Cultivation patterns of microscopic algae under carbon dioxide biofixation conditions
A.S. Solovyova, E.S. Belik, L.V. Rudakova
Section: Agroecology
The decarbonization strategy implemented in enterprises of the Russian Federation necessitates the development and scientific validation of appropriate technological solutions. One promising approach to utilising carbon dioxide emissions is the microalgae cultivation. This approach is based on the ability of some microalgae species to actively increase their biomass and sequester carbon dioxide when the the above gas content in the air increases. The article presents the results of experimental studies on cultivation of four consortia of microscopic algae in a gas medium with increased carbon dioxide content. These consortia were grown in the laboratory and isolated from the environment. Microalgae were cultivated under continuous CO2 infusion, gradually increasing the concentration from 5 to 15%. The experiment yielded CO2 concentrations that favoured rapid biomass growth for each of the four cultures tested. The highest average growth rates were observed: at a CO2 concentration of 5% in a culture isolated from a eutrophic freshwater pond containing the green microalgae of various genera, including Chlorella spp. (0.01230±0.00015 units of optical density per day), and at a CO2 concentration of 10% in a culture isolated from conifer lichens consisting of the microalga Chlorella spp. and filamentous fungi (0.0157±0.0007 units of optical density per day). The number of cells in the culture of microalgae isolated from a eutrophic freshwater pond grew particularly fast in the presence of 5% carbon dioxide. After 66 days, the optical density of the culture had increased by more than 9 times. In the remaining cultures, after 102 days, in an atmosphere with carbon dioxide content ranging from 5% to 15%, the optical density increased 2 to 3 times. The experimental results confirmed the effectiveness of microalgae for carbon dioxide utilisation.
ISSN 1995-4301
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