Cultivation of Nannochloropsis sp. using narrow beam angle light emitting diode in an internally illuminated photobioreactor

Abstract

Background

This paper reports on the growth condition of Nannochloropsis sp. in an annular column-type photobioreactor (PBR) using light-emitting diode as an internal illumination.

Methods

The microalgae growth in the 20-L batch culture mode under mixed blue (450 nm) and red (660 nm) light-emitting diode (LED) in various conditions such as photoperiod and light intensity (controlled by supplied current) was monitored. Compact-type 5-W LED module with narrow beam angle (radiation pattern) was installed in the PBR so as to obtain higher intensity and deeper penetration to the culture.

Results

Based on the PBR dimension with optical path length 120 mm, the minimum light intensity required at the PBR tank inner surface at initial stage of cultivation was approximately 350–370 mol m⁻²s⁻¹, while mean light intensity derived was 140–160 mol m⁻²s⁻¹. Photoperiod ratio of light:dark at 18:6 h provided better results compared to 12:12 in terms of final cell density achieved. Efficiency of light utilization was calculated to be 9.0 × 109 cell/mol photon (0.49 g/mol photon), while biomass volumetric productivity was 0.04 g L⁻¹day⁻¹.

Conclusion

The usage of narrow beam angle LED was feasible to be used but with further improvement is necessary.

Keywords

LED / Photobioreactor / Microalgae / Biodiesel

References

[1] Alsull M, Omar WMW (2012) Responses of Tetraselmis sp. and Nannochloropsis sp. isolated from Penang National Park Coastal Waters, Malaysia, to the combined influences of salinity, light and nitrogen limitation. In: International conference on chemical, ecology and environmental sciences (ICEES) 12–15

[2] Atta M, Idris A, Bukhari A, Wahidin S. Intensity of blue LED light: a potential stimulus for biomass and lipid content in fresh water microalgae Chlorella vulgaris. Bioresour Technol, 2013, 148: 373-378.

[3] Blanken W, Cuaresma M, Wijffels RH, Janssen M. Cultivation of microalgae on artificial light comes at a cost. Algal Res, 2013, 2: 333-340.

[4] Bong SC, Loh SP. A study of fatty acid composition and tocopherol content of lipid extracted from marine microalgae, Nannochloropsis oculata and Tetraselmis suecica, using solvent extraction and supercritical fluid extraction. Int Food Res J, 2013, 20(2): 721-729.

[5] Chen W, Sommerfeld M, Hu Q. Microwave-assisted Nile red method for in vivo quantification of neutral lipids in microalgae. Bioresour Technol, 2011, 102: 135-141.

[6] Chisti Y. Biodiesel from microalgae. Biotechnol. Adv, 2007, 25: 294-306.

[7] Chiu SY, Kao CY, Ong SC, Chen CH, Lin CS. Lipid accumulation and CO₂ utilization of Nannochloropsis oculata in response to CO₂ aeration. Bioresour Technol, 2009, 100: 833-838.

[8] Csogor Z, Herrenbauer M, Schmidt K, Posten C. Light distribution in a novel photobioreactor—modelling for optimization. J Appl Phycol, 2001, 13: 325-333.

[9] de Mooij T, de Vries G, Latsos C, Wijffelsa RH, Janssen M. Impact of light color onphotobioreactor productivity. Algal Res, 2016, 15: 32-42.

[10] Fu W, Gudmundsson O, Feist AM, Herjolfsson G, Brynjolfsson S, Palsson BØ. Maximizing biomass productivity and cell density of Chlorella vulgaris by using light-emitting diode-based photobioreactor. J Biotechnol, 2012, 161: 242-249.

[11] Grima EM, Perez JAS, Camacho FG, Sevilla JMF, Fernandez FGA. Productivity analysis of outdoor chemostat culture in tubular air-lift photobioreactors. J Appl Phycol, 1996, 8: 369-380.

[12] Hannon M, Gimpell J, Tran M, Rasala B, Mayfield S. Biofuels from algae: challenges and potential. Biofuels, 2010, 1(5): 763-784.

[13] Huang Q, Yao L, Liu T, Yang J. Simulation of the light evolution in an annular photobioreactor for the cultivation of Porphyridium cruentum. Chem Eng Sci, 2012, 84: 718-726.

[14] Lee C, Palsson B. High-density algal photobioreactors using light-emitting diodes. Biotechnol Bioeng, 1994, 44: 1161-1167.

[15] Ogbonna JC, Tanaka H. Light requirement and photosynthetic cell cultivation—development of processes for efficient light utilization in photobioreactors. J Appl Phycol, 2000, 12: 207-218.

[16] Ogbonna JC, Yada H, Masui H, Tanaka H. A novel internally illuminated stirred tank photobioreactor large-scale cultivation of photosynthetic cells. J Ferment Bioeng, 1996, 82: 61-67.

[17] Olivieri G, Salatino P, Marzocchella A. Advances in photobioreactors for intensive microalgal production: configurations, operating strategies and applications. J Chem Technol Biotechnol, 2014, 89: 178-195.

[18] Pegallapati AK, Nirmalakhandan N. Internally illuminated photobioreactor for algal cultivation under carbon dioxide-supplementation: performance evaluation. Renew Energy, 2013, 56: 129-135.

[19] Pegallapati AK, Arudchelvam Y, Nirmalakhandan N. Energy-efficient photobioreactor configuration for algal biomass production. Bioresour Technol, 2012, 126: 266-273.

[20] Posten C. Review: design principles of photo-bioreactors for cultivation of microalgae. Eng Life Sci, 2009, 3: 165-177.

[21] Quinn JC, Yates T, Douglas N, Weyer K, Butler J, Bradley TH, Lammers PJ. Nannochloropsis production metrics in a scalable outdoor photobioreactor for commercial applications. Bioresour Technol, 2012, 117: 164-171.

[22] Ra C-H, Kang C-H, Jung J-H, Jeong G-T, Kim S-K. Effect of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) on the accumulation of lipid content using two-phase culture process with three microalgae. Bioresour Technol, 2016, 212: 254-261.

[23] Rawat I, Ranjith Kumar R, Mutanda T, Bux F. Biodiesel from microalgae: a critical evaluation from laboratory to large scale production. Appl Energy, 2013, 103: 444-467.

[24] Richmond A. Handbook of microalgal culture: biotechnology and applied phycology, 2004, Hoboken: Blackwell Science Ltd, Blackwell Publishing, 20-39.

[25] Rocha JMS, Garcia JEC, Henriques MHF. Growth aspects of the marine microalga Nannochloropsis gaditana. Biomol Eng, 2003, 20(4–6): 237-242.

[26] Silva Benavides AM, Torzillo G, Kopecký J, Masojídek J. Productivity and biochemical composition of Phaeodactylum tricornutum (Bacillariophyceae) cultures grown outdoors in tubular photobioreactors and open ponds. Biomass Bioenergy, 2013, 54: 115-122.

[27] Suh IS, Lee SB. Cultivation of a cyanobacterium in an internally radiating air-lift photobioreactor. J Appl Phycol, 2001, 13: 381-388.

[28] Teo CL, Atta M, Bukhari A, Taisir M, Yusuf AM, Idris A. Enhancing growth and lipid production of marine microalgae for biodiesel production via the use of different LED wavelengths. Bioresour Technol, 2014, 162: 38-44.

[29] Teo CL, Idris A, Zain NAM, Taisir M. Synergistic effect of optimizing light-emitting diode illumination quality and intensity to manipulate composition of fatty acid methyl esters from Nannochloropsis sp. Bioresour Technol, 2014, 173: 284-290.

[30] Wahidin S, Idris A, Muhamad Shaleh ST. The influence of light intensity and photoperiod on the growth and lipid content of microalgae Nannochloropsis sp. Bioresour Technol, 2013, 129: 7-11.

[31] Xue S, Zhang Q, Wu X, Yan C, Cong W. A novel photobioreactor structure using optical fibers as inner light source to fulfill flashing light effects of microalgae. Bioresour Technol, 2013, 138: 141-147.

[32] Yan C, Munoz R, Zhu L, Wang Y. The effects of various LED (light emitting diode) lighting strategies on simultaneous biogas upgrading and biogas slurry nutrient reduction by using of microalgae Chlorella sp. Energy, 2016, 106: 554-561.

[33] Zijffers JWF, Schippers KJ, Zheng K, Janssen M, Tramper J, Wijffels RH. Maximum photosynthetic yield of green microalgae in photobioreactors. Mar Biotechnol, 2010, 12: 708-718.

[34] Zittelli GC, Pastorelli R, Tredici MR. A modular flat panel photobioreactor (MFPP) for indoor mass cultivation of Nannochloropsis sp. under artificial illumination. J Appl Phycol, 2000, 12: 521-526.

[35] Zittelli GC, Rodolfi L, Tredici MR. Mass cultivation of Nannochloropsis sp. in annular reactors. J Appl Phycol, 2003, 15: 107-114.