Cultivation of Botryococcus braunii Showa in Annular Columns and Green Wall Panel reactors up to 1400 L
Year: 2019
Type: conference-paper
Abstract: Botryococcus braunii is a colonial green alga that is classified in different races (A, B, L) on the basis of the main \nhydrocarbon produced. This alga is attracting much interest mainly because of its ability to produce and release \nhydrocarbons of great value for biofuels, although it can also produce other biotechnologically relevant \nmolecules, like other lipids and exopolysaccharides. The main problem with commercial exploitation of this alga \nis its low productivity. \nIn this work B. braunii Showa (B race) was cultivated both indoors and outdoors. Indoors, cultivation was \nperformed in 60-L annular columns, reaching maximum biomass productivities of about 110 mg L -1 day -1 . The \nculture produced in the columns was used to inoculate 40-L GWP®-III reactors, which were operated outdoors. \nIn this system biomass productivities attained values up to 210 mg L -1 day -1 . The cultures obtained here were \nused to inoculate a 1400-L GWP ® -II reactor. Maximum biomass productivities in this large pilot outdoors were \nabout 140 mg L -1 day -1 . Hydrocarbon production and yields will be illustrated. \nThe 40-L GWP ® reactor was also used to produce inoculum for two 1-m 2 raceway ponds, one of which was \nmaintained under nutrient replete conditions and the other under nitrogen starvation. Biomass productivities \nwere slightly higher under nutrient replete conditions, with maximum values of 160 compared to 140 mg L -1 day - \n1 under N starvation. Effects on hydrocarbon production of nitrogen starvation will be presented. \nThe main issues during cultivation were sensitivity to high light, to low temperature and to contamination.
Institution: University of Florence
Language: English
Field: Energy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
Award: G7598993284
OpenAlex ID: W7055597156