GAS EXCHANGE WITH MASS CULTURES OF ALGAE. I. EFFECTS OF LIGHT INTENSITY AND RATE OF CARBON DIOXIDE INPUT ON OXYGEN PRODUCTION.

The performance of a small photosynthetic gas exchanger is described in which simultaneous measurements of suspension density, O(2) production, and CO(2) absorption are readily accomplished. The volume of suspension was 6200 ml. With the Sorokin strain of Chlorella pyrenoidosa 7-11-05, this unit produced 4500 cc of O(2) per hr at a light intensity of 34,000 ft-c from each of six Quartzline lamps. At any given light intensity, the O(2) production was proportional to the rate of CO(2) input up to a maximum. The impetus for this study was the consideration of the algal system as a means of oxygen generation in a submarine. Based on the performance of this unit, the power requirement per man for a system having the geometry described would be 52 kw, but reasons are given for the hope that this may be reduced to less than 5 kw.