Performance evaluation of an internally illuminated vertical column photobioreactor for the cultivation of Chlorella vulgaris

Jose R. Comia

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

Co-adviser

Milagrosa M. Goss

Committee Member

June Owen O. Nacorda

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Abstract

A performance evaluation was done to an internally illuminated vertical column photobioreactor with a working volume of 13.737 L. Chlorella vulgaris was cultivated in the reactor using an alternative media and with the infusion of carbon dioxide. The growth rate and growth curves were determined. Also, the relationship between cell density and biomass concentration at 425 nm was established. A linear relationship was determined between optical density at 425 nm and biomass concentration with an equation of y=1.017x (where x is the optical density at 425 nm and y is the biomass concentration in g/L). It was performed to determine the biomass concentration of Chlorella vulgaris in the photobioreactor that was used to generate the growth curves. For the first run, the average growth rates obtained were 0.299868995 day-1 and 0.29422949 day-1 for 425 nm and 625 nm, respectively. For the second trial the average growth rates for 425 nm and 625 nm were 0.19390354 day-1 and 0.20114409 day-1 . After reaching the stationary phase of the second run, media was continuously fed and culture was constantly harvested. From a biomass balance around the reactor, flow rates for both input and output were based from the growth rate and the volume of the reactor.

Language

English

Location

UPLB College of Engineering and Agro-Industrial Technology

Document Type

Thesis

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