Strengthening mass transfer with the Tesla-valve baffles to increase the biomass yield of Arthrospira platensis in a column photobioreactor. Issue 6 (January 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kubar, Ameer Ali; Cheng, Jun; Kumar, Santosh; Liu, Shuzheng; Chen, Shutong; Tian, Jianglei
• Is Part Of: Bioscience reports. Volume 30:Issue 6(2010)
• Publication Date: 2021-01
• Subjects: Biomass dry weight -- Tesla-valve photobioreactor (TV-PBR) -- Photochemical efficiency -- Mixing time -- Mass transfer; Molecular biology -- Periodicals; Cytology -- Periodicals; 572.8
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2020.124337
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0144-8463

Abstract

Highlights: A novel Tesla-valve (TV) generated vortexes along inclined plates and curved arcs. TV baffle decreased mixing time and increased mass-transfer between CO2 and solution. Frequent movement of A.platensis cells between light and dark enhanced photosynthesis. The TV baffle promoted homogeneity and distribution of nutrients in the solution. An optimized TV baffle proved effective to increase algal biomass dry weight by 28.1% Abstract: In this study, the Tesla-valve (TV) baffles were used to optimize the flow field in a column photobioreactor (PBR) in order to promote mass transfer of CO2 gas in the solution. The TV baffles were composed of many tilted plates with central holes and curved arcs facing downwards, installed along inner rising section of the column PBR. Many clockwise and anti-clockwise vortices were generated during the rising flow while passing through proposed TV baffles. An optimum TV baffle structure (30° plate angle, 8 cm arc width) decreased mixing time by 36.4% and increased the mass transfer coefficient by 50%. The TV baffles supported the movement of the A.platensis cells between light and dark regions to enhance their photochemical efficiency ϕPSII by 24.6% and Fv/Fm by 12.7%. Therefore, the biomass yield increased by 28.1% and exhibited an increased helix pitch and trichome length in comparison with traditional column PBR without baffles.