Abstract
Flue gas generated by combustion of natural gas in a boiler was used for outdoor cultivation of Chlorella sp. in a 55 m2 culture area photobioreactor. A 6 mm thick layer of algal suspension continuously running down the inclined lanes of the bioreactor at 50 cm s−1 was exposed to sunlight. Flue gas containing 6–8% by volume of CO2 substituted for more costly pure CO2 as a source of carbon for autotrophic growth of algae. The degree of CO2 mitigation (flue gas decarbonization) in the algal suspension was 10–50% and decreased with increasing flue gas injection rate into the culture. A dissolved CO2 partial pressure (pCO2) higher than 0.1 kPa was maintained in the suspension at the end of the 50 m long culture area in order to prevent limitation of algal growth by CO2. NO X and CO gases (up to 45 mg m−3 NO X and 3 mg m−3 CO in flue gas) had no negative influence on the growth of the alga. On summer days the following daily net productivities of algae [g (dry weight) m−2] were attained in comparative parallel cultures: flue gas = 19.4–22.8; pure CO2 = 19.1–22.6. Net utilization (η) of the photosynthetically active radiant (PAR) energy was: flue gas = 5.58–6.94%; pure CO2 = 5.49–6.88%. The mass balance of CO2 obtained for the flue gas stream and for the algal suspension was included in a mathematical model, which permitted the calculation of optimum flue gas injection rate into the photobioreactor, dependent on the time course of irradiance and culture temperature. It was estimated that about 50% of flue gas decarbonization can be attained in the photobioreactor and 4.4 kg of CO2 is needed for production of 1 kg (dry weight) algal biomass. A scheme of a combined process of farm unit size is proposed; this includes anaerobic digestion of organic agricultural wastes, production and combustion of biogas, and utilization of flue gas for production of microalgal biomass, which could be used in animal feeds. A preliminary quantitative assessment of the microalgae production is presented.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Balloni W, Florenzano G, Materrassi R, Tredici M, Soeder CJ, Wagner K (1983) Mass cultures of algae for energy farming in coastal deserts. 2nd E.C. Conference on Energy from Biomass, pp. 291–295.
Buhr HO, Miller SS (1983) A dynamic model of the high rate algal–bacterial wastewater treatment pond. Water Res. 17: 29–37.
Doucha J, Lívanský K, Bínová J, Kubičko P, Novotný P (1993) Thin-layer high density microalgal culture system: Productivity and energy costs. In Book of Abstracts, 6th International Conference on Progress in Biotechnology of Photoautotrophic Microorganisms, 6–11 September 1993, České Budějovice, Czech Republic.
Doucha J, Lívanský K (1995) Novel outdoor thin-layer high density microalgal culture system: Productivity and operational parameters. Arch. Hydrobiol. Suppl. 106/Algological Studies 76: 129–147.
Doucha J, Lívanský K (1998, 1999) Process of outdoor thin-layer cultivation of microalgae and blue-green algae and bioreactor for performing the process. Greek Patent 1002924, 1998; USA Patent 5981271 A, 1999.
Doucha J, Lívanský K (2003) Productivity in outdoor open high density microalgal photobioreactor operated in Southern Greece. In Book of Abstracts, 5th European Workshop on Biotechnology of Microalgae, 23–24 June 2003, Bergholz-Rehbrücke, Germany.
Grobbelaar JU, Mohn FH, Soeder CJ (2000) Potential of algal mass cultures to fix CO2 emissions from industrial point sources. Arch. Hydrobiol. Suppl. 133/Algological Studies 98: 169–183.
Hauck JT, Olson GJ, Scierka SJ, Perry MB, Ataai MM (1996) Effects of simulated flue gas on growth of microalgae. Abstracts of Papers. American Chemical Society, 212 Meeting, Pt.1, Fuel 118. Orlando, FL, 25–29 August 1996.
Kajan M, Doucha J, Lívanský K, Henrych B, Roobová M (1991) Použití řasové biomasy ve výživě prasnic. (Employment of algae biomass in the breeding sow nutrition.) Živočiš. Výr., Praha 38: 877–884.
Kajan M, Tichý V, Simmer J (1994) Productivity of algae in different culture systems. Algol. Stud. 73: 111–117.
Kern DM (1960) The hydration of carbon dioxide. J. Chem. Educ. 37: 14–23.
Kotrbáček V, Filka J, Doucha J, Lívanský K (1996) Possible utilization of Chlorella in animal production. In Book of Abstracts, 7th International Conference on Opportunities from Micro-and Macroalgae, 16–19 April, Knysna, South Africa.
Kotrbáček V, Doucha J (2000) Effects of Chlorella supplementation in animal production. In Book of Abstracts, 4th European Workshop on Biotechnology of Microalgae, 29–30 May 2000, Bergholz-Rehbrücke, Germany.
Kubín Š, Borns E, Doucha J, Seiss V (1983) Light absorption and production rate of Chlorella vulgaris in light of different spectral composition. Biochem. Physiol. Pflanzen 178: 193–205.
Lívanský K, Doucha J (1998) Influence of solar irradiance, culture temperature and CO2 supply on daily course of O2 evolution by Chlorella mass cultures in outdoor open thin-layer culture units. Arch. Hydrobiol. Suppl. 124/Algological Studies 89: 137–149.
Lívansky K, Doucha J (1999) Liquid film mass transfer coefficients K L for O2 and CO2 desorption from open thin-layer microalgal cultures into atmosphere. Arch. Hydrobiol. Suppl. 127/Algological Studies 92: 109–132.
Lívanský K, Doucha J (2003) Evaluation of dissolved oxygen (DO) profiles in microalgal suspension on outdoor thin-layer cultivation surface. Arch. Hydrobiol. Suppl. 149/Algological Studies 110: 151–165.
Matsumoto H, Hamasaki A, Sioji N, Ikuta Y (1997) Influence of CO2, SO2 and NO in flue gas on microalgae productivity. J. Chem. Eng. Jpn. 30: 620–624.
Morita M, Watanabe Y, Okawa T, Saiki H (2001) Photosynthetic productivity of conical helical tubular photobioreactors incorporating Chlorella sp. under various culture medium flow conditions. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 74: 136–144.
Negoro M, Shioji N, Niyamoto K, Miura Y (1991) Growth of microalgae in high CO2 gas and effects of SO x , NO x . Appl. Biochem. Biotechnol. 28–29: 877–886.
Negoro M, Shioji N, Ikuta Y, Makita T, Uchiumi M (1992) Growth characteristics of microalgae in high-concentration CO2 gas, effects of culture medium trace components, and impurities thereon. Appl. Biochem. Biotechnol. 34–35: 681–692.
Negoro M, Hamasaki A, Ikuta Y, Makita T, Hirayama K, Suzuki S (1993) Carbon dioxide fixation by microalgae photosynthesis using actual flue gas discharged from a boiler. Appl. Biochem. Biotechnol. 39–40: 643–653.
Pedroni P, Davison J, Beckert H, Bergman P, Benemann J (2001) A proposal to establish an international network on biofixation of CO2 and greenhouse gas abatement with microalgae. Workshop held in January 2001 at the EniTechnologie Research Facility in Monterotondo, Italy.
Pushparaj B, Pelosi E, Tredici MR, Pinzani E, Materassi R (1997) An integrated culture system for outdoor production of microalgae and cyanobacteria. J. Appl. Phycol. 9: 113–119.
Simmer J (1979) Radiation energy, temperature and algal growth. In Lhotský O and Přibil S (eds) Algal Assays and Monitoring Eutrophication. E. Schweizerbart'sche Verlagsbuchhandlung (Naegele u. Obermiller), Stuttgart. pp. 41–45.
Straka F, Doucha J, Crha J, Lívanský K (2000) Flue-gas CO2 as a source of carbon in closed cycle with solar culture of microalgae. In Book of Abstracts, 4th European Workshop on Biotechnology of Microalgae, 29–30 May 2000, Bergholz-Rehbrücke, Germany.
Straka F, Kuncarova M, Musilova M, Doucha J, Livansky K (2002) Possibilities of the process of green microalgae cultivation in flue gas decarbonization. Proceedings of ISWA 2000 World Congress, Istanbul, 8–12 July 2002, vol. 5, pp. 2587– 2594.
Straka F, Doucha J, Lívanský K (2003) Integration of microalgae into combined biotechnologies for mitigation of carbon dioxide emissions. In Book of Abstracts, 5th European Workshop on Biotechnology of Microalgae, 23–24 June 2003, Bergholz-Rehbrücke, Germany.
Talbot P, Gortares MP, Lencki RW, Noue de la J (1991) Absorption of CO2 in algal mass culture systems: A different characterization approach. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 37: 834–842.
Tapie P, Bernard A (1988) Microalgae production: Technical and economic evaluations. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 32: 873– 885.
Torzillo G, Carlozzi P, Pushparaj B, Montaini E, Materassi R (1993) A two-plane tubular photobioreactor for outdoor culture of Spirulina. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 42: 891–898.
Traviesco L, Sanchez EP, Benitez F, Conde JL (1993) Arthrospira sp. intensive cultures for food and biogas purification. Biotechnol. Lett. 15: 1091–1094.
Weissman JC, Goebel RP, Benemann JR (1988) Photobioreactor design: Mixing, carbon utilization, and oxygen accumulation. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 31: 336–344.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Doucha, J., Straka, F. & Lívanský, K. Utilization of flue gas for cultivation of microalgae Chlorella sp.) in an outdoor open thin-layer photobioreactor. J Appl Phycol 17, 403–412 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10811-005-8701-7
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10811-005-8701-7