(582dl) Effect of Different Ratio of Air-CO2 Mixing Feed On the Growth of Nannochloropsis Oculata in Batch Photobioreactors

Microalgae have recently received growing attention given its prospects as a source of renewable energy and its potential for CO₂ capture. Microalgae culture is of increasing value given that: i) algae can be cultivated on non-agricultural land using wastewater, ii) algae can provide a high yield on a per unit of light irradiated area, iii) algae growth requires CO₂ and nutrients that can be obtained from wastewater and fossil fuel combustion and iv) algae contains high oil and starch making possible the production of high quality biodiesel. Thus, algae culture can contribute to CO₂ fixation, wastewater treatment and can be a source of bio-energy. As in the Middle East countries especially in Saudi Arabia region huge amount of CO₂ emitted from industrial and automobile sources (power plant, desalination, cement). Due to the scarcity of sweet water, reuse of wastewater also a necessary with minimum energy and costs.  With targeting the CO₂ mitigation and wastewater treatment Nannochloropsis  Oculata were cultured in batch photo-bioreactors. The six different CO₂ concentrations of 2%, 4%, 6%, 8%, 10% and 12% in Air are used to study the effect of growth kinetics, cell density and dry biomass production rate. Results of the finding used for optimize operating parameters for culture developing of Nannochloropsis  Oculata with maximum CO₂utilization.

Acknowledgement: The author would like to acknowledge the support provided by King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) through the Science & Technology Unit at King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals (KFUPM) for funding this work through project No. NSTIP # 11- ENV1644-04, as part of the National Science, Technology and Innovation Plan.