Modelling Nannochloropsis gaditana Growth in Reactors with Different Geometries, Determination of Kinetic Parameters and Biochemical Analysis in Response to Light Intensity

Abstract

Microalgae are unicellular and photosynthetic microorganisms which grow thanks to inorganic salts, CO2 and light, and find applications in several fields thanks to their variety. The industrial application of microalgae has not often been fully exploited because of a lack of information about how microalgae respond to inputs and to different growth environments. In the present work a model able to predict the microalgae growth in reactors with different geometries was developed. We combined a Monod-like model for the specific growth rate with the Lambert-Beer law of homogeneous light distribution in thick photobioreactors. Kinetic parameters related to the cultivation of the microalga Nannochloropsis gaditana were obtained, for the first time through batch cultivation under different photon flux densities inside a quasi-isoactinic photobioreactor, in order to obtain a practically homogeneous light distribution. The maximum specific growth rate and saturation constant resulted, respectively as µmax = 0.0256 h−1 and Ik = 15.28 µE m−2 s−1. These parameters were applied to the model to obtain data on microalgae growth in different geometries. Model simulation results are presented and discussed. Furthermore, biochemical analysis was performed on the biomass obtained at the end of each batch cultivation, grown both under different light intensities and in reactors with different configurations. Results indicated that lipid content increases with increasing average photon flux density. The fatty acid and carotenoids profiles markedly shift when the average light intensity varies: the PUFA content decreases and the SFA content increases when the average light intensity rises, and an accumulation of carotenoids at lower photon flux densities is observed. In conclusion, the model resulted in a useful tool, able to predict the growth of the microalga Nannochloropsis gaditana in reactors with different configurations.

A new genome-scale metabolic model of oleaginous microalgae with refined lipid metabolism elucidates Microchloropsis gaditana mutant phenotypes.

“…Nevertheless, iMgadit23 predictions are in agreement with the maximal exponential growth rate values reported in literature for M. gaditana under photoautotrophic conditions with NO 3 as nitrogen source which range from 0.01 to 0.044 h -1 with an average of 0.027 h -1 (Gentile and Blanch, 2001; Kareya et al, 2020; Kim et al, 2014; Ren and Ogden, 2014). iMgadit23 predictions are also consistent with a recently developed kinetic growth model of M. gaditana , predicting a maximal growth rate of 0.0256 h -1 (Lima et al, 2022).…”

“…iMgadit23 predictions are also consistent with a recently developed kinetic growth model of M. gaditana, predicting a maximal growth rate of 0.0256 h -1 (Lima et al, 2022).…”

Utilization of Native Chlorella Strain in Laboratory-Scale Raceway Reactor for Synthetic Wastewater Treatment: A Study in Batch and Continuous Modes with Multi-Substrate Modeling

“…where X 0 is the biomass concentration at time t 0 and X is the biomass concentration at time t. The kinetic parameters were estimated through a Langmuir Plot [32]. To obtain the kinetic parameters, μ max and K s , Eq.…”