Effects of Hypobaric and Hyperbaric Helium Atmospheres on the Growth of
            <i>Chlorella sorokiniana</i>

Orcutt, D. M.; Richardson, B.; Holden, R. D.

doi:10.1128/am.19.1.182-183.1970

Cited by 7 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 4 publications

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“…Some featured (non-cyanobacterium) microalgae of the genus Chlorella. They showed no negative impact of lowering the pressure to 565 hPa 15 , and even suggested a positive impact of decreasing it to 250 hPa 16 under constant pCO2. Other low-pressure experiments included cyanobacteria.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Effects of atmospheric pressure, and of the partial pressures of CO2 and N2, on the growth rates of Anabaena sp. PCC 7938: Assessment and implications for cyanobacterium cultivation on Mars

Verseux,

Ramalho,

Bohuon

et al. 2024

Preprint

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In situ resource utilization systems based on cyanobacteria could support the sustainability of crewed missions to Mars. However, their resource-efficiency will depend on the extent to which gases from the Martian atmosphere must be processed to support cyanobacterial growth. The main purpose of the present work is to help assess this extent. We therefore start with investigating the impact of changes in atmospheric conditions on the photoautotrophic, diazotrophic growth of the cyanobacterium Anabaena sp. PCC 7938. We show that lowering atmospheric pressure from 1 bar down to 80 hPa, without changing the partial pressures of metabolizable gases, does not reduce growth rates. We also provide equations, analogous to Monod’s, that describe the dependence of growth rates on the partial pressures of CO2 and N2. We then outline the relationships between atmospheric pressure and composition, the minimal mass of a photobioreactor’s outer walls (which is dependent on the inner-outer pressure difference), and growth rates. Relying on these relationships, we demonstrate that the structural mass of a photobioreactor can be decreased – without affecting cyanobacterial productivity – by reducing the inner gas pressure. We argue, however, that this reduction would be small next to the equivalent system mass of the cultivation system. A greater impact on resource-efficiency could come from the selection of atmospheric conditions which minimize gas processing requirements while adequately supporting cyanobacterial growth. The data and equations we provide can help identify these conditions.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Effects of atmospheric pressure, and of the partial pressures of CO2 and N2, on the growth rates of Anabaena sp. PCC 7938: Assessment and implications for cyanobacterium cultivation on Mars

Verseux,

Ramalho,

Bohuon

et al. 2024

Preprint

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show abstract

“…Early studies of algae growth at low pressures ranging from 250 to 500 mbar suggested that low atmospheric pressures have no inhibitory effect and might slightly stimulate growth ( Orcutt et al, 1970 ). Some algae have also developed anoxic metabolisms to adapt to low oxygen conditions ( Yang et al, 2016 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Investigating the Growth of Algae Under Low Atmospheric Pressures for Potential Food and Oxygen Production on Mars

et al. 2021

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With long-term missions to Mars and beyond that would not allow resupply, a self-sustaining Bioregenerative Life Support System (BLSS) is essential. Algae are promising candidates for BLSS due to their completely edible biomass, fast growth rates and ease of handling. Extremophilic algae such as snow algae and halophilic algae may also be especially suited for a BLSS because of their ability to grow under extreme conditions. However, as indicated from over 50 prior space studies examining algal growth, little is known about the growth of algae at close to Mars-relevant pressures. Here, we explored the potential for five algae species to produce oxygen and food under low-pressure conditions relevant to Mars. These included Chloromonas brevispina, Kremastochrysopsis austriaca, Dunaliella salina, Chlorella vulgaris, and Spirulina plantensis. The cultures were grown in duplicate in a low-pressure growth chamber at 670 ± 20 mbar, 330 ± 20 mbar, 160 ± 20 mbar, and 80 ± 2.5 mbar pressures under continuous light exposure (62–70 μmol m–2 s–1). The atmosphere was evacuated and purged with CO2 after sampling each week. Growth experiments showed that D. salina, C. brevispina, and C. vulgaris were the best candidates to be used for BLSS at low pressure. The highest carrying capacities for each species under low pressure conditions were achieved by D. salina at 160 mbar (30.0 ± 4.6 × 105 cells/ml), followed by C. brevispina at 330 mbar (19.8 ± 0.9 × 105 cells/ml) and C. vulgaris at 160 mbar (13.0 ± 1.5 × 105 cells/ml). C. brevispina, D. salina, and C. vulgaris all also displayed substantial growth at the lowest tested pressure of 80 mbar reaching concentrations of 43.4 ± 2.5 × 104, 15.8 ± 1.3 × 104, and 57.1 ± 4.5 × 104 cells per ml, respectively. These results indicate that these species are promising candidates for the development of a Mars-based BLSS using low pressure (∼200–300 mbar) greenhouses and inflatable structures that have already been conceptualized and designed.

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Microalgae in bioregenerative life support systems for space applications

Revellame,

Aguda,

Gatdula

et al. 2024

Algal Research

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Effects of Hypobaric and Hyperbaric Helium Atmospheres on the Growth of Chlorella sorokiniana

Abstract: Growth of Chlorella sorokiniana is unaffected by the choice of atmospheric diluent gas. Reduced total pressure has no inhibitory effect and may be slightly stimulatory.

Cited by 7 publications

References 4 publications

Effects of atmospheric pressure, and of the partial pressures of CO2 and N2, on the growth rates of Anabaena sp. PCC 7938: Assessment and implications for cyanobacterium cultivation on Mars

Effects of atmospheric pressure, and of the partial pressures of CO2 and N2, on the growth rates of Anabaena sp. PCC 7938: Assessment and implications for cyanobacterium cultivation on Mars

Investigating the Growth of Algae Under Low Atmospheric Pressures for Potential Food and Oxygen Production on Mars

Microalgae in bioregenerative life support systems for space applications

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