Optimization of the cultivation of microalgae in photobioreactors of 0.2 m3

• Grant number: 12/18286-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date until: January 01, 2013
• End date until: December 31, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Botany - Pant Physiology
• Principal Investigator: Ana Teresa Lombardi
• Grantee: Thaís Fávero Massocato
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde (CCBS). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The Atmospheric heating mainly caused by the acelerate increase of the emission of greenhouse gases, with highlight in CO‚, became one of the most studied environmental problems over the years. As a result, there were several artificial medium for the capture and sequestration of carbon, among these microalgae seem to be promising. In the Botany Department of Universidade Federal de São Carlos, several studies of algal cultivation are under development aiming at the carbon biofixing by microalgae and the feasibility of use of compounds produced by them, as lipids, proteins and carbohydrates, in the chemical, pharmaceutical, cosmetic and food industries. However, some challenges still need to be solved to make this biofixing and the production of algal biomass economically viable on a large scale. In this context, the present work aims to define the ideal conditions of cultivation of Chlorella sorokiniana in cultures of 0.2 m3 kept in semi-controll environment (Green House) in order to ensure great microalgal growth. To do so, will be carried out experiments with gas bubbling (CO‚/Air) and biochemical manipulation. The algal growth (concentration of chlorophyll a, number of cells per mL), pH and conductivity will also be monitored. (AU)