Título: Optimization of the cultivation parameters of the macroalga Ulva compressa in raceway photobioreactors
Resumen: Macroalgae have become increasingly popular over the years due to their production of valuable compounds, protein-rich composition, and their use as biofilters. Ulva is a cosmopolitan alga found along almost all coastlines worldwide and can tolerate eutrophic environments, daily changes in salinity, as well as high temperatures and irradiance. Therefore, it is also used effectively as a biofilter. Raceway photobioreactors have been used for years in microalgae production. In this study, various parameters critical to the production of the macroalga Ulva compressa, including harvest rate, culture depth, and paddle wheel speed in a 7m² raceway, were optimized. The results obtained are shown in Table 1.
Table 1. Incidence of reactor parameters on algae concentration, productivity and Fv/Fm
Harvesting Rate Paddle wheel speed Culture depth (cm)
0.1 d-1 0.2 d-1 0.3 d-1 10 Hz 20 Hz 30 Hz 10 15 20
Cb (g L-1) 1.588 0.703 0.569 0.626 0.703 0.928 0.512 0.928 0.376
Pb (g L-1 day-1) 0.117 0.160 0.120 0.121 0.160 0.208 0.159 0.208 0.114
Pb (g m2 day-1) 16.431 22.857 16.723 17.279 22.857 29.757 18.121 29.757 26.127
Fv/Fm 0.653 0.654 0.622 0.630 0.654 0.620 0.717 0.720 0.711
As shown in Table 1, the parameters of harvesting rate, paddlewheel speed, and culture depth significantly affect the productivity of this macroalga, with the highest values achieved at a harvesting rate of 0.2 d⁻¹ (20%), a paddlewheel frequency of 30 Hz, and a water depth of 15 cm. Comparing these results to microalgae culture in a raceway reactor at the same location (Almería), R. Nordio3 reported a maximum productivity of 22 g m⁻² day⁻¹. This study shows an increase of -% in productivity when optimal parameters are applied.
Keywords: Cultivation parameters, Macroalgae, Raceway, Ulva.
Congreso: XIII Simposio de Investigación en Ciencias Experimentales
