Engineering photosynthetic light capture: impacts on improved solar energy to biomass conversion

Mussgnug, Jan H.; Thomas‐Hall, Skye R.; Rupprecht, Jens; Foo, Alexander; Классен, Виктор; McDowall, Alasdair W.; Schenk, Peer M.; Kruse, Olaf; Hankamer, Ben

doi:10.1111/j.1467-7652.2007.00285.x

Cited by 320 publications

(213 citation statements)

References 54 publications

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“…Modification of the photosystems, to enhance photosynthesis, is an obvious target (e.g. Mussgnug et al (2007) for Chlamydomonas reinhardtii), as is enhancement of lipid production, through the manipulation of the efficiency of the committing enzyme in lipid biosynthesis (ACCase, figure 3; Dunahay et al 1996). Hydrogen (rather than biomass) production has also been suggested as a renewable fuel from algae (Berberoglu et al 2007;Hankamer et al 2007) and is another approach that requires some level of genetic modification (Melis et al 2007) and/or careful manipulation of the growth conditions to redirect biochemical processes to perform a production that does not naturally occur to any significant extent.…”

Section: Optimization Of Microalgal Growth and Production Of Specificmentioning

confidence: 99%

Placing microalgae on the biofuels priority list: a review of the technological challenges

Greenwell

Laurens

Shields

et al. 2009

J. R. Soc. Interface.

721

359

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Microalgae provide various potential advantages for biofuel production when compared with 'traditional' crops. Specifically, large-scale microalgal culture need not compete for arable land, while in theory their productivity is greater. In consequence, there has been resurgence in interest and a proliferation of algae fuel projects. However, while on a theoretical basis, microalgae may produce between 10-and 100-fold more oil per acre, such capacities have not been validated on a commercial scale. We critically review current designs of algal culture facilities, including photobioreactors and open ponds, with regards to photosynthetic productivity and associated biomass and oil production and include an analysis of alternative approaches using models, balancing space needs, productivity and biomass concentrations, together with nutrient requirements. In the light of the current interest in synthetic genomics and genetic modifications, we also evaluate the options for potential metabolic engineering of the lipid biosynthesis pathways of microalgae. We conclude that although significant literature exists on microalgal growth and biochemistry, significantly more work needs to be undertaken to understand and potentially manipulate algal lipid metabolism. Furthermore, with regards to chemical upgrading of algal lipids and biomass, we describe alternative fuel synthesis routes, and discuss and evaluate the application of catalysts traditionally used for plant oils. Simulations that incorporate financial elements, along with fluid dynamics and algae growth models, are likely to be increasingly useful for predicting reactor design efficiency and life cycle analysis to determine the viability of the various options for largescale culture. The greatest potential for cost reduction and increased yields most probably lies within closed or hybrid closed -open production systems.

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Section: Optimization Of Microalgal Growth and Production Of Specificmentioning

confidence: 99%

Placing microalgae on the biofuels priority list: a review of the technological challenges

Greenwell

Laurens

Shields

et al. 2009

J. R. Soc. Interface.

721

359

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“…This is only 10% of the midday sunlight intensity in a European summer. Light in excess is wasted as fluorescence and finally heat [12].…”

Section: Interactions Between Physiology and Reactor Designmentioning

confidence: 99%

Design principles of photo‐bioreactors for cultivation of microalgae

Posten

2009

Engineering in Life Sciences

682

361

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The present hype in microalgae biotechnology has shown that the topic of photobioreactors has to be revisited with respect to availability in really large scale measured in hectars footprint area, minimization of cost, auxiliary energy demand as well as maintenance and life span. This review gives an overview about present designs and the basic limiting factors which include light distribution to avoid saturation kinetics, mixing along the light gradient to make use of light/ dark cycles, aeration and mass transfer along the vertical or horizontal main axis for carbon dioxide supply and oxygen removal and last but not least the energy demand necessary to fulfil these tasks. To make comparison of the performance of different designs easier, a commented list of performance parameters is given. Based on these critical points recent developments in the areas of membranes for gas transfer and optical structures for light transfer are discussed. The fundamental starting point for the optimization of photo-bioprocesses is a detailed understanding of the interaction between the bioreactor in terms of mass and light transfer as well as the microalgae physiology in terms of light and carbon uptake kinetics and dynamics.

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“…43,44 As these systems are closed, all of the specific growth requirements are internally maintained.…”

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confidence: 99%

“…The full spectrum of sunlight is generally not available to aquatic algae, especially in high-density cultures and algae contained within bioreactors. 43,44 Light penetrates only the exposed 7.6− 10 cm due to turbidity caused by algae growth and media. 43−46 A number of enclosed configurations, such as a helicaltubular photobioreactor designed by Briassoulis et al, 47 are being used to optimize the limiting growth conditions for continuous production.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%