Biofixation of carbon dioxide by Chlorococcum sp. in a photobioreactor with polytetrafluoroethene membrane sparger

Abstract

The greenhouse effect, caused by excessive carbon dioxide emissions, constitutes a major aspect of global warming. Biological fixation of carbon dioxide using microalgae is an effective carbon dioxide reduction technology, but its widespread implementation is limited by the poor mass transfer efficiency. In this study, Chlorococcum sp. was cultured in a photobioreactor with a polytetrafluoroethene membrane sparger (PTFE) to study CO₂ biofixation and microalgae growth. Daily variations of dissolved oxygen (DO), pH and dissolved CO₂ were analyzed during batch culture of Chlorococcum sp. in the photobioreactor. The culture of Chlorococcum sp. under different operating conditions, such as pH, light cycle (light:dark) and nitrate feeding, were carried out to optimize the CO₂ biofixation rate and the algal productivity. The results confirmed that the photobioreactor with a membrane sparger is an alternative option for CO₂ removal from flue gas by cultivation of microalgae.

Keywords: Bioreactor, polytetrafluoroethene membrane sparger (PTFE) membrane sparger, Chlorococcum sp., greenhouse gas

African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 11(29), pp. 7445-7453, 10 April, 2012