The effect of photobioreactor height/diameter ratio on Chlorella variabilis microalgae growth and oil production efficiency


Altin N., UYAR B.

Sigma Journal of Engineering and Natural Sciences, cilt.42, sa.4, ss.1194-1201, 2024 (ESCI) identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 42 Sayı: 4
  • Basım Tarihi: 2024
  • Doi Numarası: 10.14744/sigma.2023.00032
  • Dergi Adı: Sigma Journal of Engineering and Natural Sciences
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Emerging Sources Citation Index (ESCI), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, Directory of Open Access Journals
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.1194-1201
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: Chlorella Variabilis, Microalgae, Photobioreactor
  • Kocaeli Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

This study aims to reveal how height/diameter ratio of column photobioreactors affect the growth and lipid content of microalgae. For this purpose, Chlorella variabilis cells were grown in aerated column photobioreactors with height/diameter ratio of 1, 2, and 3 in defined (BG11) culture medium. Results obtained showed that maximum microalgae biomass concentration, cell productivity, cell doubling time, and lipid productivity were found to increase as the height/diameter of photobioreactor increased. After 15 days of cultivation, the highest cell productivity (0.139 gdw/L.day), cell lipid content (21.1%) and lipid productivity (29.33 mg/L.day) were obtained in the photobioreactor with the highest height/diameter ratio (3), whereas the highest specific growth rate (0.045 h-1) was obtained in the photobioreactor with the smallest height/diameter ratio (1). These findings contribute to the knowledge on photobioreactor design and pave way for more efficient use of column type photobioreactors in producing microalgae.