Biomass productivity and carbon dioxide utilization of ankistrodesmus falcatus in bicarbonate-based integrated carbon capture and algae production system (BICCAPS)
This study investigates the capability of sodium carbonate (Na2CO3) and calcium carbonate (CaCO3) solution to capture carbon dioxide (CO2) using the Bicarbonate-based Integrated Carbon Capture and Algae Production System (BICCAPS) with Ankistrodesmus falcatus. The effects of the type of culture media (BRSP and NPK), form of the carbonate salt and its loading concentration to biomass productivity and CO2 utilization were determined. Results show that BRSP media gives better biomass productivity with a maximum specific growth rate (μMAX) of 0.0515 d-1 compared to μMAX of 0.0338 d-1 with NPK media. The CO2 captured by 30 g/L loading of Na2CO3 is thrice as the amount captured by 10 g/L loading in BICCAPS. The highest biomass productivity obtained is 1.9864 mg/L-day with a corresponding inorganic carbon (Ci) conversion of 5.156 x 10-4 moles/L-day at 10g/L loading of Na2CO3 with BRSP media. Investigation with sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) solution without CO2 sparging shows that the biomass productivity and Ci conversion is more favorable with 10 g/L loading than 30 g/L for both culture media. The peak biomass productivity with NaHCO3 system reached 3.5539 mg/L-day for BRSP. It was shown that the A. falcatus can be used in BICCAPS using BRSP medium at 10g/L loading of Na2CO3
