Integrated hollow fiber membranes for gas delivery into optical waveguide based photobioreactors. (September 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ahsan, Syed Saad; Gumus, Abdurrahman; Jain, Aadhar; Angenent, Largus T.; Erickson, David
• Is Part Of: Bioresource technology. Volume 192(2015)
• Page Start: 845
• Page End: 849
• Publication Date: 2015-09
• Subjects: Algae -- Photobioreactors -- Scatterers -- Waveguides -- Hollow fiber membranes; Biomass -- Periodicals; Biomass energy -- Periodicals; Bioremediation -- Periodicals; Agricultural wastes -- Periodicals; Factory and trade waste -- Periodicals; Organic wastes -- Periodicals; Bioénergie -- Périodiques; Déchets agricoles -- Périodiques; Déchets industriels -- Périodiques; Déchets organiques -- Périodiques; Déchets (Combustible) -- Périodiques; 662.88
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2015.06.028
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0960-8524

Abstract

Graphical abstract: Highlights: Integrated hollow fiber gas membranes and light-delivery via waveguides in novel PBRs. Characterized PBRs for fuel secreting bacteria for various light and flow conditions. Measured optimal flow rates of 66 mL/min corresponding to "gas-mixing" energy of 1 mW/L. Carbonated gas streams (1% CO2 ) increased ramp production rates by two times. Under optimal gas flow, productivity increased at least 20% across light intensities. Abstract: Compact algal reactors are presented with: (1) closely stacked layers of waveguides to decrease light-path to enable larger optimal light-zones; (2) waveguides containing scatterers to uniformly distribute light; and (3) hollow fiber membranes to reduce energy required for gas transfer. The reactors are optimized by characterizing the aeration of different gases through hollow fiber membranes and characterizing light intensities at different culture densities. Close to 65% improvement in plateau peak productivities was achieved under low light-intensity growth experiments while maintaining 90% average/peak productivity output during 7-h light cycles. With associated mixing costs of ∼1 mW/L, several magnitudes smaller than closed photobioreactors, a twofold increase is realized in growth ramp rates with carbonated gas streams under high light intensities, and close to 20% output improvement across light intensities in reactors loaded with high density cultures.