Cultivation of Autochthonous Microalgae for Biomass Feedstock: Growth Curves and Biomass Characterization for Their Use in Biorefinery Products

Juan Félix González, Teresa Belén Cuello, Antonio José Calderón, Manuel Calderón, Jerónimo González and Diego Carmona
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Juan Félix González: Department of Applied Physics, School of Industrial Engineering, University of Extremadura, 06006 Badajoz, Spain
Teresa Belén Cuello: Department of Applied Physics, School of Industrial Engineering, University of Extremadura, 06006 Badajoz, Spain
Antonio José Calderón: Department of Electric, Electronic and Automatic Engineering, University of Extremadura, Avda. Elvas, s/n, 06006 Badajoz, Spain
Manuel Calderón: Department of Electric, Electronic and Automatic Engineering, University of Extremadura, Avda. Elvas, s/n, 06006 Badajoz, Spain
Jerónimo González: Extensive Crops Department, Biofuels, CICYTEX, Counseling Employment, Enterprise and Innovation, Extremadura Government, Finca La Orden, Guadajira, 06187 Badajoz, Spain
Diego Carmona: Department of Electric, Electronic and Automatic Engineering, University of Extremadura, Avda. Elvas, s/n, 06006 Badajoz, Spain

Energies, 2021, vol. 14, issue 15, 1-21

Abstract: In this work, the biomass productivity for biorefinery products and growth curves of three autochthonous microalgae collected in different reservoirs (“ Scenedesmus sp.” (SSP), mixture of Scenedesmus sp., Chlorella minutissima, Chlorellas sp. and Nannochloropsis sp. named “ La Orden ” (LO) consortium and Chlorella minutissima named “ Charca Brovales ” (CB) consortium) were studied in a 5.5 L column laboratory photobioreactor. Two different culture media, Arnon culture (AM) and an agriculture fertilizer-based liquid medium (FM), have been used to evaluate the growth effect of the microalgae; it was found that the medium has a clear effect on the biomass productivity and growth rate, which ranged between 0.26–0.498 g L −1 d −1 and 0.288–0.864 d −1 , respectively. In general, the elemental analysis and higher heating value of microalgae biomass for the three species were independent of the culture medium used for its growth, while their lipids and sugars content depended upon the species type and culture medium used in the cultivation. “ La Orden” microalga was selected (given its best adaption to the climatic conditions) to study the biomass productivity and growth rate in two exterior photobioreactors (100 L column and 400 L flat panel), using FM as a medium, obtaining values of 0.116–0.266 g L −1 d −1 and 0.360–0.312 d −1 , respectively. An automation and control system was designed to operate the exterior photobioreactors pilot plant. The lipid content of this microalga in these photobioreactors was lower than in the laboratory one, with a fatty acids profile with predominantly palmitic, oleic, linoleic and linolenic acids. Also, the fresh biomass collected from these photobioreactors was studied in a batch type digestion process for biogas production, obtaining a CH 4 yield of 296 ± 23 L CH 4 kg VSS −1 added with a reduction in percentage of COD and vs. of 50 ± 1% and 50 ± 1.7%, respectively.

Keywords: autochthonous microalgae; culture medium; biorefinery; biomass production; biofuels (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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