Ahlers H, Gorenflo V,et al. Axenic Cultivation of Anoxygenic Phototrophic Bacteria, Cyanobacteria and Microalgae in a New Closed Ttubular Glass Photobioreactor.Appl Microbiol Biotechnol, 2000,53(4): 383–389.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Phillips®. Artificial Light in Agriculture, Lighting Division. Brochure no. 1004487001, 19, The Netherlands. 1987.

  16. Su Wei-Wen. Secreted Metabolite Production in Perfusion Plant Cell Cultures. In: Zaborsky OR (ed),BioHydrogen. New York: Plenum Publishing Corp, 1998. 475–482.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Additional information

Foundation item: Supported by the Scholarship of Faculté Polytechnique de Mons, Belgium: and the National Fund for Scholars Returning From Abroad

Biography: Xia Jin-lan (1964-), male, Ph. D., Professor, research direction: bioscience and bioengineering

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Jin-lan, X., Levert, J.M., Benjelloun, F. et al. Design of a novel photobioreactor for culture of microalgae. Wuhan Univ. J. Nat. Sci. 7, 486–492 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02828256

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02828256

Key Words

CLC number

Navigation