Molitor Hannah R, Williard Deborah E, Schnoor Jerald L
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Iowa;
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Iowa.
J Vis Exp. 2019 Dec 19(154). doi: 10.3791/60566.
Photobioreactors are illuminated cultivation systems for experiments on phototrophic microorganisms. These systems provide a sterile environment for microalgal cultivation with temperature, pH, and gas composition and flow rate control. At bench-scale, photobioreactors are advantageous to researchers studying microalgal properties, productivity, and growth optimization. At industrial scales, photobioreactors can maintain product purity and improve production efficiency. The video describes the preparation and use of a bench-scale photobioreactor for microalgal cultivation, including the safe use of corrosive gas inputs, and details relevant biomass measurements and biomass productivity calculations. Specifically, the video illustrates microalgal culture storage and preparation for inoculation, photobioreactor assembly and sterilization, biomass concentration measurements, and a logistic model for microalgal biomass productivity with rate calculations including maximum and overall biomass productivities. Additionally, since there is growing interest in experiments to cultivate microalgae using simulated or real waste gas emissions, the video will cover the photobioreactor equipment adaptations necessary to work with corrosive gases and discuss safe sampling in such scenarios.
光生物反应器是用于光合微生物实验的光照培养系统。这些系统为微藻培养提供了一个无菌环境，可控制温度、pH值、气体成分和流速。在实验室规模下，光生物反应器对研究微藻特性、生产力和生长优化的研究人员来说具有优势。在工业规模上，光生物反应器可以保持产品纯度并提高生产效率。该视频描述了用于微藻培养的实验室规模光生物反应器的制备和使用方法，包括腐蚀性气体输入的安全使用，以及生物质测量和生物质生产力计算的相关细节。具体而言，该视频展示了微藻培养物的储存和接种准备、光生物反应器的组装和灭菌、生物质浓度测量，以及一个用于微藻生物质生产力的逻辑模型及其速率计算，包括最大和总生物质生产力。此外，由于使用模拟或实际废气排放来培养微藻的实验越来越受到关注，该视频将介绍使用腐蚀性气体时光生物反应器所需的设备改装，并讨论在这种情况下的安全采样。
