Photosynthetic Efficiency of Microalgae

for Biomass Production

Special topics on Bioenergy

Presenter: Rochelle S. Lee

Course Advisor: Dr. Han Thi Hiep
Yeungnam University
Physics Department
6/9/208

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CONTENT

• Why Algae?

• Problems facing the production of Algae?

• Ways of increasing the production of algae for biomass production.

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WHY ALGAE?

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Production Of Algae
BENEFITS DRAWBACKS
 10x as much oil per acre than traditional biofuel crops.  Only a small fraction of light is used for the conversion of
biomass
 Survival in harsh conditions.
 Cultivation strategies
 not used as a food source
 Harvesting technologies
 Fast rate of production
 Low energy efficiency
 50% of the plants weight is oil
 Sustainable lipid conversion
 Little/no sulfur content

 High surface to volume ratio

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What affects Algae growth
Light conditions- intensity, wavelength

Temperature

Algae Strain

Supply of carbon dioxide

Required nutrients

Water flowrate.

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Maximizing the absorbance of light in
microalgae

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Choosing a light for Algae:
 Pigments of algae strain

 Light that emits radiation in the range that

can be absorbed by the algae

Lights for Algae:

 Sunlight

 LED

 Fluorescent

 Incandescent

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• The average photosynthetic efficiency is between 2% -5%

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Using a combination of light sources
Filter PAR power Additional Power Total PAR
transmitted to generated by LED power (Wm-2)
algae(Wm-2) (Wm-2)
None 431.03 0 431.03
Bright Red 71.8 72.68 144.48

Medium blue 47.08 90.92 138

Bright Pink 147.97 29.36 177

Black (absorbs 0 143.92 143.92
all light)

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Over Absorption of light

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Tuning microalgae size

One possible means to couple energy capture and photosynthetic electron

transfer more efficiently is to reduce the optical cross-section of the light
harvesting antennae.

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Flashing lights
Flashing light

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Rapid Mixing

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Summary
• Algae is a proven alternative for the effective production of biomass, it
is cheap and it doesn’t reduces the production of foodstock
• However, the true potential of its cultivation in masses is not clearly
seen because of the low PAR efficiency.
• We can however, manipulate the strain, light wavelengths and mixing
of nutrients in algae cultivation to increase the efficiency of the use of
natural or artificial light sources.
• And thus maximize the efficiency.

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References
• S. Abu-Ghosh, D. Fixler, Z. Dubinsky, D. Iluz, Bioresource Technology 203 (2016) 357.

• S. Abu-Ghosh, D. Fixler, Z. Dubinsky, A. Solovchenko, M. Zigman, Y. Yehoshua, D. Iluz,

European Journal of Phycology 50 (2015) 469.

• P.C. Hallenbeck, M. Grogger, M. Mraz, D. Veverka, Applied Energy 179 (2016) 136.

• Z. Perrine, S. Negi, R.T. Sayre, Algal Research 1 (2012) 134.

• X.-G. Zhu, S.P. Long, D.R. Ort, Current Opinion in Biotechnology 19 (2008) 153.

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 THANK YOU
QUESTIONS??
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