Physiological studies on micro-algae cultured in a multi-pass flat plate air lift photobioreactor

Ratchford, Iain A. J (1994) Physiological studies on micro-algae cultured in a multi-pass flat plate air lift photobioreactor. PhD thesis, University of Glasgow.

Abstract

A flat plate air lift photobioreactor (FPALR) has been designed, constructed and patented which facilitates the growth and photosynthetic studies of micro-algae and cyanobacteria in a very accurately defined light field of known photon flux density and spectral radiant flux. Whilst being culture in the photobioreactor biomass concentrations of micro-algae were 2-5 times higher than those obtained using chemostats. Concentrations of between 6 and 8% carbon dioxide v/v were found to be toxic to cells of Chlorella vulgaris 211/11c and Scenedesmus sp. when cultured in the CSTR compared to the FPALR. The FPALR was found to significantly affect the cellular dynamics of Chlorella vulgaris 211/11c when cultured at different Reynolds numbers. At a Reynolds number of 6000 cells of Chlorella vulgaris 211/11c had approximately half the volume size of similar cells grown at a Reynolds number of 2500. The photosynthetic kinetics of unicellular green micro-algae were generally unaffected by the presence of HCO, however, Synechococcus 1479/5 was found to have a higher light saturated rate of photosynthesis in the presence of FICO. Species of micro-algae and cyanobacteria were found to exhibit different photosynthetic kinetics when incubated in the presence of phosphate buffer compared to ASM. The presence of nitrate in the incubating medium of irradiated cells of both micro-algae and cyanobacteria was found to have a significant affect on preventing the onset of photoinhibition. Centrifugation prior to P/I measurement was found to increase the respiration rates of all micro-algae and cyanobacteria, the levels of which, however, were species dependent. Increases in photon flux density were found to increase the respiration rates of both micro-algae and cyanobacteria during photosynthesis / irradiance -response measurements. Increases in P/I incubation temperature on cells of micro-algae and cyanobacteria cultured at low growth temperatures of 15

• Item Type: Thesis (PhD)
• Qualification Level: Doctoral
• Keywords: Biomedical engineering.
• Colleges/Schools: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences
• Supervisor's Name: Supervisor, not known
• Date of Award: 1994
• Depositing User: Enlighten Team
• Unique ID: glathesis:1994-72857
• Copyright: Copyright of this thesis is held by the author.
• Date Deposited: 11 Jun 2019 11:06
• Last Modified: 04 Aug 2021 13:35
• URI: https://theses.gla.ac.uk/id/eprint/72857