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Bioprocess strategies for enhancing the outdoor production of Nannochloropsis gaditana: an evaluation of the effects of pH on culture performance in tubular photobioreactors

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Abstract

A priority of the industrial applications of microalgae is the reduction of production costs while maximizing algae biomass productivity. The purpose of this study was to carry out a comprehensive evaluation of the effects of pH control on the production of Nannochloropsis gaditana in tubular photobioreactors under external conditions while considering the environmental, biological, and operational parameters of the process. Experiments were carried out in 3.0 m3 tubular photobioreactors under outdoor conditions. The pH values evaluated were 6.0, 7.0, 8.0, 9.0, and 10.0, which were controlled by injecting pure CO2 on-demand. The results have shown that the ideal pH for microalgal growth was 8.0, with higher values of biomass productivity (Pb) (0.16 g L−1 d−1), and CO2 use efficiency (\(E_{\text{CO}_{2}}\)) (74.6% w w−1); \(R_{\text{CO}_{2}}\)/biomass value obtained at this pH (2.42 \(\text{g}_{\text{CO}_{2}}\) gbiomass−1) was close to the theoretical value, indicating an adequate CO2 supply. At this pH, the system was more stable and required a lower number of CO2 injections than the other treatments. At pH 6.0, there was a decrease in the Pb and \(E_{\text{CO}_{2}}\); cultures at pH 10.0 exhibited a lower Pb and photosynthetic efficiency as well. These results imply that controlling the pH at an optimum value allows higher CO2 conversions in biomass to be achieved and contributes to the reduction in costs of the microalgae production process.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank CAPES (Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel) for their support with the Sandwich Doctorate Scholarship Abroad (PDSE) under the process Number: 88881.131625/2016-01, the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Program under Grant Agreement No. 727874 SABANA. Besides, G.M. Rosa would like to thank the postdoctoral fellowship from CNPq (process number 15297/2018-1).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering, College of Chemistry and Food Engineering, Federal University of Rio Grande, Rio Grande-RS, 96203-900, Brazil

    L. Moraes, G. M. Rosa & J. A. V. Costa

  2. Laboratory of Biotechnology, College of Chemistry and Food Engineering, Federal University of Rio Grande, Rio Grande-RS, 96203-900, Brazil

    L. O. Santos

  3. Laboratory of Microbiology and Biochemistry, College of Chemistry and Food Engineering, Federal University of Rio Grande, Rio Grande-RS, 96203-900, Brazil

    M. G. Morais

  4. Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Almería, 04120, Almería, Spain

    I. M. Cara, E. Molina Grima & F. G. Acién Fernández

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Moraes, L., Rosa, G.M., Cara, I.M. et al. Bioprocess strategies for enhancing the outdoor production of Nannochloropsis gaditana: an evaluation of the effects of pH on culture performance in tubular photobioreactors. Bioprocess Biosyst Eng 43, 1823–1832 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00449-020-02373-x

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