Performance evaluation of an externally-illuminated vertical- column photobioreactor for the cultivation of chlorella vulgaris

Date

4-2010

Degree

Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering

College

College of Engineering and Agro-Industrial Technology (CEAT)

Adviser/Committee Chair

Rex B. Demafelis

Abstract

Performance evaluation of an externally-illuminated vertical column photobioreactor designed by Redondo (2009) using Chlorella vulgaris was undertaken. The photobioreactor performance was improved by installing more efficient sampling mechanism and manipulating the sparger system. Mixture of air with 2.5% carbon dioxide was also infused into the reactor. Calibration of the optical density of the microalgal culture at 425nm and cell weight relationship was done. A linear relationship between optical density of the microalgal culture at 425nm and cell dry weight was achieved with an equation of y=0.445x where is the biomass concentration (g/L) and x is the optical density at 425nm. The first and second runs of the experiment aimed to determine the growth curve and growth rate of the C. vulgaris at 425nm. The growth rate and doubling time obtained in the first run are 0.699 day⁻¹ and 1.613 days respectively. However, shortage of CO₂ occurred which resulted in the termination of the first run although the stationary phase was not yet achieved. On the second run, the stationary phase was achieved after 10 days with a growth rate of 0.2537 day⁻¹ and a doubling time of 3.94 days. The data obtained in the second run (growth rate) were used as basis in operating the photobioreactor continuously. The feed rate computed was 3.855L/day. The optical density inside the reactor and in the harvest was monitored.

Language

English

Location

UPLB College of Engineering and Agro-Industrial Technology (CEAT)

Call Number

LG 993.5 2010 E62 J36

Document Type

Thesis

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