Handbook of Algal Technologies and Phytochemicals

Volume II Phycoremediation, Biofuels and Global Biomass Production

Gokare Ravishankar, Ranga Rao Ambati, Gokare A. Ravishankar, Ranga Rao Ambati, Gokare A. Ravishankar, Ranga Rao Ambati

• Publisher: CRC Press
• Year: 2019
• Print ISBN: 9780367178192
• eBook ISBN: 9780429603655
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Biological Sciences
• Subtopic: Biotechnology in Medicine
• Index: Biological Sciences

Key Features

• The most comprehensive resource available on the biodiversity of algal species, their industrial production processes and their use for human consumption in food, health and varied applications.
• Emphasis on basic and applied research, addressing aspects of scale-up for commercial exploitation for the development of novel phytochemicals (phytochemicals from algae).
• Addresses the underexplored and underutilized potential of chemicals from marine sources for health benefits.
• Each chapter, written by expert contributors from around the world, includes a Dictionary of Terms, Key Facts, Summary Points, Figures and Tables, as well as up-to-date references.

The second book in this two-volume set explores phycoremedation applications, and the sustainable use of algae for biofuels and other products of economic value. It also looks at aspects such as macro- and micro algal impact on marine ecosystem and remote sensing of algal blooms. The commercial value of chemicals of value to food and health is about $6 billion annually, of which 30 percent relates to micro and macro algal metabolites and products for health food applications. As a whole, the two volumes explore the aspects of diversity of micro and macro algal forms, their traditional uses; their constituents which are of value for food, feed, specialty chemicals, bioactive compounds for novel applications, and bioenergy molecules. Bio-business and the market share of algae-based products are also dealt with, providing global perspectives.

Section IV

Mass Production of Microalgae

15	Open Cultivation Systems and Closed Photobioreactors for Microalgal Cultivation and Biomass Production

C.K. Madhubalaji, Ajam Shekh, P.V. Sijil, Sandeep Mudliar, Vikas Singh Chauhan, R. Sarada, Ambati Ranga Rao, and Gokare A. Ravishankar

CONTENTS

Abbreviations

Introduction to Microalgae Cultivation System

Open Cultivation Systems

Circular Ponds

Raceway Pond

Closed Photobioreactors

Vertical Tubular Photobioreactor

Bubble Column Photobioreactor

Airlift Photobioreactor

Horizontal Tubular Photobioreactor

Flat Panel Photobioreactor

Helical Type Photobioreactor

Stirred Tank Photobioreactor

Soft-Frame Photobioreactor

Hybrid Type Photobioreactor

Comparative Account of the Performance of Various Bioreactors

Future Prospects

Acknowledgments

References

Box 15.1 Salient Features

Microalgae are considered valuable photosynthetic microorganisms for various applications, from CO₂ utilization, to production of nutraceuticals, to wastewater treatment. Irrespective of the final application of microalgae, the process of cultivation remains the same. However, the production capabilities vary depending on the choice of cultivation system. Various kinds of open and closed photobioreactors are used for high microalgal biomass production. However, the design of a suitable photobioreactor depends on light availability and/or distribution, CO₂ supply-mass transfer, environmental/cultivation conditions including temperature and solar radiation, and mixing. To provide the necessities of microalgae cells, various photobioreactors have been proposed. We have reviewed these open cultivation systems and closed photobioreactors in this chapter.

Abbreviations

M	Meters
W	Watt

Introduction to Microalgae Cultivation System

Microalgae is an indispensable resource for various metabolites (Astaxanthin, β-carotene, omega-3, omega-6 fatty acids, proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals) production with multiple benefits of its application in food, feedstock, medical, cosmetic, biofuel, and chemical industries (Fernandes et al. 2015; Ranga Rao et al. 2018a,b, 2014). This led to an increasing demand for the microalgal biomass. Growing microalgae in natural environments (pond, lake) cannot produce the quality of the biomass for intended uses. Various types of cultivation systems with different configurations are used for microalgal cultivation, such as simple open circular ponds, open raceway ponds, and complex enclosed systems referred to as closed photobioreactors. The open cultivation in contained reactor is widely used especially for growing extremophilic organisms such as Spirulina and Dunaliella free from contamination. Also this system is cheaper to construct and provides excellent utilization of solar light source especially in the equatorial regions of the globe. However there is constant innovation in design geometry of the open cultivation systems to maximize the solar energy distribution on the culture surface (Fernández et al. 2001; Sierra et al. 2008) to provide adequate light (Terry 1986; Grobbelaar 1994), fluid dynamics, and mass transfer to achieve high biomass productivities (Rubio et al. 1999; Posten 2009).

Closed bioreactors of various designs are being developed and adapted for controlled cultivation of the biomass with higher precision in providing the adequate quantity and quality of light...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Half-Title
• Title
• Copyright
• Dedication
• Contents
• Preface
• Acknowledgments
• Editors
• Contributors
• SECTION I Phycoremediation Applications
• SECTION II Algal Biofuels
• SECTION III Other Products of Economic Value
• SECTION IV Mass Production of Microalgae
• SECTION V Production of Algal Biomass and Products Worldwide
• Index