Growth of microalgae with increased calorific values in a tubular bioreactor

Illman, A. M.; Carden, A.; Shales, S. W.; Scragg, A. H.

Abstract

In order to use microalgae as a fuel the algae should be of high calorific value and must be capable of growth in large volumes. Chlorella vulgaris and C. emersonii have been shown to grow in a 230 1 pumped tubular photobioreactor in Watanabe's medium and a low nitrogen medium. The low nitrogen medium induces higher lipid accumulation in both algae, which increased their calorific value. The highest calorific value was obtained with C. vulgaris (28 kJ g-1) grown in low nitrogen medium. However, the biomass productivity was 24 mg dry wt l-1 d-1 in the low nitrogen medium which was lower than in Watanabe's medium (40 mg dry wt l-1 d-1) and represents a reduced energy recovery. © 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Citation

Shales, S. W., Carden, A., Illman, A. M., & Scragg, A. H. (2002). Growth of microalgae with increased calorific values in a tubular bioreactor. Biomass and Bioenergy, 23(1), 67-73. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0961-9534%2802%2900028-4

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Jul 10, 2002
• Journal: Biomass and Bioenergy
• Print ISSN: 0961-9534
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Not Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 23
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 67-73
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0961-9534%2802%2900028-4
• Keywords: biofuel chlorella vulgaris, chlorella emersonii, low nitrogen medium, pumped tubular photobioreactor
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/1079489
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0961-9534(02)00028-4
• Additional Information: Additional Information : Lead author. Initial part of a study on the use of microalgae as a renewable energy source. Microalgae can be either used directly as a fuel or to produce oil for biodiesel. In both cases the microalgae should have a high calorific value and be grown in large volumes.