Microalgae Cultivation and Biomass Quantification in a Bench-Scale Photobioreactor with Corrosive Flue Gases

Summary

Bench-scale, axenic cultivation facilitates microalgal characterization and productivity optimization before subsequent process scale-up. Photobioreactors provide the necessary control for reliable and reproducible microalgal experiments and can be adapted to safely cultivate microalgae with the corrosive gases (CO₂, SO₂, NO₂) from municipal or industrial combustion emissions.

Abstract

Photobioreactors are illuminated cultivation systems for experiments on phototrophic microorganisms. These systems provide a sterile environment for microalgal cultivation with temperature, pH, and gas composition and flow rate control. At bench-scale, photobioreactors are advantageous to researchers studying microalgal properties, productivity, and growth optimization. At industrial scales, photobioreactors can maintain product purity and improve production efficiency. The video describes the preparation and use of a bench-scale photobioreactor for microalgal cultivation, including the safe use of corrosive gas inputs, and details relevant biomass measurements and biomass productivity calculations. Specifically, the video illustrates microalgal culture storage and preparation for inoculation, photobioreactor assembly and sterilization, biomass concentration measurements, and a logistic model for microalgal biomass productivity with rate calculations including maximum and overall biomass productivities. Additionally, since there is growing interest in experiments to cultivate microalgae using simulated or real waste gas emissions, the video will cover the photobioreactor equipment adaptations necessary to work with corrosive gases and discuss safe sampling in such scenarios.

Introduction

Photobioreactors are useful for controlled experiments and cultivation of purer microalgal products than can be achieved by open ponds. Microalgal cultivation in bench-scale photobioreactors supports the development of fundamental knowledge that may be used for process scale-up. Slight changes to environmental conditions can significantly alter microbiological experiments and confound the results¹. A sterile process with temperature, pH, and gas sparging control is advantageous for studying microalgal properties and performance under varied conditions. Additionally, the control over input gas concentrations, temperature, shear force from mixing....

Protocol

1. Safe use and sampling of a photobioreactor sparged with corrosive gases

NOTE: This method does not describe appropriate procedures for safe sampling of microalgal cultures that produce or consume highly flammable gases.

1. Manage toxic gas as a risk to human health.
   NOTE: Per the University of Iowa's Chemical Hygiene Plan, the authors worked with the University Fire Safety Coordinator and University Environmental Health & Safety Industrial Hygiene Officer to develop a safety protocol for working with the toxic gases.
2. Set up a toxic gas monitoring system with sensors for each of the toxic gases in use. Calibrate th....

Results

A calibration curve for the green microalgae, S. obliquus, harvested in the exponential phase, was established with OD₇₅₀ and dried biomass concentrations (Figure 2). The linear regression had an R² value of 0.9996.

An S. obliquus culture was started in a 250 mL Erlenmeyer flask from a culture stored on a refrigerated agar plate. The microalga was inoculated in 3N-BBM with 10 mM HEPES buffer and sparged with 2.2% CO₂

Discussion

Batch, axenic photobioreactor experiments with regulated pH, temperature, gas flow rate, and gas concentration promote meaningful results by eliminating contamination by non-target algal strains and variability in culture conditions. Accurate pure culture growth kinetics can be obtained even in the presence of corrosive gases (CO₂, SO₂, NO₂), which serve as nutrients, turning waste gases into a valuable product such as animal feed.

Prior to beginning any microa.......

Materials

List of materials used in this article

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
Biostat A bioreactor	Sartorius Stedim		2-liter bioreactor for microbial fermentation; designed to be autoclaved; pH, temperature, gas flow rate control
Bump test NO2 gas	Grainger	GAS34L-112-5	Calibration gas for MultiRAE gas detector
Bump test O2, CO, LEL gas	Grainger	GAS44ES-301A	Calibration gas for MultiRAE gas detector
Bump test SO2 gas	Grainger	GAS34L-175-5	Calibration gas for MultiRAE gas detector
Corrosion resistant tubing for NO2 gas	Swagelok	SS-XT4TA4TA4-6	PTFE Core Hose Smooth Bore X Series—Fiber Braid and 304 SS Braid Reinforcement
Corrosion resistant tubing for SO2 gas	QC Supply	120325	Reinforced Braided Natural EVA Tubing - 1/4" ID
cozIR 100% CO2 meter	Gas Sensing Solutions Ltd.	CM-0121 at CO2meter.com	CO2 meter for concentrations up to 100%
cozIR 20% CO2 meter	Gas Sensing Solutions Ltd.	CM-0123 at CO2meter.com	CO2 meter for concentrations up to 20%
Durapore Membrane Filter, 0.45 μm	Millipore Sigma	HVLP04700	Hydrophilic, plain white, 47 mm diameter, 0.45 μm pore size, PVFD membrane filters
Gas cylinder regulators	Praxair	PRS 40221331-660	Single-stage stainless steel regulator configured for 0-15 psi outlet assembly diaphragm valve with 1/4" MNPT threads, Stainless steel to resist corrosion from NOx and SOx
Gas cylinders	Praxair	Ulta-zero air, high purity CO2, or custom gas composition	Dependent on study objectives
Gas monitoring and leak detection system	RAE Systems by Honeywell	MAB3000235E020	Pumped model that detects O2, SO2, NO2, CO, and LEL
GasLab software	GasLab	v2.0.8.14	Software for CO2 meter measurements and data logging
Hose barb	Grainger	Item # 3DTN3	Used to adapt regulators to tubing, Stainless steel to resist corrosion from NOx and SOx
K30 1% CO2 meter	Senseair	CM-0024 at CO2meter.com	CO2 meter for concentrations less than 1%
LED grow panels	Roleadro	HY-MD-D169-S	Red & blue LED light panels
Memosens dissolved oxygen probe	Endress+ Hauser	COS22D-19M6/0	Autoclavable (with precautions) dissolved oxygen probe for bioreactor
Memosens pH probe	Endress+ Hauser	CPS71D-7TB41	Autoclavable (with precautions) pH probe for bioreactor
Oven, Isotemp 500 Series	Fisher Scientific	13246516GAQ	Small oven for drying
Prism GraphPad software	GraphPad Software	Version 7.03 or 8.0.1	Graphing software for data organization, data analysis, and publication-quality graphs
Stem to hose barb fitting	Swagelok	SS-4-HC-A-6MTA	Stainless Steel Hose Connector, 6 mm Tube Adapter, 1/4 in. Hose ID
Tubing, dilute acid/base transfer	Allied Electronics and Automation	6678441	Silicone TP Process Tubing; 1.6mm Bore Size; 3000mm Long; Food Grade
Tubing, gas transfer	Allied Electronics and Automation	6678444	Silicone TP Process Tubing; 3.2mm Bore Size; 3000mm Long; Food Grade