Title:
Effect of Light Intensity on the Growth of Three Microalgae in Laboratory Batch Cultures
Author(s):
Ievina, B., Romagnoli, F.
Document(s):
Paper
Abstract:
Microalgae are regarded as promising feedstock for bioenergy production due to their fast growth rate, high productivity and low nutritional requirements. However, large-scale biomass production for bioenergy currently is not economically viable due to low productivity and high cultivation costs of microalgal biomass. Optimal growing conditions for specific strains must be set up to increase the microalgae productivity. Therefore, in present study we focus on finding the optimal light intensity conditions for three microalgae cultivation intended for large-scale biomass production in outdoor raceway ponds supplemented with artificial LED illumination. We tested light intensity in a range of 30 to 200 µmol m-2 s-1. The impact of light intensity on the growth and biomass production of three microalgae strains was assessed by measurements of optical density and dry cell weight. Our study shows that light intensity of 30 and 50 µmol m-2 s-1 is too low to maintain high growth rate of microalgae strains studied. Our results suggest that C. vulgaris has lower light requirements comparing to C. sorokiniana and C. reinhardtii. The highest biomass yield was achieved at light intensity of 150 µmol m-2 s-1 for C. vulgaris and at 200 µmol m-2 s-1 for C. sorokiniana and C. reinhardtii.
Keywords:
bioenergy, biomass, microalgae, light intensity
Topic:
Sustainable Resources for Decarbonising the Economy
Subtopic:
Algae and aquatic biomass prodution systems
Event:
28th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition
Session:
1DV.1.26
Pages:
169 - 175
ISBN:
978-88-89407-20-2
Paper DOI:
10.5071/28thEUBCE2020-1DV.1.26
Price:
FREE
