Growth Efficiency and Carbon Balance for the Sponge Haliclona oculata

To obtain more knowledge about carbon requirements for growth by sponges, the growth rate, respiration rate, and clearance rate was measured in situ in Haliclona oculata. We found that only 34% of the particulate carbon pumped through the sponge was used for both respiration and growth. The net growth efficiency, being the ratio of carbon incorporated in biomass and the total carbon used by the sponge for respiration and growth, was found to be 0.099 ± 0.013. Thus, about 10% of the total used carbon was fixed in biomass, and over 90% was used for generating energy for growth, maintenance, reproduction, and pumping. H. oculata had 2.5 μmol C available for every micromole O2 consumed. A value of 0.75 for respiratory quotient (RQ in micromole CO2 micromole O2−1) was used for H. oculata, which is the average value reported in literature for different marine invertebrates. Thus, carbon was available in excess to meet the respiratory demand. Oxygen was found not to be the limiting factor for growth, since only 3.3% of the oxygen pumped through the sponge body was used. Our results indicate that both oxygen and carbon availability are not limiting. The low growth efficiency agrees with the low growth rates found for the species used in this study

Doubling of Microalgae Productivity by Oxygen Balanced Mixotrophy

Microalgae productivity was doubled by designing an innovative mixotrophic cultivation strategy that does not require gas-liquid transfer of oxygen or carbon dioxide. Chlorella sorokiniana SAG 211/8K was cultivated under continuous operation in a 2 L stirred-tank photobioreactor redesigned so that respiratory oxygen consumption was controlled by tuning the acetic acid supply. In this mixotrophic setup, the reactor was first operated with aeration and no net oxygen production was measured at a fixed acetic acid supply rate. Then, the aeration was stopped and the acetic acid supply rate was automatically regulated to maintain a constant dissolved oxygen level using process control software. Respiratory oxygen consumption was balanced by phototrophic oxygen production, and the reactor was operated without any gas-liquid exchange. The carbon dioxide required for photosynthesis was completely provided by the aerobic conversion of acetic acid. Under this condition, the biomass/substrate yield was 0.94 C-molx·C-molS -1. Under chemostat conditions, both reactor productivity and algal biomass concentration were doubled in comparison to a photoautotrophic reference culture. Mixotrophic cultivation did not affect the photosystem II maximum quantum yield (Fv/Fm) and the average-dry-weight-specific optical cross section of the microalgal cells. Only light absorption by chlorophylls over carotenoids decreased by 9% in the mixotrophic culture in comparison to the photoautotrophic reference. Our results demonstrate that photoautotrophic and chemoorganotrophic metabolism operate concurrently and that the overall yield is the sum of the two metabolic modes. At the expense of supplying an organic carbon source, photobioreactor productivity can be doubled while avoiding energy intensive aeration.</p

On Energy Balance and Production Costs in Tubular and Flat Panel Photobioreactors

Reducing mixing in both flat panel and tubular photobioreactors can result in a positive net energy balance with state-of-the-art technology and Dutch weather conditions. In the tubular photobioreactor, the net energy balance becomes positive at velocities &lt; 0.3 ms-1, at which point the biomass production cost is 3.2 €/kg dry weight. In flat panel reactors, this point is at an air supply rate &lt; 0.25 vol vol-1 min-1, at which the biomass production cost is 2.39 €/kg dry weight. To achieve these values in flat panel reactors, cheap low pressure blowers must be used, which limits the panel height to a maximum of 0.5 m, and in tubular reactors the tubes must be hydraulically smooth. For tubular reactors, it is important to prevent the formation of wall growth in order to keep the tubes hydraulically smooth. This paper shows how current production costs and energy requirement could be decreased.Reducing mixing in both flat panel and tubular photobioreactors can result in a positive net energy balance with state-of-the-art technology and Dutch weather conditions. In the tubular photobioreactor, the net energy balance becomes positive at velocities &lt; 0.3 ms-1, at which point the biomass production cost is 3.2 €/kg dry weight. In flat panel reactors, this point is at an air supply rate &lt; 0.25 vol vol-1 min-1, at which the biomass production cost is 2.39 €/kg dry weight. To achieve these values in flat panel reactors, cheap low pressure blowers must be used, which limits the panel height to a maximum of 0.5 m, and in tubular reactors the tubes must be hydraulically smooth. For tubular reactors, it is important to prevent the formation of wall growth in order to keep the tubes hydraulically smooth. This paper shows how current production costs and energy requirement could be decreased

Productivity of Chlorella sorokiniana in a short light-path (SLP) panel photobioreactor under high irradiance

Maximal productivity of a 14 mm light-path panel photobioreactor under high irradiance was determined. Under continuous illumination of 2100 μmol photons m-2 s-1 with red LEDs (light emitting diodes) the effect of dilution rate on photobioreactor productivity was studied. The light intensity used in this work is similar to the maximal irradiance on a horizontal surface at latitudes lower than 37º. Chlorella sorokiniana, a fast-growing green microalga, was used as a reference strain in this study. The dilution rate was varied from 0.06 h-1 to 0.26 h-1. The maximal productivity was reached at a dilution rate of 0.24 h-1, with a value of 7.7 g of dry weight m-2 h-1 (m2 of illuminated photobioreactor surface) and a volumetric productivity of 0.5 g of dry weight L-1 h- 1. At this dilution rate the biomass concentration inside the reactor was 2.1 g L-1 and the photosynthetic efficiency was 1.0 g dry weight per mol photons. This biomass yield on light energy is high but still lower than the theoretical maximal yield of 1.8 g mol photons-1 which must be related to photosaturation and thermal dissipation of absorbed light energy

Temperature-dependent lipid accumulation in the polar marine microalga chlamydomonas malina RCC2488

The exploration of cold-adapted microalgae offers a wide range of biotechnological applications that can be used for human, animal, and environmental benefits in colder climates. Previously, when the polar marine microalga Chlamydomonas malina RCC2488 was cultivated under both nitrogen replete and depleted conditions at 8°C, it accumulated lipids and carbohydrates (up to 32 and 49%, respectively), while protein synthesis decreased (up to 15%). We hypothesized that the cultivation temperature had a more significant impact on lipid accumulation than the nitrogen availability in C. malina. Lipid accumulation was tested at three different temperatures, 4, 8, and 15°C, under nitrogen replete and depleted conditions. At 4°C under the nitrogen replete condition C. malina had the maximal biomass productivity (701.6 mg L-1 day-1). At this condition, protein content was higher than lipids and carbohydrates. The lipid fraction was mainly composed of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in the polar lipid portion, achieving the highest PUFA productivity (122.5 mg L-1 day-1). At this temperature, under nitrogen deficiency, the accumulation of carbohydrates and neutral lipids was stimulated. At 8 and 15°C, under both nitrogen replete and depleted conditions, the lipid and carbohydrate content were higher than at 4°C, and the nitrogen stress condition did not affect the algal biochemical composition. These results suggest that C. malina is a polar marine microalga with a favorable growth temperature at 4°C and is stressed at temperatures ≥8°C, which directs the metabolism to the synthesis of lipids and carbohydrates. Nevertheless, C. malina RCC2488 is a microalga suitable for PUFA production at low temperatures with biomass productivities comparable with mesophilic strains.267872/E50info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Production of carbohydrates, lipids and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) by the polar marine microalga Chlamydomonas malina RCC2488

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Effects of shear stress on the microalgae Chaetoceros muelleri

The effect of shear stress on the viability of Chaetoceros muelleri was studied using a combination of a rheometer and dedicated shearing devices. Different levels of shear stress were applied by varying the shear rates and the medium viscosities. It was possible to quantify the effect of shear stress over a wide range, whilst preserving laminar flow conditions through the use of a thickening agent. The threshold value at which the viability of algae was negatively influenced was between 1 and 1.3 Pa. Beyond the threshold value the viability decreased suddenly to values between 52 and 66%. The effect of shear stress was almost time independent compared to normal microalgae cultivation times. The main shear stress effect was obtained within 1 min, with a secondary effect of up to 8 min

Translocation and de novo synthesis of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) during nitrogen starvation in Nannochloropsis gaditana

The microalga Nannochloropsis gaditana is known for accumulating fatty acids, including the commercially interesting eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) within the polar lipids (PL) and neutral lipids (NL). During microalgal growth EPA is mainly present in the PL. Upon nitrogen starvation N. gaditana accumulates large amounts of TAG in lipid bodies. The neutral lipid fraction will mainly consist of triacylglycerol (TAG). When expressed per total cell dry weight, the NL-localized EPA increased while the PL-localized EPA decreased, suggesting that EPA is translocated from the PL into the NL lipids during nitrogen starvation. Here, we elucidated the origin of EPA in NL of N. gaditana by firstly growing this microalga under optimal growth conditions with 13CO2 as the sole carbon source followed by nitrogen starvation with 12CO2 as the sole carbon source. By measuring both 12C and 13C fatty acid isotope species in time, the de novo synthesized fatty acids and the already present fatty acids can be distinguished. For the first time, we proved that actual translocation of EPA from the PL into the NL occurs during nitrogen starvation of N. gaditana. Next to being translocated, EPA was synthesized de novo in both PL and NL during nitrogen starvation. EPA was made by carbon reshuffling within the cell as well. EPA was the main fatty acid translocated, suggesting that the enzyme responsible for fatty acid translocation has a high specificity for EPA.publishedVersio