Sustainable cultivation of Navicula incerta using cellulose-based scaffold incorporated with nanoparticles in air-liquid interface cultivation system. (June 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Yap, Jia Xin; Leo, C.P.; Mohd Yasin, Nazlina Haiza; Derek, C.J.C.
• Is Part Of: Chemosphere. Volume 273(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-06
• Subjects: Cellulose-based scaffold -- Titanium dioxide -- Silica gel -- Polyethylene glycol -- Microalgae cultivation; Pollution -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Physiological effect -- Periodicals; Environmental sciences -- Periodicals; Atmospheric chemistry -- Periodicals; 551.511
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.129657
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0045-6535

Abstract

Abstract: Microalgae cultivation using open cultivation systems requires large area and it is susceptible to contamination as well as weather changes. Meanwhile, the closed systems require large capital investment, and they are susceptible to the build-up of dissolved oxygen. Air-liquid interface culture systems with low water-footprint, but high packing density can be used for microalgae cultivation if low-cost culture scaffolds are available. In this study, cellulose-based scaffolds were synthesized using NaOH/urea aqueous solution as the solvent. Titanium dioxide (TiO2 ), silica gel and polyethylene glycol 1000 (PEG 1000) nanoparticles were added into the membrane scaffolds to increase the hydrophilicity of nutrient absorbing to support the growth of microalgae. The membrane scaffolds were characterized by FTIR, SEM, contact angle, porosity and porometry. All three nanoparticles additives showed their ability in reducing the contact angle of membrane scaffolds from 63.4 ± 2.3° to a range of 52.6 ± 1.2° to 38.8 ± 1.5° due to the hydrophilic properties of the nanoparticles. The decreasing in pore size when nanoparticles were added did not affect the porosity of membrane scaffolds. Cellulose membrane scaffold with TiO2 showed the highest percentage of microalgae Navicula incerta growth rate of 22.1% because of the antibacterial properties of TiO2 in lowering the risk of cell contamination and enhancing the growth of N. incerta . The results exhibited that cellulose-based scaffold with TiO2 added could be an effective support in plant cell culture field. Graphical abstract: Image 1 Highlights: Cellulose-based scaffolds were synthesized using cellulose dispersed in NaOH/urea solvent. Nanoparticles were added to enhance scaffold properties. The contact angle of membrane scaffolds reduced to 38.8 ± 1.5° due to hydrophilicity. Scaffold with TiO2 nanoparticles showed the highest microalgae growth rate of 21.7%. Nutrient adsorption of microalgae was enhanced by air-liquid interface cultivation.