During the cultivation of Chlorella vulgaris in a 500-liter tubular photobioreactor, substantial biomass sedimentation leads to the formation of a biofilm. What steps could be taken to address this issue?
During the cultivation of Chlorella vulgaris in a 500-liter tubular photobioreactor, substantial biomass sedimentation leads to the formation of a biofilm. What steps could be taken to address this issue?
There are several steps that can be taken to address the issue of biomass sedimentation and biofilm formation during the cultivation of Chlorella vulgaris in a 500-liter photobioreactor:
Increase mixing and aeration: By increasing the mixing and aeration in the photobioreactor, you can reduce the settling of biomass and the formation of biofilm. This can be done by installing a stirrer or by increasing the frequency of mixing.
Modify the photobioreactor design: The design of the photobioreactor could be modified to reduce the settling of biomass and biofilm formation. For example, by increasing the diameter of the photobioreactor or by changing the shape of the photobioreactor from a tubular to a flat-panel design.
Add flocculants: Flocculants, such as polyaluminum chloride, can be added to the photobioreactor to increase the settling of the biomass, thus reducing the formation of biofilm.
Adjust the nutrient concentration: The nutrient concentration in the photobioreactor can be adjusted to optimize the growth of the Chlorella vulgaris and reduce the formation of biofilm.
Increase the light intensity: Increasing the light intensity in the photobioreactor can stimulate the growth of Chlorella vulgaris, reducing the settling of biomass and the formation of biofilm.
These are just a few examples of the steps that can be taken to address the issue of biomass sedimentation and biofilm formation during the cultivation of Chlorella vulgaris in a 500-liter photobioreactor. The exact approach will depend on the specific circumstances of the cultivation and the results of the experimentation.
There are several things that can be done to prevent the settling of microalgae in a tubular photobioreactor. Here are a few suggestions:
1/ Control the pH: Microalgae require specific pH to grow and thrive depending on the strain used, if it is chlorella sp. please keep pH around 6.5-7.5, since this strain doesn't prefer alkaline pH.
If the pH is not optimal, it can cause the microalgae to settle or clump together.
2/ increasing the flow rate or adding aeration to the system. This helps keep the microalgae in suspension, preventing settling, and keep in mind that once your suspension become dense , this problem will certainly occur .
3/ you can also use antifoaming agents as an effective way to prevent the settling of microalgae in a tubular photobioreactor .