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ABSTRACT
This article discusses the methods for cultivating microalgae and cyanobacteria, whose industrial use is increasing in many applications. Growth through photosynthesis needs light. This article shows how this requirement impacts the design of production systems. Engineering rules for the design and optimization of such systems are given. This is illustrated by examples of technologies, showing how the diversity of applications and associated constraints leads to a varied range of technical solutions, from inefficient though inexpensive rustic systems, to intensified technologies enabling very high biomass productivity.
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Read the articleAUTHORS
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Jérémy PRUVOST: Professor at the University of Nantes GEPEA – UMR 6144 CNRS/Université de Nantes École des Mines de Nantes/ONIRIS, Saint-Nazaire, France
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Jean-François CORNET: Professor at SIGMA Clermont Institut Pascal – UMR CNRS 6602, Campus Universitaire des Cézeaux Bâtiment Polytech, Aubière, France
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François LE BORGNE: PhD Project Manager and Research Engineer, AlgoSource Technologies, Saint-Nazaire, France
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Jean JENCK: PhD, Innovation Director, AlgoSource Technologies, Saint-Nazaire, France
INTRODUCTION
Photosynthetic micro-organisms such as microalgae and cyanobacteria are gaining ground in many application sectors. Thanks to the specificity of photosynthetic metabolism compared with heterotrophic micro-organisms (bacteria, yeast), and to a high level of biodiversity, the potential applications are wide-ranging. Photosynthetic micro-organisms are used for (i) the solar production of bioenergies (lipids for use as biodiesel or biokerosene, sugars as a source of bioethanol or biomethane, hydrogen by water biophotolysis, etc.), (ii) the production of biofuels (bioethanol, bioethanol, etc.) and (iii) the production of biofuels (bioethanol, bioethanol, etc.).), (ii) the production of natural molecules of interest (pigments and polysaccharides for cosmetics and nutraceuticals, omega-3 proteins and lipids for food, synthons for green chemistry, etc.) or (iii) the depollution of gaseous effluents (CO 2 from smoke) or liquids (nitrates, phosphates, metals from wastewater) with the associated production of a plant biomass with multiple outlets.
Because of the particular needs of photosynthetic growth, however, the industrial production of microalgae and cyanobacteria requires dedicated technologies radically different from the bioreactors conventionally used in the fermentative industry. These photo-processes must enable photosynthetic growth based on the assimilation, thanks to captured light, of inorganic nutrients (CO 2 or hydrogen carbonates) and minerals (nitrates, phosphates, etc.). Depending on operating constraints and objectives, the cultivation process is to be selected from a wide panel of technological solutions ranging from extensive open systems (lagoon-type) to intensified, closed systems (photobioreactor-type) and using either solar energy or an artificial light source.
This technological diversity results in a wide range of performance levels, depending on the level of control and optimization applied. However, these technologies are governed by a set of specific rules that have now been tried and tested. These rules make it possible to propose rational approaches for engineering missions involving forecasting the performance of a given technology, designing intensified technologies with very high productivity levels, and optimizing the operation of given production units to maximize performance.
This article sets out to present the essential elements of this engineering approach, as well as the main concepts involved. In the first part, the general principles of microalgae and cyanobacteria cultivation will be discussed. The various factors affecting photosynthetic growth will be presented. In the second part, the fundamental principles...
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KEYWORDS
microalgae | photosynthesis | photobioreactors | cyanobacteria
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