Photosynthesis Monitoring in Microalgae Cultures Grown on Municipal Wastewater as a Nutrient Source in Large-Scale Outdoor Bioreactors
Zouhayr Arbib
Francisco Gabriel Acién Fernández
Bernardo Cicchi
Marta Barceló-Villalobos
João Artur Câmara Manoel
Cintia Gómez-Serrano
Victor A. Robles Carnero
Ángel Encinas Bogeat
Ana Sanches Zurano
Karolína Ranglová
Juan Luis Gómez Pinchetti
Vince Ördög
Ana Margarita Silva Benavides
Giuseppe Torzillo
Jiří Masojídek
L. Vörös
Frank Rogalla
Félix Lopez Figueroa
Publication Name: Biology
Publication Date: 2022-10-01
Volume: 11
Issue: 10
Page Range: Unknown
Description:
Microalgae cultures were used for a WW treatment to remediate nutrients while producing biomass and recycling water. In these trials, raceway ponds (RWPs; 1 and 0.5 ha) were located next to a municipal (WW) treatment plant in Mérida, Spain. The ponds were used for continuous, all-year-round microalgae production using WW as a source of nutrients. Neither CO2 nor air was supplied to cultures. The objective was to validate photosynthesis monitoring techniques in large-scale bioreactors. Various in-situ/ex-situ methods based on chlorophyll fluorescence and oxygen evolution measurements were used to follow culture performance. Photosynthesis variables gathered with these techniques were compared to the physiological behavior and growth of cultures. Good photosynthetic activity was indicated by the build-up of dissolved oxygen concentration up to 380% saturation, high photochemical yield (Fv/Fm = 0.62–0.71), and relative electron transport rate rETR between 200 and 450 μmol e− m−2 s−1 at midday, which resulted in biomass productivity of about 15–25 g DW m−2 day−1. The variables represent reliable markers reflecting the physiological status of microalgae cultures. Using waste nutrients, the biomass production cost can be significantly decreased for abundant biomass production in large-scale bioreactors, which can be exploited for agricultural purposes.
Open Access: Yes
Authors - 18
Zouhayr Arbib
45760929000
Francisco Gabriel Acién Fernández
55385950700
Bernardo Cicchi
56815150400
Marta Barceló-Villalobos
57194202479
João Artur Câmara Manoel
57195978596
Cintia Gómez-Serrano
57206473345
Victor A. Robles Carnero
57803261100
Ángel Encinas Bogeat
57937978500
Ana Sanches Zurano
57937978600
Karolína Ranglová
58116848500
Juan Luis Gómez Pinchetti
6506810496
Vince Ördög
6507324529
Ana Margarita Silva Benavides
6508019316
Giuseppe Torzillo
6701414060
Jiří Masojídek
6701575788
L. Vörös
6701867715
Frank Rogalla
7004428826
Félix Lopez Figueroa
7102739746